Life of Christ (Zondervan Quick-Reference Library) - Softcover

Sailhamer, John H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0310203929 ISBN 13: 9780310203926

Publisher: Study Resources, 1998

Synopsis

When busy people want to know more about the Bible and the Christian faith, the Zondervan Quick-Reference Library offers an instant information alternative. Covering the basics of the faith and Bible knowledge in an easy-to-use format, this series helps new Christians and seasoned believers find answers to their questions about Christianity and the Bible. The information is presented in units of one or two pages, so that each section can be read in a few minutes. The Zondervan Quick-Reference Library makes important knowledge affordable, accessible, and easy to understand for busy people who don't have a lot of time to read or study.

About this title

About the Author

John H. Sailhamer is professor of Old Testament at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Brea, California and was formerly senior professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.. His other works include An Introduction to Old Testament Theology and The NIIV Compact Bible Commentary.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

What is the Zondervan Quick-Reference Library:
Life of Christ?
The Zondervan Quick-Reference Library: Life of Christ is a new and
unique reference tool. Simply put, it is a complete and comprehensive
account of the life of Jesus Christ. Because we get much of our information
in daily life quickly and efficiently, we are becoming increasingly
accustomed to having knowledge about the Bible also given to us in the
same way. There is a legitimate need for a more efficient way to gain information
about the Bible—if only as a starting point for more in-depth and
reflective understanding. Once we get a sense of what a subject such as the
life of Christ is about, the details begin to make more sense. A regular
use of this Life of Christ book should lead to a more knowledgeable study
of God’s Word. This book is a convenient starting point for gaining a more
comprehensive understanding of the Scriptures. It has two distinct features:
(1) a series of introductory pages, intended to bring the reader up to speed
on the study of the Gospels and the life of Christ; (2) a historical and
chronological account of the events in the life of Christ.
A word is needed about the kind of historical account of the life of
Christ offered in this book. Many accounts of his life have been written.
In important ways, this one is unique. If you look closely at the accounts
of Christ’s life currently available, most retell the story from two perspectives:
(1) the accounts given in the four Gospels in the New Testament,
and (2) historical and archaeological sources from New Testament times.
In such accounts, the material taken from the Gospels is usually fit into the
broader scheme of first-century Roman and Palestinian history. The "big
picture," then, is taken from extrabiblical history and the life of Christ is
fit into that picture. Moreover, many historical details of first-century Palestine
are added to "fill-out" the picture of Christ.
We have chosen not to take that approach. Rather, we have limited
ourselves almost entirely to the account of Christ’s life as seen within the
four Gospels. Naturally some reference is made to persons and locations
known to us from history, but the story itself comes from the biblical text.
By viewing the events of Christ’s life internally from the four perspectives
of the Gospels, we attempt to "see the whole" of his life as the biblical
authors themselves present it. There are advantages, of course, to both
approaches, but we feel a need for the type of account of Christ’s life given
in this book.
Gospel in the New Testament
Our knowledge of the life of Christ comes almost entirely from the
pages of the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These are literary
works, whose intent is to give a historical portrait of the man Jesus.
Each Gospel has its own point of view and presents the life of Christ from
that perspective.
What kind of literary texts are these Gospels? We must know how to
answer that question to fully appreciate the picture of Jesus that each
Gospel gives. We begin our look at the life of Jesus with a brief description
of the sources we will use.
The general meaning of the Greek term for gospel (euangelion) is
"good news." In the New Testament this term means specifically "the message
of salvation"—the message of Christ’s work in his life, death, and
resurrection. First Corinthians 15:3–5 contains an early summary: "that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that
he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he
appeared to [various of his followers]."
As this early statement shows, the gospel focused on Jesus’ deeds
rather than on his teachings. This message served as the basis of the preaching
of the early church; thus, in New Testament usage, gospel applies mainly
to the preached message about Jesus Christ. Those who preached the gospel
were known as the evangelists (cf. Acts 21:8; Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:5).
There is at least one example in the New Testament, however, where
the written account of the life of Christ is itself called a "gospel"—Mark
1:1, "the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ." Beyond this example,
within the written texts themselves are helpful clues as to how these
Gospels were originally conceived of by their authors. In John 20:30, for
example, the author refers to his Gospel as "this book" or "this scroll."
According to Luke 1:1 the earliest written accounts of Jesus’ life were
called simply "accounts" or "narratives." By the beginning of the second
century, gospel as used in Mark seems to have become a general title for
the written story about Jesus Christ (Didache 15:3–4; 2 Clement 8:5).
The Genre "Gospel"
For the most part, the written documents we call Gospels should be
understood as simple narrative texts of the life, death, and resurrection of
Jesus. Their purpose was to link the message of the gospel to the details
of Jesus’ life and teaching, and their goal was the explication and clarification
of the message of the cross. Mark alone entitles his work a "gospel."
We need to ask what the "genre" of this form of writing is.
It is generally agreed that the New Testament Gospel narratives do
not correspond to any literary form known in the literature of the ancient
world. The reason for this, no doubt, lies in the fact that behind these
Gospels stands a unique event—the incarnation, death, and resurrection
of Jesus, the Lord. A unique event called for a unique genre of literature.
A comparison with literary forms of the ancient world reveals several
unique features of the Gospels. They do not, for example, conform
to the normal form of the ancient historical writings such as biographies
or memoirs. They do not show an interest in developing the personality
of Jesus, his personal and family background, or his education and his
human character. Moreover, they do not contain references to the thoughts
and opinions of their authors—in fact, they do not even contain an indication
of who their authors were.
In other words, the form of the Gospels appears to be determined
by their unique purpose—to bring together the words and deeds of the historical
Jesus in a way that demonstrates the significance of his life, death,
and resurrection.

Edition details

• Publisher: Study Resources
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0310203929
• ISBN 13: 9780310203926
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 128