## SECTION A: BACKGROUND TO NEW TESTAMENT
**Answer two (2) questions from this section**
1. Discuss the internal evidence for the authorship of Gospel of Saint Mark
2. Discuss the characteristics of the Gospel of Saint Luke
3. Examine the significance of Jesus' Baptism to a believer
4. Narrate the destination and why the Gospel according to Saint Matthew was written
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## SECTION B: THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
**Answer two (2) questions from this section**
5. Examine the parable of the mustard seed and the lessons to be learnt
6. Discuss Peter's confession about transfiguration event from any of the synoptic Gospels
7. Examine the post resurrection appearances of Jesus according to Gospels of St. Luke
8. Narrate the resurrection miracle of Jairus' daughter according to the Gospel of Matthew.
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Full Answers
# SECTION A: BACKGROUND TO NEW TESTAMENT
## Question 1: Internal Evidence for the Authorship of the Gospel of Saint Mark
Internal evidence refers to clues found within the Gospel itself that point to its authorship.
**i. Use of Latin Terms**
The Gospel of Mark contains several Latin words and expressions — such as "centurion," "legion," and "denarius" — suggesting the author wrote for a Roman audience and was familiar with Roman culture. Early tradition identifies Mark as writing from Rome, which is consistent with this internal evidence.
**ii. Explanation of Jewish Customs**
Mark frequently explains Jewish customs and traditions to his readers (e.g., Mark 7:3-4, where he explains the Pharisees' practice of washing hands). This suggests the author was writing for a non-Jewish, Gentile audience — consistent with Mark writing for Roman Christians.
**iii. Translation of Aramaic Expressions**
Mark regularly translates Aramaic phrases into Greek — for example, "Talitha cumi" (Mark 5:41) is translated as "Little girl, arise." This shows the author was familiar with Aramaic, the language of Palestinian Jews, and was translating for readers who were not.
**iv. Vivid, Eyewitness Details**
Mark's Gospel is characterized by vivid, specific details that suggest access to eyewitness accounts. For example, in the feeding of the five thousand, Mark alone notes that the people sat on "green grass" (Mark 6:39). Early tradition holds that Mark was the interpreter of Peter and recorded Peter's eyewitness accounts — these vivid details are consistent with that tradition.
**v. References to Mark in the New Testament**
While not strictly internal to the Gospel itself, other New Testament references identify John Mark as a companion of Peter and Paul (Acts 12:12, 1 Peter 5:13 — where Peter calls Mark "my son"). This supports the identification of the Gospel's author as Mark, the companion of Peter.
**vi. The "Young Man" in Gethsemane**
Mark 14:51-52 mentions an unnamed young man who fled naked when Jesus was arrested — a detail found in no other Gospel. Many scholars believe this is Mark's subtle self-portrait, a personal touch that serves as an indirect signature of authorship.
**vii. Urgency and Brevity of Style**
Mark's Gospel is the shortest and most action-oriented of the four Gospels, characterized by the frequent use of the word "immediately" (euthus). This energetic, rapid style is consistent with the personality of the young, active Mark described elsewhere in the New Testament.
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## Question 2: Characteristics of the Gospel of Saint Luke
**i. Universal Gospel**
Luke's Gospel has the broadest scope of all four Gospels. It presents Jesus as the Saviour of all humanity — not just the Jews. Luke traces Jesus' genealogy back to Adam, the father of all humanity, rather than to Abraham as Matthew does, emphasizing the universal significance of Jesus' coming.
**ii. Emphasis on Prayer**
Luke gives more attention to Jesus' prayer life than any other Gospel. He records Jesus praying at His baptism (3:21), before choosing the twelve apostles (6:12), at the Transfiguration (9:29), and on the cross (23:34, 46). Luke also contains unique parables about prayer — the Persistent Widow and the Pharisee and Tax Collector.
**iii. Concern for the Poor and Marginalized**
Luke consistently highlights Jesus' compassion for the poor, the outcast, and the marginalized. The Beatitudes in Luke specifically bless the poor (6:20). The Magnificat (1:52-53) celebrates the lifting up of the humble and the filling of the hungry. Unique Lucan parables like the Rich Man and Lazarus emphasize God's concern for the poor.
