Agreed. Which makes my point (or was it too subtle?). Luke admittedly was not a witness, so he can be excused for screwing up the date, the census, the genealogy, and borrowing from Josephus.
By tradition 'Mark' was not a witness and had to rely on what Peter preached. So we'll give him a pass on on his confused geography, OT Isaiah and his apparent Latinisms.
'Matthew', however, is supposed to be an eyewitness. Yet, he's in agreement (with minor variance in details) with non-witness Luke and non-witness 'Mark' - Syn-optic agreement.
How could 'Matthew' be in close agreement with the others unless he copied from them? But as an 'eyewitness', wouldn't he have his own story to tell?
'Matthew' is as much witness as the other two - that is, not an eyewitness at all.
The Jews were, and are, expecting a physical messiah, but we Christians understand that the messiah was to be spiritual and that he was to bring in a spiritual kingdom, the Kingdom of God.
Correct for the most part.
God will impose the "Kingdom of God" and give Israel the messianic king to rule it when the Jewish nation returns to the laws of Moses.
But that's hardly a Christian innovation. In 6CE, the revolt of Judas of Galilee expected to establish the "Kingdom of God". That revolt, BTW, was triggered by census that Luke used to setup his nativity story.
Anyhow, the uprising was eventually stamped out by the Romans. Reportedly, two thousand captured revolutionaries were crucified and thousands more supporters publicly flogged. The mostly Zealot followers of Judas (if they survived) slipped back across the border and went into hiding in the caves and hills around Galilee. Their hatred for Rome (and Roman lacky Antipas) didn't end. They would, on occasion, come out of hiding and harass Roman officials on the Judea side, as well as Herod Antipas' forces on the Galilean side. At this stage, the Zealots become known as "robbers". (cf. Josepjus)
It was from among these rebels that Jesus grew up and his initial disciples were found.
It is true that John was written in a manner that the Greeks could understand, but the message is not Greek-- the message is the theology of the NT. Comparing Jesus to the Logos is the very same thing as saying that Jesus is the Torah, something He himself said.
It most certainly is a Greek message, through and through.
And the idea of Jesus as an embodiment of Torah would be as completely alien to Jews as his 'this my blood and my body' communion.
Scholars also deduce evidence for other manuscripts when comparing the synoptics, and they hold that Mark is the oldest and puts its origin during Peter's lifetime.
Correct, Mark was written first. The hypothetical oral tradition may have been within Peters lifetime, but tradition and textual criticism puts it afterwards.
The other books follow closely and so they have validity as eyewitness accounts no matter who copied them down.
Not all that close, really.
65-80 Gospel of Mark
80-100 Gospel of Matthew
80-130 Gospel of Luke
90-120 Gospel of John
You seem to have a strange definition of "eyewitness account" on your planet.
Like CJ has said, the truth was so overwhelming that Jesus was the Messiah promised by Moses and all of the OT prophets that death was nothing to the Jews who believed, or to us either.
So where's the Third Temple? Era of world peace? The world-wide worship of God?
Correct for the all part.
Jesus appeared at the time predicted by Malachi, the last prophet before the NT. The NT picks up from Malachi and continues the story. John the Baptist, in Elijah's prophesised role, and as symbol of the HS, baptized the Jews, the virgin that would bring the Messiah. The worldwide peace is a spiritual peace, open to all who would accept it.
The prophet said that if the Jews accepted their messiah, then they would have the new temple, the Kingdom on earth. If they rejected him then he would ride a donkey into Jerusalem. Well you know the outcome.
Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
5:35
And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
5:36
For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
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After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
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And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
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But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.