The transfiguration of Jesus : an aspect of Jesus’ glory

Abstract

This dissertation will be dealing with the episode of ‘The Transfiguration of Jesus’. The work will be divided into three main chapters. The first chapter would discuss ‘The Transfiguration of Jesus in the Gospel according to Mark’, and aspects that show how Mark narrated this episode uniquely without copying the other Gospels. Therefore, it is stated by many scholars that he is the first evangelist to write his Gospel before that of Matthew, Luke and John. The second chapter would look at ‘The Transfiguration of Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew’. This chapter will show how Matthew followed Mark’s footsteps whilst adding his own material. The third and the final chapter will be on ‘The Transfiguration of Jesus in the Gospel according to Luke’. The third chapter would show how Luke was inspired by Mark’s work whilst giving his own impressions on this episode. The story of the ‘Transfiguration of Jesus’ is only found in the Synoptic Gospels, thus this episode is not found in the Gospel of John. In these three chapters an aspect of the glorification of Jesus will be shown when Jesus was transfigured in front of the three disciples on the mountain and also when the divine voice affirmed Jesus’ identity: “This is my beloved Son” (Mk 9:7; Mt 17:5; Lk 9: 35).