COVENANT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

The many Jesuses in the New Testament

Most of us have been taught about Jesus since childhood. It’s fair to assume we know who he was, what he did and what he taught. 

Would you be surprised to realize that the four New Testament gospels and the letters of Paul actually offer very different portraits of the Christ? And the variations are not always subtle shadings. The texts differ on his family, his birth, his childhood, his ministry and message, his death and resurrection, and his appearances following the resurrection. 

If the concept of varying portraits is new to you, don’t fret. To see “The Big Picture,” we tend to downplay differences in individual portraits. But that process -- blending and painting over colors – can obscure the rich diversity and beauty in the original works of art. And the artists who wrote the gospels and letters selected “colors” – stories and sayings – to highlight what they considered important. In blending them, we may lose sight of specific themes or beliefs. 

If the topic sounds interesting, we invite you to join the Covenant Class this fall as we study “The New Testament Portrayals of Jesus: How and Why Do They Differ?” Our goals are: 

• To understand and appreciate the unique portrayals of Jesus.

• To explore the diversity within the Christian tradition.

The greatest hurdle facing us will be our own preconceptions. The greatest asset in our search for insights will be the texts themselves.

We meet in person and via Zoom. Our teacher, Carl Clarke, welcomes questions, encourages discussion and happily stirs the proverbial pot. (If you can’t join us live, we can share the Zoom recordings for later viewing or catching up.) 

Interested? Have questions? Contact Rex Seline at rex.seline@gmail.com.

Our first session is September 10.