The Holy Bible, Part 4

Servants Preparation Curriculum

Lecture 10, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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“How sweet are your words to my taste? Sweeter than honey to my mouth”

(Psalm 119:103)

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The Bible, Part 4 – Introduction to The 4 Gospels

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Objectives

1. To recap on the OT and the NT’s important details and classifications
2. To address some important questions on The 4 Gospels
3. To identify the similarities and unique features of each Gospel
4. To take a close look at each Gospel
5. To highlight the perfect harmony between the Gospels

Lecture 10, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Holy Bible

• The Old Testament
• The New Testament

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Classification of Chapters and Verses

• Circa the 3^rd century (220 AD) - Amonios the Alexandrian Deacon divided The Bible into chapters
• Circa the 16^th century (1545 AD) – The Bible was divided into verses

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• Translations:
• Coptic Language: 2^nd - 3^rd century
• Arabic Language: 750 AD by St. John The Bishop of Spain
• Lebanese Language: 1837 AD by Ghali Smith the priest

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The Holy Bible Cont.

• Covenant = the promise God made with humans
• Between God and the human race

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• Old Covenants:
• With Adam : authority & control of the world
• With Noah : new life (new beginning)
• With Abraham (Circumcision)
• with Moses (Animal Sacrifices)
• with David (Long -lasting Kingdom)

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The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31)

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” (31-35)�

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Classification of the Old Testament

1. Law: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
2. History: Joshua, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles
3. Poetry: Psalms, Proverbs, and Song of Solomon
4. Major Prophets (4): Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah
5. Minor prophets (12): Obadiah, Joel, Amos, Jonah, Nahum, Micah, Hosea etc.

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Classification of The New Testament

1. Gospels: Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John
2. History: Acts
3. Pauline Epistles (14)
4. Catholic Epistles (7)
5. Revelation

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The Bible, Part 4 – Introduction to The 4 Gospels

​

Objectives

1. To recap on the OT and the NT’s important details and classifications
2. To address some important questions on The 4 Gospels
3. To identify the similarities and unique features of each Gospel
4. To take a close look at each Gospel
5. To highlight the perfect harmony between the Gospels

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Introduction to The Four Gospels

1. What does Gospel mean?
1. Good News / Good Tidings

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1. What is the good news?
1. The birth of The Redeemer
2. Jesus and Salvation on The Cross by His Blood

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Important Questions?

1. Did God give The Gospel to Jesus?
1. No, no, no!

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1. Did Jesus write The Gospel?
1. No, no, no!

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• Therefore, Jesus is not like the other prophets
• Moses, David, Isaiah, etc.

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Important Questions? Cont.

1. Why are there 4 Gospels?

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• Why are there ONLY 4 Gospels?

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• What are the canonical Gospels?

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Four Gospels

• Three Synoptic Gospels addressed to the three biggest nations at that time
• Mathew (Jews), Mark (Romans), and Luke (Greek)
• Each nation had its own culture, background, inspiration, history, and language
• Each Gospel shows different perspectives of Jesus, so that a full picture is constructed
• All The Gospels are complimentary to each other, not contradictory
• Like examining a diamond or a pyramid from different angles

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Why are there 4 Gospels?

• The Four Gospels cover all aspects of Jesus that pertain to humans and their salvation

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4^th Gospel / John’s Gospel

• The 4^th gospel, by St. John, spoke to all nations on the earth
• including the three biggest nations
• He proved Christ’s Divinity
• Christ is the Incarnated God
• He confirmed the unity between Christ and The Father
• He confirmed the unity between Christ and The Holy Spirit

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Looking at a diamond from different angles!

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Looking at a pyramid from different angles!

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The Bible, Part 4 – Introduction to The 4 Gospels

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Objectives

1. To recap on the OT and the NT’s important details and classifications
2. To address some important questions on The 4 Gospels
3. To identify the similarities and unique features of each Gospel
4. To take a close look at each Gospel
5. To highlight the perfect harmony between the Gospels

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The 4 Gospels

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To

Order

Jesus

The 4 Gospels Cont.

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The End of The Gospels

• Mathew: Jesus resurrected from the dead (Chapter 28)
• Mark: Jesus ascended to Heaven (Chapter 16)
• Luke: Jesus ascended to Heaven and promised The Holy Spirit (Chapter 24)
• John: Jesus’ Second Coming (Chapter 21)

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• Comment: all 4 ends attest to His Divinity

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Similarities Between The 4 Gospels

• Around 350 similarities between the 4 Gospels in phraseology and sentences

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• Similar topics:
• Preparation of Jesus’ ministry
• Ministry of Jesus in Galilee
• Miracle of feeding the multitudes
• Trip to Jerusalem
• Passion, death, and Resurrection

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Feeding the Multitude

• Mentioned in all 4 Gospels!

