Name__________________________________ Lab Partners ______________________________________ History of Christianity I Worksheet #1 Interpretation Lab: The Synoptic Gospels Part 1: Pre-Lab 1. Why do you think that there are four different gospels in the Christian Bible? Do they tell the same story?" 2. In this lab we will focus on the story of Jesus’ baptism and the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday). What did you know about those stories before reading today’s assignment? Part 2: Hypothesis 3. So far in class we have discussed the unique ways in which Mark and Matthew told the story of Jesus. Summarize the distinguishing characteristics of Mark and Matthew, listing the distinctive features of each gospel author’s portrayal of Jesus and his followers: MarkMatthew 4. The author of the gospel of Luke is thought to have composed Luke as part of a two volume work, intending it to be read along with the Acts of the Apostles as one continuous story about the founding and growth of the early Church. The audience of Luke’s gospel was mostly comprised of Gentile Christians. What do these two pieces of data about Luke’s historical context tell us about the way that he might depict Jesus? What do you expect to find when you compare Luke’s portrayal of Jesus with that of Mark and Matthew? Part 3: Data Collection 4. Review the Accounts of Jesus’ Baptism in each of the gospels (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22) and note the similarities and differences below, paying careful attention to differences in wording, what is included, what is not included, and where the story fits in each author’s overall narrative (what comes immediately before and after it in each gospel). Same in all 3Unique to MatthewUnique to MarkUnique to Luke 5. Review the Accounts of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-9; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-38) and note the similarities and differences below, paying careful attention to differences in wording, what is included, what is not included, and where the story fits in each author’s overall narrative (what comes immediately before and after it in each gospel). Same in all 3Unique to MatthewUnique to MarkUnique to Luke Part 4: Interpretation and Conclusions 6. What did you learn about each author’s portrayal of Jesus from comparing and contrasting the three gospel accounts? How would you summarize each author’s portrayal of Jesus based upon your study of these two stories? 7. Based upon your study of these two stories, would you say that Luke has more in common with Mark’s gospel or Matthew’s gospel? Justify your answer with data. History of Christianity I Discussion Questions Session 2 Jesus Movement 1. In chapter 1, González talks about how we read the Gospel stories differently than those who first read them in the first century. How does González suggest we try and limit the amount of contemporary bias.

1. Name__________________________________ Lab Partners
______________________________________
History of Christianity I
Worksheet #1
Interpretation Lab: The Synoptic Gospels
Part 1: Pre-Lab
1. Why do you think that there are four different gospels in the
Christian Bible? Do they tell the same story?"
2. In this lab we will focus on the story of Jesus’ baptism and
the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday). What did
you know about those stories before reading today’s
assignment?
Part 2: Hypothesis
3. So far in class we have discussed the unique ways in which
Mark and Matthew told the story of Jesus. Summarize the
distinguishing characteristics of Mark and Matthew, listing the

2. distinctive features of each gospel author’s portrayal of Jesus
and his followers:
MarkMatthew
4. The author of the gospel of Luke is thought to have composed
Luke as part of a two volume work, intending it to be read along
with the Acts of the Apostles as one continuous story about the
founding and growth of the early Church. The audience of
Luke’s gospel was mostly comprised of Gentile Christians.
What do these two pieces of data about Luke’s historical
context tell us about the way that he might depict Jesus? What
do you expect to find when you compare Luke’s portrayal of
Jesus with that of Mark and Matthew?

3. Part 3: Data Collection
4. Review the Accounts of Jesus’ Baptism in each of the gospels
(Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22) and note the
similarities and differences below, paying careful attention to
differences in wording, what is included, what is not included,
and where the story fits in each author’s overall narrative (what
comes immediately before and after it in each gospel).
Same in all 3Unique to MatthewUnique to MarkUnique to Luke
5. Review the Accounts of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into
Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-9; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-38) and
note the similarities and differences below, paying careful
attention to differences in wording, what is included, what is
not included, and where the story fits in each author’s overall
narrative (what comes immediately before and after it in each
gospel).
Same in all 3Unique to MatthewUnique to MarkUnique to Luke

4. Part 4: Interpretation and Conclusions
6. What did you learn about each author’s portrayal of Jesus
from comparing and contrasting the three gospel accounts?
How would you summarize each author’s portrayal of Jesus
based upon your study of these two stories?
7. Based upon your study of these two stories, would you say
that Luke has more in common with Mark’s gospel or
Matthew’s gospel? Justify your answer with data.
History of Christianity I
Discussion Questions
Session 2
Jesus Movement

5. 1. In chapter 1, González talks about how we read the Gospel
stories differently than those who first read them in the first
century. How does González suggest we try and limit the
amount of contemporary bias we bring to the text?
2. What sources does Gonzálezuse to discuss the beginning of
Christianity? Does Christianity begin with Jesus, or with His
followers?
3. What is “Eschatological hope”? How does understanding
ancient Jewish eschatology lead to understanding the life,
teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus?
4. What were the two philosophical traditions Christians found
“attractive and helpful”? Explain how each philosophical
tradition works.