Dr Neal's Audio Bible Study On:

The Synoptic Gospels

Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels
The Priority of Mark, The Hypothetical Q Document, The Authorship of the Synoptics, Textual Remarks
Handouts:
1, 2

Audio

The Annunciations, Part 1 - Luke 1:1-38
Community continuity with Jesus;
An organic understanding of the Word;
Luke's sources;
The Annunciation unto Zechariah;
The Annunciation unto Mary;
Virginal Conception of Jesus;
Mary as a superior example of faith;
Questions on Christology


Audio

The Annunciations, Part 2 - Matthew 1:18-25
The Annunciation unto Joseph;
The name of Jesus;
Emmanuel;

Luke 1:39-80
Mary's visit to Elizabeth
The Canticle of Mary
Questions of Inspiration
Birth of John the Baptist
The Canticle of Zechariah


Audio

The Nativity Stories-
Matthew 1:25--2:19 & Luke 2:1-40

Concepts of Biblical Inspiration and Authority
The Problems of Inerrancy vs Infallibility

The Nativity in Matthew;
Herod the Great & The Wise Guys
Murder of the Innocents and
The Flight to Egypt

The Nativity in Luke;
Circumcision of Jesus
The Song of Solomon and Prophecy of Anna
"Joseph and his mother" and Textual Criticism
Lukan approach vs. Matthian approach

Audio

Jesus in the Temple-
Luke 2:41-52

Assumptions made in Synoptic Studies
Theological Orthodoxy and Authority:
The Wesleyan Quadrilateral
Jesus in the Temple; Christological issues.

The Genealogies-
Matthew 1:2-17 & Luke 3:23-38

The Matthew's genealogy vs. Luke's:
sources, origins, interpretations

Audio

The Baptism of Jesus-
Mark 1:1-11; Matthew 3:1-17; Luke 3:1-22

John the Baptist's Ministry
Semitic Hyperbole
Baptismal Practices in Judaism
The meaing of Baptizv
The Baptism of Jesus
Dialogue between John B. and Jesus
Why was Jesus Baptized?
Q&A on various topics
Criticism of Hyper-Skepticism

Audio

The Temptations of Jesus-
Mark 1:12-13; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13
Mark's brevity
The differences between Matthew and Luke:
Luke swaps the 2nd and 3rd Temptations

Audio

The Call of the Disciples Part 1-
Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22;
Luke 4:14--5:1-11
The New Testament use of the LXX (Septuagint)
Isaiah 61:1-2;
The Nature of Hellenistic Judaism
Luke's changing of Mark's sequence of events

Audio

The Call of the Disciples Part 2-
Mark 1:16-20 & Luke 4:14--5:1-11
Review of the transposition of the calling of Peter
in Luke vs Mark/Matthew


The Healing of the Leper in Parallel-
Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16; Matthew 8:1-4
Dynamic Comparisons
Questions of chronology

Audio

The Healing of the Paralytic in Parallel-
Mark 2:1-12 & Luke 5:17-26
Healing or Forgiveness?

The Call of Levi (Matthew)-
Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32;
Matthew 9:9-13
Jesus calls a Tax Collector
Jesus eats with sinners

Jesus and the Sabbath-
Mark 2:18-28; Luke 5:27-32;
Matthew 9:14-17
New Wine, Old Wine Skins

Audio

The Beatitudes Part 1-
Matthew 5:3-12 & Luke 6:20-26
Q, and how the authors used it
Blessings and Woes

Audio

The Beatitudes Part 2-
Matthew 5:3-12 & Luke 6:20-26
Blessings and Woes
Discussion, Analysis, and Interpretation of
the blessings and the woes

Audio

Q Parallels with Mark Echos -

Matthew 5:13 & Luke 14:34-36
Mark 9:49-25
Salt Is Good

Matthew 5:14-16 & Luke 8:16; 11:33
Mark 4:21
You are the Light of the World!

Matthew 5:17-19 & Luke 16:16-17
The Law and its Completion
The righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees
Entering the kingdom by force?


Audio

The Sermon on the Mount, Part 1

"But I say to you!"-
Matthew 5:21-48 with Luke Parallels
(Luke 12:57-59, 18:8-9; 16:18; 6:27-36)

Matthew 5:21-26 & Luke 12:57-59
Murder and Disputes ... motivations are
critically important.