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The Parable of The Sower

• Matthew, Mark, and Luke

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The Bible, Part 4 – Introduction to The 4 Gospels

​

Objectives

1. To recap on the OT and the NT’s important details and classifications
2. To address some important questions on The 4 Gospels
3. To identify the similarities and unique features of each Gospel
4. To take a close look at each Gospel
5. To highlight the perfect harmony between the Gospels

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A Close Look at The 4 Gospels

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The Gospel of St. Matthew

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Gospel by St. Mathew (28 Chapters)

• Mathew = God’s Gift (12 disciples)
• Placed first in The New Testament because it is the bridge between The Old and New Testaments

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Characteristics:

1. Many prophecies (16)
2. Events: Nativity, guards' bribery, and Judas's suicide
3. Miracles: Peter walks on water and the coin in the fish
4. Parables: Hidden treasure and pearl, the wheat and the weed, the vinedresser, the 10 virgins, the talents (Chapter 13)

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Gospel by St. Mathew (28 Chapters)

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1 and 2

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3 and 4

Gospel by St. Mathew (28 Chapters)

• The Sermon on The Mountain: Chapters 5-7

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Gospel by St. Mathew (28 Chapters)

• Chapters 8 and 9

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Parables in Matthew 13

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Gospel by St. Mathew (28 Chapters)

• Warning & Cursing the Pharisees: Chapter 23

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• Signs of the end of the world: Chapter 24

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Mathew 25

• 2 Parables, each having the numbers 2 and 5

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Miracles in St. Matthew’s Gospel Only

• Peter walks on water!

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Miracles in St. Matthew’s Gospel Only Cont.

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Judas’ Suicide

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The Gospel of St. Mark

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Gospel by St. Mark (16 Chapters)

• John – Mark
• John: God’s Kindness
• Mark: Hammer

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“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight’ ” (Mark 1:3)

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Gospel by St. Mark (16 Chapters) Cont.

• Written to the Romans

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1. Explains the Jewish tradition of cleaning
2. Used non-Jewish words / foreign words
• Foreign words: Golgotha, Ephphatha, and Korban
3. Mentions important landmarks in Jerusalem, like The Temple

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Gospel by St. Mark (16 Chapters) Cont.

1. First Gospel to be written (Apostle)
• Mark (Roman, hammer) / John (Jewish, God’s Kindness)

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• Specific miracles: the mute and deaf person and the blind man in Bethesda

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• Specific parable: seed of wheat that grows spontaneously

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Gospel by St. Mark (16 Chapters) Cont.

• He wrote to the Romans – A powerful nation

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• Presented Jesus as a performer of miracles
• The 1^st chapter has 3 great miracles
1. a man with leprosy (fatal disease) Casting out demons
2. Healing Peter’s mother-in-law from a lethal fever
3. Healing

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Gospel by St. Mark (Chapter 1)

• Casting out the demon
• Healing the man with leprosy
• Healing Peter’s mother-in-law

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The Unique Miracle, Healing The Deaf and Mute

Mark 8:26 and Mark 8:22

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Gospel by St. Mark (16 Chapters) Cont.

• Specific event: Mark ran away naked during Jesus’ arrest

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The Gospel of St. Luke

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Gospel by St. Luke (24 Chapters)

• Luke means bright or light carrier

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• He was born in Antioch (Syria) and was a doctor / painter

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• Painted St. Mary’s Icon

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• One of St. Paul’s disciples

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Gospel by St. Luke (24 Chapters) Cont.

• Lived a celibate life
• Preached with St. Paul
• Wrote two books (Gospel & book of acts)
• Died as martyr at 84 years old
• Emperor Constantine moved his relics to Constantinople / Turkey
• Then they were moved to Italy

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Gospel by St. Luke (24 Chapters) Cont.

• Characteristics:
• Wrote to the Greeks (Gentiles)
• Miracle: raising the son of the widow of Nain and the woman who was sick for 18 years
• Parable: The Prodigal Son and the rich man and Lazarus

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• Other specifics: The Good Samaritan, The 10 with leprosy, the rebuke of the disciples who wanted to burn the Samaritan village, and the repentance of the right-hand thief

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Repentance of The Thief on The Cross

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Gospel by St. Luke (24 Chapters) Cont.

• Chapter 1

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• The annunciation and birth of St. John the Baptist
• The annunciation of Jesus’ birth
• St. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth
• The Coptic Church reads this chapter in the month of Kiahk

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Gospel by St. Luke (24 Chapters) Cont.

