In this lecture on the Synoptic Gospels from Tyndale University College, we look at the Gospel of Mark. Mark is generally considered to be the earliest of the Synoptic Gospels. We look at some of the unique aspects of Mark to set up the rest of our study of the Synoptic Gospels.

This is a continuation of my lectures on Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels as taught at Tyndale University College. In this episode, we look at the authorship and the dating of the Gospels. Were Matthew, Mark and Luke really the authors? And when were they written? There are some who date the Gospels early and ... Read More "Episode 20 – Synoptic Gospels (Authorship and Date)" »

This is a continuation of the course on Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels that I taught at Tyndale University College. In this section, we look at the synoptic problem, various forms of historical criticism, the three quests for the historical Jesus and the criteria of authenticity. The book I recommend is this book that was ... Read More "Episode 19 – Synoptic Gospels (Synoptic Problem and Historical Criticism)" »

This the second part of a lecture on Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels taught at Tyndale University College. In this section, I give a quick summary of the Greco-Roman background of the Gospels. In addition we look at the genre of the Gospels. We finish with a look at the development of the canon, including ... Read More "Episode 18 – Synoptic Gospels (Background, Genre, Canon)" »

This episode is the first part of a series of lectures I gave for a course on Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels for Tyndale University College. This first lecture deals with the Jewish background to the Synoptic Gospels. While some of this material was given in our episode on Second Temple Judaism, it is worth ... Read More "Episode 17 – Synoptic Gospels (Jewish Background)" »

The family of Herod the Great weaved in and out of the story of the early church, including the lives of Jesus […]

The family of Herod the Great weaved in and out of the story of the early church, including the lives of Jesus and Paul. But who were the Herods? What was so great about Herod the Great? And what was their relationship to the Romans? This episode looks at those questions as we examine Herod ... Read More "Episode 16 – Herod and Sons" »

Introduction Many children are looking forward to October 31. They enjoy dressing up as their favourite superhero or some other character, and even more the large amounts of sugary treats that they will consume. It is a great time for all. But this October 31 is much more significant than Halloween. Many people in the ... Read More "Episode 15 – Martin Luther Nailed It: A Reformation Day Sermon" »

Christianity didn’t emerge out of a vacuum. Although considered a separate religion now, it was originally a sect of Judaism. The culture in which it appeared is called Second Temple Judaism. In this episode, we look at some of the history of the Jewish world from the construction to the destruction of the second temple. ... Read More "Episode 14 – Second Temple Judaism" »

In this episode of the podcast, we have an interview with Dr. Mark Steinacher. Mark is an assistant professor of history at Tyndale University College. Mark shares with us how he came to be interested in history and offers some fascinating insights into the relevance of history for the church. Books mentioned in this episode:War, ... Read More "Episode 13 – Interview With A Historian: Mark Steinacher" »