**iv. Role of Women**
Luke gives exceptional prominence to women. He alone records the stories of Elizabeth, Anna the prophetess, the widow of Nain, the sinful woman who anointed Jesus, and the women who followed Jesus from Galilee. This was remarkable in a first-century context where women were largely marginalized.
**v. The Holy Spirit**
Luke's Gospel places tremendous emphasis on the Holy Spirit. The Spirit overshadows Mary at the Incarnation, descends on Jesus at His baptism, leads Him into the wilderness, and empowers His ministry. This theme continues into Luke's second volume, the Acts of the Apostles.
**vi. Joy and Praise**
Luke's Gospel begins and ends with joy and is filled with songs of praise — the Magnificat (Mary's song), the Benedictus (Zechariah's song), the Gloria in Excelsis (the angels' song), and the Nunc Dimittis (Simeon's song). This joyful, worshipful atmosphere is distinctive to Luke.
**vii. Historical Precision**
Luke states in his prologue that he investigated everything carefully from the beginning and wrote an orderly account (1:1-4). He situates events in precise historical context, mentioning Roman emperors, governors, and Jewish high priests, giving his Gospel a strong historical and documentary character.
**viii. Emphasis on Forgiveness and Mercy**
Luke contains unique parables of God's mercy — the Prodigal Son, the Lost Sheep, and the Lost Coin — which are among the most beloved stories of forgiveness in all of Scripture. Luke also uniquely records Jesus' words of forgiveness from the cross and His promise to the repentant thief.
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## Question 3: Significance of Jesus' Baptism to a Believer
The baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22) is a foundational event with deep significance for Christian believers.
**i. Identification with Sinful Humanity**
Although Jesus was sinless, He submitted to baptism to identify fully with sinful humanity. For the believer, this means Jesus understands human weakness and condescended to stand alongside sinners. It is an act of solidarity and compassion that assures believers they have a Saviour who truly understands their condition.
**ii. The Inauguration of Jesus' Public Ministry**
The baptism marked the beginning of Jesus' active ministry. For believers, this event signals that the redemptive mission of God had formally begun — that God was actively at work in history to bring salvation. It gives believers confidence that their salvation is rooted in deliberate divine action.
**iii. The Revelation of the Trinity**
At Jesus' baptism, all three persons of the Trinity were simultaneously revealed — the Son being baptized, the Holy Spirit descending as a dove, and the Father speaking from heaven. For believers, this is a foundational revelation of the nature of God as Trinity — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — in whose name Christians are baptized (Matthew 28:19).
**iv. Divine Affirmation and Approval**
The Father's voice declared "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." For believers, this divine affirmation teaches that obedience to God brings divine approval. It also assures believers of Jesus' unique identity as the Son of God, giving them confidence in His authority and saving power.
**v. Model for Christian Baptism**
Jesus' submission to baptism provides the model and mandate for Christian baptism. Believers are called to follow Jesus in baptism as an act of obedience, public declaration of faith, and identification with Christ's death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4).
**vi. The Anointing of the Holy Spirit**
The descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus at His baptism shows that effective ministry requires the Spirit's anointing. For believers, this teaches the necessity of the Holy Spirit in living the Christian life and serving God effectively.
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## Question 4: Destination and Purpose of the Gospel of Matthew
**Destination:**
The Gospel of Matthew was written primarily for a **Jewish Christian audience.** Internal evidence strongly suggests it was addressed to Jewish believers, possibly in the region of **Syrian Antioch** — a major early Christian community with a significant Jewish population.
**Evidence of Jewish Audience:**
- Matthew assumes familiarity with Jewish customs without explaining them (unlike Mark).
- He uses the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven" instead of "Kingdom of God" — reflecting Jewish reverence for the divine name.
- He traces Jesus' genealogy from Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation (Matthew 1:1).
- He quotes the Old Testament more than any other Gospel — approximately 60 direct quotations and 100 allusions — repeatedly using the formula "that what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled."