Matthew 5:27-30 & Luke 18:8-9 &
Mark 9:43-48
If your hands/feet/eyes offend, cut 'em off

Matthew 5:31-32 & Luke 16:18
On Divorce and Remarriage

Matthew 5:33-37
No swearing, making God our tool

Matthew 5:38-42 & Luke 6:29-30
On Retaliation: Turning the other cheek

Matthew 5:43-48 & Luke 6:27-36
On Loving Your Enemy

Audio

The Sermon on the Mount, Part 2:

Giving and Prayer
Matthew 6:1-15 & Luke 11:2-4
Giving in Secret
Prayer in Secret
The "Our Father"


Audio

The Sermon on the Mount, Part 3:

Fasting, Treasures, the Eye, Two Masters
Matthew 6:16-24 with Luke Parallels
(Luke 12:33-34; 11:34-36; 16;13)

Matthew 6:16-18 (No Luke Parallel)
Fasting

Matthew 6:19-21 & Luke 12:33-34
Treasures

Matthew 6:22-23 & Luke 11:34-36
Sound Eye

Matthew 6:24 & Luke 6:13
Serving Two Masters

Audio

The Sermon on the Mount, Part 4:

Q Dynamics, Anxiety, Judging, Pearls Before Pigs, The Golden Rule
Matthew 6:25--7:12 with Luke Parallels
(Luke 12:22-32; 6:37-42; 6:31)

Matthew 6:25-34 & Luke 12:22-32
Anxiety

Matthew 7:1-5 & Luke 6:37-42
Judging

Matthew 7:6 (No Luke Parallel)
Pearls before Pigs

Matthew 7:12 & Luke 31
The Golden Rule

Audio

The Sermon on the Mount, Part 5:

Seek, Nock; The Golden Rule; The Two Ways; Trees and Fruit; Lord, Lord; Self Deception
Matthew 7:7-27 with Luke Parallels
(Luke 11:9-13; 6:31; 13:23-24; 33-44; 6:46; 13:25-27; 6:47-49)

Matthew 7:7-11 & Luke 11:9-13
Seek, Nock & Some Textual-Critical Work

Matthew 7:13-14 & Luke 13:23-24
Two Ways

Matthew 7:15-20 & Luke 6:33-44
Trees and Fruit

Matthew 7:21 & Luke 6:46
Lord, Lord!

Matthew 7:22-23 & Luke 13:25-27
Self Deception

Matthew 7:24-27 & Luke 6:47-49
Two Builders

Closing remarks regarding the
Sermon on the Mount and its purpose.


Audio

Selected Passages Unique to Mark -

Mark 1:1
The introduction of the Gospel

Mark 2:18a
A transitional introduction is dropped,
enabling the use of the following material

Mark 3:19-21
Jesus goes home and family thanks he's nuts.

Mark 4:26-29
"The Self-Growing Seed"

Mark 5:3-8
Editorial process dropped content

Mark 7:1-5
Questions of Jesus by the Pharisees and Scribes

Mark 7:31-37
Healing of deaf mute man in Decapolis

Mark 8:22-26
Healing of the blind man at Bethsaida

Mark 9:14-16, 19ff
Mark provides more details

Mark 9:50b
Salt in yourselves

Mark 14:51-52
Naked young Man running away

Mark 16:9-20
The shorter endings of Mark

Audio

Parables- Part 1
Unique to Matthew or Luke
Selected Examples

Audio

Parables- Part 2
In Both Matthew and Luke and In All 3
Selected Examples

Audio

The Last Supper- Part 1

Mark 14:10-25; Matthew 26:14-30;
Luke 22:1-38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Audio

The Last Supper- Part 2
The Love Feast vs Communion
Historical sketch of the Methodist Church and Holy Communion
Comparative Eucharistic Theology

Mark 14:10-25; Matthew 26:14-30;
Luke 22:1-38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Communion Chart:
Memorial Representation
Real Presence

Audio

The Garden of Gethsemane and
the Arrest of Jesus

Mark 14:26-52; Matthew 26:30-56;
Luke 22:39-62; John 18:1-14

Audio

The Trial of Jesus and Peter's Denial

Mark 14:53-72; Matthew 26:57-75;
Luke 22:54-71


Audio

Jesus Before Pilate and the Tragedy of Judas

Mark 15:1-15; Matthew 27:1-26;
Luke 23:1-25; Acts 1:15-26

Audio

The Scourging, Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

Mark 15:16-41; Matthew 27:27-56;
Luke 23:26-49

Audio

Joseph of Arimathea and the Burial of Jesus.

Mark 15:40-47; Matthew 27:55-66;
Luke 23:50-56

Audio

The Resurrection of Jesus

Mark 16:1-8; Matthew 28:1-20;
Luke 24: 1-50

Audio