The Four Gospels

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The four Gospels are books about Jesus but not by Jesus. These accounts show a full picture of Jesus’ message and ministry, delivered to four specific audiences.

COMPOSITION

  • The Gospels are books about Jesus but not by Jesus.
  • The Gospels contain different types of content:
    • Narrative – These sections tell what Jesus did.
    • Teaching – These sections record what Jesus taught.
    • Parables – These sections portray a singular truth in memorable stories.
  • While parts are biographical, the Gospels never intended to record every detail of Jesus’ life.

CONTEXT

  • Immerse yourself in the first-century Judaism in which Jesus lived.
  • Discover who Jesus’ audience was in a given situation (close disciples, large crowds, religious opponents).
  • Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the Synoptic Gospels (describe events from a similar point of view).

CONSIDERATION

  • Different Christian communities needed a specific book about Jesus.
  • As individual accounts, they each tell a complete story to a particular group of people.
  • As a whole, they fill in details and provide a more comprehensive perspective.

CONTRASTS

  • Matthew
    • Intention – Presents Jesus as Israel’s Messiah
    • Primary Audience – Jews
    • Author’s Source – First-hand witness as one of the Twelve
    • Occupation – Tax collector
    • Date – 50s-60s
    • Perspective – Matt. 9:9-13; 10:1-4
  • Mark
    • Intention – Emphasizes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
    • Primary Audience – Roman Empire
    • Author’s Source – Disciple of Jesus (not one of the Twelve); colleague of Peter
    • Occupation – ?
    • Date – 50s-60s
    • Perspective – Mark 14:51-52; 66-72 (cf. John 18:15-18, 25-27)
  • Luke
    • Intention – Written to a Gentile man named Theophilus 
    • Primary Audience – Gentiles
    • Author’s Source – Colleague of Paul; interviewed many sources
    • Occupation – Physician
    • Date – Early 60s
    • Perspective – Luke 1:1-4; 2:19
  • John
    • Intention – Teaches theological truth to persuade people to believe in Jesus
    • Primary Audience – Non-Christians (John calls for a response)
    • Author’s Source – First-hand witness as one of the Twelve and inner Three
    • Occupation – Fisherman
    • Date – Around A.D. 85
    • Perspective – John 14:23-25; 18:15-16; 19:26-27; 35; 20:2-9; 30-31; 21:20-25

WHO RECORDED IT?

  • A large number of healings
  • More parables on money
  • Less amount of teaching material
  • He prefers to say “Kingdom of Heaven rather than “Kingdom of God”
  • Starts Jesus’ family tree with Adam
  • Roughest on Peter’s character
  • “I AM” statements
  • Starts Jesus’ family tree with Abraham
  • Most descriptive of the virgin birth
  • Plenty of fishing stories
  • Most Old Testament quotations
  • Very detailed in retelling facts
  • Uses the word “immediately” 41 times