Three-Fold Motive of the Gospels
March 3, 2010 – 3:57 pmWe covered the process of exegeting the Gospels in Greek Exegetical Methods class today at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. This selection from Dr. Bruce Compton’s syllabus offers a helpful reminder of the purpose behind the authorship of the Gospels.
The second and third aspects are usually covered in introductory sermons in a book series. The first aspect, however, is often neglected.
The writers of the Gospels were driven by a threefold motive and goal:
The Gospels arose out of the missionary task of the Christian church. They were proclamations of the good news of redemption in Christ Jesus. The controlling concern of the gospel writers was to awaken and strengthen faith in the living Christ. They desired to set forth the reality concerning their Savior in order that others too might come to know Him. Accounts of His profound teachings and miraculous deeds were necessary to give a true portrayal of His character.
The written Gospels obviously served an apologetic function in the ministry of the church to the non-Christian world. Questions concerning the person and work of Christ Jesus arose in the minds of those who heard the oral proclamation of the gospel. Such questions were answered in these authoritative accounts.
It is obvious that the Gospels also served a catechetical function in the work of the church. While they did not eliminate the need for oral instruction of the converts, the church very early used them as authoritative material. These Gospels served to broaden the knowledge of the converts concerning their Savior and also deepened the personal assurance of the catechumens concerning the certainty of the faith which they had accepted (Hiebert, An Introduction to the New Testament, 1:28-29 [emphasis added]).
- “Greek Exegetical Methods,” pp. 18-19
