SQ6
SQ6
What Historical circumstances contributed to the origin of the Gospels and Pauline Epistles?
In the gospels, the long return of Jesus is the driving motivation that causes them to produce a written document. The disciples thought that Jesus is just going to heaven “to change clothes” and He will return in a political messiah to rescue the Jews from the roman persecution which is a selfish simpleminded motive in their hearts. They did not get the vision in Acts 1:8 where the gospel will be spread out in Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria and to the ends of the earth but later in the day of Pentecost there is a divine illumination where the Holy Spirit has fired them to speed up the spread of the Gospel. The spreading of the Gospel has two factors; first is the working of the Holy Spirit equipping men to relay the Gospel and the movement of the conviction of the saints in proclaiming the kingdom of heaven. There is urgency for this and may God forgive me because sometimes I am not a good steward of this redemptive work He entrusted me. Also the oral tradition of relaying the Gospel also is being defeated due to the aging of the Apostles and eventually as the years goes by the apostles will die. Which the gospel of Mark was claimed to be written before or after the death of peter where the probable dates are 64-67 A.D. (Gundry). The gospel is not limited for the Jews only. There is a need also of relaying the gospels to the gentiles which Paul and Barnabas did. Here comes the Assignment of mark as a writer in instructing the converts of Judea (acts 13). Where mark has used the accounts of Jesus to supply the Spiritual needs of the Gentile converts.
In the Pauline Epistles, in here a written letter must be made because Paul cannot present himself physically to the believers of those places. There is an urgency of Doctrinal reproof, Encouragement, warnings against sexual ethics, Paganism, Christian Education, and other cases. One historical circumstances is the severe persecution of the believers whether Jews and gentiles. In here there is a need of encouragement for those who are “hanging” in their faith reminding them of what Jesus Christ did (Gal 1:3-4) and thanksgiving also for their Faithfulness (Col 1:3-5). The need of relaying the Gospel and its interpretation to the Gentiles for sound doctrine and ideal presentation like for the Book of Romans where Paul has presented it from the origin of sin to righteous Christian living. Also the need of Christian workers such as Timothy and Titus where pastoral letters must be needed for instruction so that the church will have an systematic order regarding worship, the qualifications of a church leader, the promotion of male teachers, the forbidding of women to teach over men, warnings against false teachers, advices about widows, elders and slaves, and stewardship of the ministry that is entrusted upon them. The case also that the life of Paul is at risk at all time and in this scene there is a fast need of transmitting all the teachings of Christ on the believers and to the church workers. There is a scarcity of time in the life of Paul due to the constant imprisoning made Him address the need of the church.