• Written to the Greeks / Gentiles
• Shows as Jesus a friend to the poor, sick, and widows
• Mentioned non-Jewish stories, like The Good Samaritan
• Many long and great parables
• Prayer
• Women

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The Parable of The Good Samaritan

• Luke 10: 25-37

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Prayer in Luke 11

• The Unjust Judge
• The Midnight Friend

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The Lost Entities, Luke 15

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The Acceptable Prayer, Luke 18

• The Pharisee and The Tax Collector

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Women in The Bible

Mary and Martha

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Luke 10

Anna The Prophetess

Luke 2

Great Parables

The Midnight Friend (Luke 11:5-8)

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• Spiritual meaning:
• The Man of The House
• The midnight guest
• The neighbor
• The three loaves of bread

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Building The Tower, Luke 14

• Who is the builder
• What is the cost?
• What is the reaction of the spectators?

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The King’s Plan for War, Luke 14

• Who is the king?
• Who is the other king?

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• 10,000 soldiers

vs

• 20,000 soldiers

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The Unjust Steward, Luke 16

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The Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke 16

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Raising the son of the widow of Nain, Luke 7

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Emmaus Disciples in Luke Chapter 24

The Conclusion

• Jesus’ Ascension and promise to send The Holy Spirit

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“I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high”

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The Gospel of St. John

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Gospel by St. John (21 Chapters)

• John (God’s Kindness), disciple, wrote 21 chapters
• Was a bishop in Ephesus, then was exiled to Patmos

He wrote 5 books : Gospel , Revelation and 3 epistles

• Characteristics:
• Miracles: water to wine, the born blind man, and raising Lazarus
• Dialogues: Nicodemus, The Samaritan Woman, The Good Shepherd (Chapter 10)
• Events: washing the disciples' feet, the money box with Judas, and giving St. Mary to John

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Jesus calls His First Disciples

1. Andrew

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• Peter

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• John

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• James

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• Philip

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• Nathaniel

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Jesus calls Nathaniel

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Jesus First Miracle, John 2

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Jesus and Nicodemus

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5)

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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:15)

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Gospel by St. John (21 Chapters) Cont.

• St John Gospel & Lent:

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• 4^th week: The Samaritan Woman (John Chapter 4)
• 5^th week: The Healing of The Paralytic Man (John Chapter 5)
• 6^th week: The Healing of The Man Born Blind (John Chapter 9)

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4^th week: The Samaritan Woman (John Chapter 4)

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5^th week: The Healing of The Paralytic Man, 38 years (John Chapter 5)

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6^th week: The Healing of The Man Born Blind (John Chapter 9)

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Great Miracles

Jesus washing the disciples' feet

• John 13:1-7

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Jesus speaks with The Father, John 17

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Jesus entrusts John with St. Mary

• John 19:26

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The Disciples & The Big Catch

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153 fish

100 + 50 + 3

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100 = Obedience to God’s command

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50 = Kindled The Holy Spirit

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3 = Believe in triune God

Holy body, soul, and spirit

John 21

Jesus Restores Peter

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“He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. “(John 21:17)

The Bible, Part 4 – Introduction to The 4 Gospels

​

Objectives

1. To recap on the OT and the NT’s important details and classifications
2. To address some important questions on The 4 Gospels
3. To identify the similarities and unique features of each Gospel
4. To take a close look at each Gospel
5. To highlight the perfect harmony between the Gospels

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The Conclusion

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“And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen” (John 21: 25)

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Harmony and Fault

• Each Gospels completes the other without any conflicts / contradictions

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Quiz

• Which Gospel has the most prophecies?

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• Which Gospel has the most miracles?

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• Which Gospel has the most parables?

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• Which Gospel has the power miracles?

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• Which Gospels written to the Jews, Greeks, Romans and all the world?

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Quiz Cont.

• Which Gospel has parables of lost items?

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• Which Gospel is read the most during Lent?

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• Which Gospel is read the 3^rd week of Lent?

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• Which Gospel has Judas’ suicide?

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• Which Gospel has the parable of the midnight friend?

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• Which Gospel has the man who ran away naked?

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• Which Gospel has the Emmaus Disciples?

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• Which Gospel has The Samaritan Woman?

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The Bible, Part 4 – Introduction to The 4 Gospels

​

Objectives

1. To recap on the OT and the NT’s important details and classifications
2. To address some important questions on The 4 Gospels
3. To identify the similarities and unique features of each Gospel
4. To take a close look at each Gospel
5. To highlight the perfect harmony between the Gospels

Lecture 10, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Memorization Verses

1. “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21)

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• “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Mathew 24:35)

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