The Gospel of John was about outside influence on the Johannine communities, while these three letters of John seem to be describing the fracturing of the Johannine community itself. He warned them about sinful behavior and the fracturing of the Christian community. As the Gospel of John was written for unbelievers, this epistle was written to those who were already believers. However, there are very few Old Testament quotations or distinctly Jewish forms of expression. Have you ever seen a community fall apart?
purpose
The sons of this age (Lk 20:34-20:34)
“Jesus said to them.
‘Those who belong
To this age
Marry
And are given
In marriage.’”
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς Οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου γαμοῦσιν καὶ γαμίσκονται,
Luke uniquely indicated that Jesus said to the Sadducees (καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς) that those who belong to this age, the sons of this age (Οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου), marry (γαμοῦσιν) and are given in marriage (καὶ γαμίσκονται). Both Matthew, chapter 22:29, and Mark, chapter 12:24, are almost word for word, with Jesus flat out telling the Sadducees that they were wrong, without mentioning the present age. However, this reprimand by Jesus is not here in Luke. Matthew indicated that Jesus answered the Sadducees (ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς) by telling them that they were wrong, deceived, or lead astray (εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Πλανᾶσθε). They did not know the scriptures or the writings (μὴ εἰδότες τὰς γραφὰς). They also did not know the power or purpose of God (μηδὲ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Θεοῦ). Mark said that Jesus responded to the Sadducees (ἔφη αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς) by telling them that they were wrong, deceived, or led astray (Οὐ διὰ τοῦτο πλανᾶσθε). They did not know the scriptures or the writings (μὴ εἰδότες τὰς γραφὰς). They also did not know the power or purpose of God (μηδὲ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Θεοῦ). Simply put, they were ill-informed or stupid. Luke did not use this kind of language. Do you think that some people are stupid?
Pray (Lk 18:1-18:1)
“Then Jesus told them
A parable
About the need
To pray always.
Do not grow weary!”
Ἔλεγεν δὲ παραβολὴν αὐτοῖς πρὸς τὸ δεῖν πάντοτε προσεύχεσθαι αὐτοὺς καὶ μὴ ἐνκακεῖν,
Luke is the only synoptic writer with this parable about the widow and the judge to emphasize the importance of prayer. Right from the beginning, he had Jesus tell them the purpose of the parable, rather than a secret that they would have to figure out. Then Jesus told them a parable (Ἔλεγεν δὲ παραβολὴν αὐτοῖς) about the need or duty to always pray (πρὸς τὸ δεῖν πάντοτε προσεύχεσθαι αὐτοὺς). They were not to lose heart or grow weary (καὶ μὴ ἐνκακεῖν). Do you remember to always pray?
Preach the gospel (Lk 4:43-4:43)
“But Jesus
Said to them.
‘I must proclaim
The good news
Of the kingdom of God
To the other towns also.
I was sent
For this purpose.’”
ὁ δὲ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὅτι Καὶ ταῖς ἑτέραις πόλεσιν εὐαγγελίσασθαί με δεῖ τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι ἐπὶ τοῦτο ἀπεστάλην.
Luke indicated that Jesus said to them (ὁ δὲ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς) that it was his duty (με δεῖ) to proclaim or preach the good news (εὐαγγελίσασθαί) about the kingdom of God (τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ) to the other towns or cities also (ὅτι Καὶ ταῖς ἑτέραις πόλεσιν). He was sent for that purpose (ὅτι ἐπὶ τοῦτο ἀπεστάλην). There is something similar in Mark. chapter 1:37-38, but there was no explicit message about proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Mark simply recounted that Jesus said to his followers that they were going into the nearby neighboring towns or villages. Thus, he could proclaim or preach his unspecified message there. That was what he came to do, since it was time to get to work. Jesus had to move on to the other nearby towns and villages to proclaim his message.
You do not know scriptures (Mk 12:24-12:24)
“Jesus said to them.
‘Is this not the reason
That you are wrong?
You know neither
The scriptures
Nor the power of God.’”
ἔφη αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς Οὐ διὰ τοῦτο πλανᾶσθε μὴ εἰδότες τὰς γραφὰς μηδὲ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Θεοῦ
This comment or reprimand by Jesus is similar to Matthew, chapter 22:29, but not in Luke. Mark said that Jesus responded to the Sadducees (ἔφη αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς) by telling them that they were wrong, deceived, or led astray (Οὐ διὰ τοῦτο πλανᾶσθε). They did not know scriptures or the writings (μὴ εἰδότες τὰς γραφὰς). They also did not know the power or purpose of God (μηδὲ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Θεοῦ). Simply put, they were ill-informed or stupid.
Jesus came to John to be baptized (Mk 1:9-1:9)
“In those days,
Jesus came
From Nazareth
Of Galilee.
He was baptized
By John
In the Jordan River.”
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ Ναζαρὲτ τῆς Γαλιλαίας καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη εἰς τὸν Ἰορδάνην ὑπὸ Ἰωάνου.