**Why the Gospel Was Written:**
**i. To Prove Jesus is the Promised Messiah**
Matthew's primary purpose was to demonstrate to Jewish readers that Jesus of Nazareth was the fulfillment of all Old Testament messianic prophecy. Every major event in Jesus' life is linked to prophetic fulfillment, establishing His credentials as the long-awaited Messiah of Israel.
**ii. To Present Jesus as the New Moses and King**
Matthew portrays Jesus as the new and greater Moses — the lawgiver of the new covenant. The Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7) parallels Moses giving the Law on Sinai. Jesus is also presented as the Son of David, the rightful King of Israel.
**iii. To Provide Teaching Material for the Church**
Matthew's Gospel is the most systematically organized of the four Gospels, containing five major teaching discourses (chapters 5-7, 10, 13, 18, 24-25) that mirror the five books of Moses. This suggests it was designed as a teaching manual for the early church — particularly for instructing Jewish converts.
**iv. To Address Jewish Concerns about Christianity**
Some Jewish Christians may have questioned whether following Jesus meant abandoning their Jewish heritage. Matthew reassured them that Jesus came "not to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them" (5:17), establishing continuity between Judaism and Christianity.
**v. To Commission the Church for Universal Mission**
Despite its Jewish focus, Matthew ends with the Great Commission (28:18-20) — sending the church to "all nations." Matthew thus bridges the particular (Jewish heritage) and the universal (worldwide mission), showing that the Jewish Messiah is the Saviour of all peoples.
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# SECTION B: THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
## Question 5: The Parable of the Mustard Seed and Lessons to be Learnt
**The Parable (Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18-19):**
Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed — the smallest of all seeds — which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the tiniest of seeds, it grows into the largest of garden plants, becoming a tree so large that birds come and make their nests in its branches.
**Lessons to be Learnt:**
**i. Small Beginnings Do Not Determine Final Outcomes**
The mustard seed is tiny but becomes a great tree. The Kingdom of God began with Jesus and twelve disciples — a seemingly insignificant movement in a remote corner of the Roman Empire — yet it has grown to encompass billions of believers worldwide. Believers should never despise small beginnings in God's work.
**ii. Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed is Sufficient**
Jesus elsewhere used the mustard seed as a symbol of faith (Matthew 17:20), saying that faith as small as a mustard seed could move mountains. The lesson is that the size of one's faith matters less than the object of that faith — God can use even the smallest, most hesitant faith to accomplish great things.
**iii. The Kingdom of God Grows Organically and Inevitably**
The growth of the mustard seed into a tree is natural, unstoppable, and inevitable. This suggests that the Kingdom of God has an inherent, God-given energy that will ensure its growth and ultimate triumph — regardless of human opposition, persecution, or apparent setbacks.
**iv. The Kingdom Provides Refuge for All**
The birds nesting in the branches of the fully grown tree symbolize people of all nations finding shelter, rest, and belonging in the Kingdom of God. The church is meant to be a place of welcome and refuge for all peoples, not an exclusive club for the privileged few.
**v. Patient Endurance is Required**
Growth from seed to tree takes time. Believers are taught to be patient in their spiritual growth and in their expectation of God's Kingdom. The work of God often appears slow but is always certain.
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## Question 6: Peter's Confession and the Transfiguration
**Peter's Confession (Matthew 16:13-20):**
Jesus asked His disciples near Caesarea Philippi: "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" The disciples reported various opinions — John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Jesus then asked directly: "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered boldly: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus affirmed this confession as a divine revelation from the Father and declared Peter blessed, promising to build His church upon this rock and give him the keys of the Kingdom.
**The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-36):**
Six days after Peter's confession, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. There He was transfigured before them — His face shone like the sun and His clothes became dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Him. Peter, overwhelmed, offered to build three shelters. A bright cloud overshadowed them and the Father's voice declared: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him." The disciples fell on their faces in fear and when they looked up, they saw only Jesus.
**Connection Between the Two Events:**
Peter's confession and the Transfiguration are deeply connected. Peter had confessed Jesus as the Christ by faith — the Transfiguration provided visible, divine confirmation of that confession. The Father's voice at the Transfiguration echoed the affirmation given at Jesus' baptism, reinforcing Peter's declaration.
