Jonah Patel
The Gospels are four books in the Bible that share the story of Jesus's life, ministry, death, and resurrection. They are told from four different perspectives, each with its own distinct understanding of Jesus and his role. The four gospels are: The Gospel According to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These books are considered a subset of ancient biographies, meant to convince people that Jesus was a miracle-working holy man and to provide examples for readers to emulate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of books | 4 |
| Names of the books | Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John |
| Purpose | To tell the story of Jesus from four different perspectives |
| Main subject | Jesus |
| Type of text | Ancient biography, preaching, propaganda |
| Target audience | Different original groups of people |
| Authors | Four different authors |
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What You'll Learn
The Gospel of Matthew
Matthew's gospel is structured with five blocks of narrative, each followed by discourse, marking each off with the phrase "When Jesus finished these words" or something similar. The five discourses are the Sermon on the Mount, the missionary discourse, the parable discourse, the "church order" discourse, and the eschatological discourse. The narrative that constitutes the first part of the fourth book of the gospel shows Jesus preparing for the establishment of his church, with its teaching authority that will supplant the blind guidance of the Pharisees.
The story of Jesus' passion and resurrection is the climax of the gospel, throwing light on all that has preceded. Matthew portrays Jesus in his passion as both serene and obedient, yet also feeling the depths of fear and abandonment in the face of death.
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The Gospel of Mark
A significant portion of Mark's Gospel focuses on Jesus' ministry in Galilee, where he calls his first disciples, teaches in synagogues, and performs miracles. Jesus teaches in parables, such as the Parable of the Sower and the Seed, to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom of God to his disciples. Mark highlights Jesus' power over nature, demons, and disease, presenting him as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah who has come to bring God's kingdom to earth. A turning point in the narrative is the confession of Peter, one of the Twelve Disciples, who recognizes Jesus as "the Messiah."
However, Jesus also predicts his own suffering and death, causing confusion and misunderstanding among his followers. As the Gospel progresses, Jesus heads towards Jerusalem, where he creates a stir by cleansing the temple and challenging the religious leaders. The plot against him thickens, leading to his arrest, trial, and ultimately, crucifixion. Mark poignantly describes Jesus' final hours, including his cry of despair on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" and his final cry, "It is finished," before he breathes his last.
Overall, the Gospel of Mark provides a vivid and compelling portrait of Jesus, emphasizing his dynamic and powerful ministry, his messianic claims, and the path of self-sacrifice he chose for the salvation of humanity. Mark's narrative style and theological emphasis have had a profound influence on Christian theology, worship, and discipleship, shaping the way Christians understand and follow Christ even to this day.
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The Gospel of Luke
The author of the Gospel of Luke is not explicitly named in the text, but early Christian tradition identifies the author as Luke, a Syrian from Antioch, and a companion of Paul. Luke is mentioned in the New Testament in Col 4:14, Phlm 24, and 2 Tm 4:11. He is believed to have been a first-century physician and is recognised as the author and editor of this gospel by church tradition. However, some scholars have expressed doubt about this attribution due to contradictions between the account in Acts and the authentic Pauline letters.
Luke's gospel interprets the teachings of Jesus through the lens of the early church, shifting the emphasis away from the expectation of an imminent parousia to the day-to-day concerns of the Christian community. Luke emphasises the words "each day" in the sayings of Jesus, presenting him as a model of Christian life and piety. He also highlights Jesus' concern for the poor, the outcast, sinners, and the afflicted, while being severe towards the proud and self-righteous. Luke's gospel is unique in its focus on the mercy and compassion of Jesus, the role of the Spirit, the importance of prayer, and Jesus' interactions with women.
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The Gospel of John
The author of the Gospel of John seems to have known some version of Mark and Luke, as it shares some vocabulary and incidents arranged in the same order. However, key terms from those gospels are absent or nearly so, implying that the author felt free to write independently. The Hebrew scriptures were an important source, with 14 direct quotations, and their influence is even greater when allusions and echoes are considered.
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The Synoptic Gospels
While the Synoptic Gospels share a lot of content, they also have some differences. Matthew and Luke are both considerably longer than Mark. Matthew was written for a Jewish audience, Mark for a Roman audience, and Luke for a broader Gentile audience. Matthew makes frequent references to the Old Testament, using the phrase "the kingdom of heaven," which is unique to this gospel. Luke emphasizes Jesus' acts of compassion toward Gentiles and Samaritans.
The similarities and differences between the Synoptic Gospels have been a topic of debate for centuries and are known as the Synoptic Problem. The majority view, known as Marcan priority, holds that Matthew and Luke made direct use of the Gospel of Mark as a source and also drew from a hypothetical document called Q. However, no conclusive solution to the Synoptic Problem has been found.
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Frequently asked questions
The Gospels are the four books of the Bible that tell the story of Jesus. They are found in the New Testament.
The four Gospels are named after the authors: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the synoptic gospels due to their close similarities in content, arrangement, and language.
Each Gospel was written for a different group of people, by a different author, who was trying to accomplish a different purpose.