One concrete event, John the Baptist baptizing Jesus at the Jordan River, stands at the beginning of the public life of Jesus in all four of the canonical gospel accounts of Mark, chapter 1:9, Matthew, chapter 3:13, Luke, chapter 3:21, and John, chapter 1:32-34. Even many of the historical Jesus skeptics consider the fact that John the Baptist baptized Jesus to be a real historical episode. Mark said that in those days it came to pass (Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις) that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee (ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ Ναζαρὲτ τῆς Γαλιλαίας). Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River (καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη εἰς τὸν Ἰορδάνην ὑπὸ Ἰωάνου). In this first appearance of Jesus, the first thing he did was submit to the baptism of John the Baptist. Thus, he might have been a disciple of John. Only Matthew and Mark indicate where he came from, although Matthew only mentioned Galilee and not Nazareth. Jesus came with a purpose, to be baptized by John in the Jordan River. John did not seek out Jesus. Jesus came to him. In Matthew, chapter 3:14-15, John was reluctant to baptize Jesus, but finally did. There was no such discussion in any of the other gospel stories.
Jesus responds (Mt 22:29-22:29)
“Jesus answered them.
‘You are wrong!
Because you know
Neither the scriptures
Nor the power of God.’”
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Πλανᾶσθε μὴ εἰδότες τὰς γραφὰς μηδὲ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Θεοῦ.
This comment or reprimand by Jesus is similar to Mark, chapter 12:24, but not in Luke. Jesus answered the Sadducees (ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς) by telling them that they were wrong, deceived, or lead astray (εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Πλανᾶσθε). They did not know scriptures or the writings (μὴ εἰδότες τὰς γραφὰς). They did not know the power or purpose of God (μηδὲ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Θεοῦ). They were ill-informed.
The temptations of Jesus
Once John baptized Jesus, according to all three synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the Judaean desert. After this fast, the devil, the tempter, or Satan appeared to Jesus trying to test or tempt him. Jesus refused each of the 3 human temptations concerning the hedonism of hunger, the egotism of power, and the materialism of wealth. These temptations were to mislead and pervert the thinking, wishing, and feeling of Jesus. Although Mark‘s account was very brief, Matthew and Luke described the temptations in great detail that may have come from their common Q source. Is this a parable? What was the purpose of these accounts? There is no doubt that Matthew used language from the Old Testament Septuagint with a series of quotations from Deuteronomy. Fasting was a preparation for a great spiritual struggle. Once the temptations were over, Satan departed. Then angels of God began looking after Jesus. These temptations of Jesus have had many portrayals in art, literature, film, and music, since they have captured the imagination of many of the followers of Jesus Christ
Jesus wants to be baptized (Mt 3:15-3:15)
“But Jesus answered him.
‘Let it be so now.
It is proper for us
In this way
For us
To fulfill
All righteousness.’
Then he consented.”
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ἄφες ἄρτι·οὕτως γὰρ πρέπον ἐστὶν ἡμῖν πληρῶσαι πᾶσαν δικαιοσύνην. τότε ἀφίησιν αὐτόν.
Why did Jesus need to be baptized, since he was not a sinner? Some of the early Christians were not pleased about this baptismal action, since it seemed to show that John was more important. Jesus responded to John (ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ). He wanted his baptism by John to be done now (Ἄφες ἄρτι·οὕτως), because it was a proper and a fitting thing to do (γὰρ πρέπον ἐστὶν ἡμῖν). The purpose of this baptismal action was to show that Jesus was obedient to the divine will as a complete righteous person (πληρῶσαι πᾶσαν δικαιοσύνην). Jesus had come to proclaim his higher ethical judgment of righteousness. He was willing to submit to the baptism of John. John the Baptist no longer hesitated, as he agreed to baptize Jesus (τότε ἀφίησιν αὐτόν). There was no discussion like this in Mark, chapter 1:9 and Luke, chapter 3:21, just Jesus being baptized.
Jesus came to John (Mt 3:13-3:13)
“Then Jesus
Came from Galilee
To John,
At the Jordan River,
To be baptized by him.”
Τότε παραγίνεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰορδάνην πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάνην τοῦ βαπτισθῆναι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ.
One concrete event, John the Baptist baptizing Jesus at the Jordan River, stands at the beginning of the public life of Jesus in all four of the canonical gospel accounts of Mark, chapter 1:9, Matthew, chapter 3:13, Luke, chapter 3:21, and John, chapter 1:34. Even many of the historical Jesus skeptics consider the fact that John the Baptist baptized Jesus to be a real historical episode. Jesus now appeared (Τότε παραγίνεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς) on the scene for the first time. He came from Galilee (ἀπὸ τῆς Γαλιλαίας), where Matthew left him as a young child with his father Joseph. Jesus came with a purpose, to see John the Baptist (πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάνην) at the Jordan River (ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰορδάνην). He wanted John the Baptist to baptize him (τοῦ βαπτισθῆναι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ). John did not seek out Jesus, Jesus came to him.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 