**Lessons:**
- Jesus is simultaneously the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah).
- True discipleship requires listening to Jesus above all others.
- Moments of divine revelation prepare believers for coming trials — the Transfiguration preceded Jesus' journey to the cross.
- Divine glory is the true nature of Jesus, veiled in human flesh.
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## Question 7: Post-Resurrection Appearances of Jesus According to Luke
Luke's Gospel records several appearances of the risen Jesus that demonstrate the physical reality of the resurrection and its transformative power.
**i. The Empty Tomb (Luke 24:1-12)**
Early on the first day of the week, the women — Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others — came to the tomb with spices and found the stone rolled away and the body gone. Two men in dazzling clothes appeared and reminded them that Jesus had said He would rise. The women reported this to the eleven apostles, who did not believe them. Peter ran to the tomb and found it empty, with only the linen cloths lying there.
**ii. The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)**
Two disciples were travelling to Emmaus, discussing the crucifixion in grief and confusion. Jesus joined them but they were kept from recognizing Him. He walked with them, explained the Scriptures concerning the Messiah, and how the Christ had to suffer before entering His glory. When they reached Emmaus, they urged Him to stay. At table, when He broke bread, their eyes were opened and they recognized Him — then He vanished. They immediately returned to Jerusalem to tell the eleven.
**iii. Appearance to the Eleven in Jerusalem (Luke 24:36-49)**
While the disciples were discussing the Emmaus report, Jesus appeared among them and said "Peace be with you." They were terrified, thinking they saw a ghost. Jesus showed them His hands and feet, invited them to touch Him, and ate a piece of broiled fish before them — demonstrating the physical, bodily nature of His resurrection. He then opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and commissioned them to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations, promising to send the Holy Spirit.
**iv. The Ascension (Luke 24:50-53)**
Jesus led the disciples out to Bethany, lifted His hands and blessed them, and while blessing them was taken up into heaven. The disciples worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, continually blessing God in the Temple.
**Significance:**
Luke's resurrection accounts emphasize the physical reality of the resurrection, the fulfillment of Scripture, the transformation of fear and confusion into joy and worship, and the commissioning of the disciples for worldwide mission.
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## Question 8: The Resurrection Miracle of Jairus' Daughter According to Matthew
**The Narrative (Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26):**
While Jesus was speaking to His disciples, a ruler of the synagogue named Jairus came and knelt before Him, saying: "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." This was a remarkable statement of faith — Jairus believed that even death was not beyond Jesus' power.
Jesus got up and followed him, along with His disciples. When they arrived at Jairus' house, Jesus saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion and weeping according to the mourning customs of the day. Jesus said to them: "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." The crowd laughed at Him scornfully, dismissing His words as absurd.
After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she arose. The report of this miracle spread throughout that entire district.
**Key Features of Matthew's Account:**
- Matthew's version is the most concise of the three Gospel accounts (Mark and Luke give more detail).
- In Matthew, Jairus states the girl has "just died" from the beginning — in Mark and Luke, she is dying and messengers later bring news of her death.
- The miracle demonstrates Jesus' complete authority over death itself.
**Lessons:**
**i. Faith Approaches Jesus Regardless of Circumstances**
Jairus came to Jesus even after his daughter had died. True faith does not give up when situations appear hopeless but continues to seek Jesus as the source of life and hope.
**ii. Jesus Has Power Over Death**
The resurrection of Jairus' daughter foreshadows Jesus' own resurrection and His ultimate victory over death. For believers, it is a sign that death is not the final word — Jesus has the power to restore life.
**iii. Do Not Be Discouraged by the Mockery of Unbelief**
The crowd laughed at Jesus when He said the girl was sleeping. Believers will often face ridicule for their faith. Jesus ignored the mockery, acted in faith, and demonstrated His power. Believers are called to maintain their faith in Jesus even in the face of scorn and disbelief.
**iv. Compassionate Response to Human Suffering**
Jesus responded immediately and personally to Jairus' desperate plea. This reveals the compassionate heart of Jesus toward those who suffer and grieve, assuring believers that He is moved by their pain and ready to respond to genuine faith.