The Four Gospels

📖 A Detailed Teaching Guide to the Four Gospels

The four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are the foundational narrative accounts of Jesus Christ’s life, teachings, death, and resurrection, written in a style comparable to ancient memoirs or biographies.

I. Understanding the Gospels

A. Definition and Nature

The Term "Gospel": The word "gospel" comes from the Greek term $euangelion$, meaning “good message” or “good news.” It originally referred to the message about Jesus's life and teachings.

Literary Style: They are narrative accounts, similar to modern biographies, and were referred to as “memoirs” around 100 years after Jesus lived.

Scope (Not Comprehensive): The Gospels are not complete biographies. The Evangelists (Gospel writers) selected specific teachings and miracles, resulting in significant gaps in the account of Jesus’s life. As John suggests, a truly complete account would be impossible to document.

B. Methods of Study

Concentrated Study: The foundational approach is to study each Gospel individually, focusing on the text itself and understanding it as a distinct account.

Comparative Study: This involves comparing the narratives across all four Gospels to appreciate their nuances and differences.

II. The Four Gospels: Authorship, Date, and Audience

The four Gospels were written in Greek during the latter half of the first century (c. 50–109 AD). While they ultimately serve Christians of all ages, each had a primary author and a specific, initial audience.

GospelWriterPrimary Audience & PurposeKey Portrait of JesusMatthewMatthew (Levi)Jewish people; Show how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy and was the true Messiah.The Jewish King and Authoritative Teacher.MarkMark (John Mark), associate of PeterRoman Christians; Show Christ as the powerful Son of God in action and service.The Servant and focus on powerful works.LukeLuke, a doctor and historianTheophilus (a distinguished Roman citizen) and a Greek audience; Provide an accurate, engaging, and orderly narrative.The Human Savior (contains unique parables and details about Mary).JohnJohn, the ApostleChristians; Prove Jesus’s divinity against heretics and record miraculous signs to spark faith in God the Son.The Divine Son of God (focus on Christ’s divine nature).

III. Reasons for Having Four Gospels

The four Gospels emerged to meet unique needs in the early Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit to preserve and spread the message of Jesus Christ.

A. Fundamental Theological Reasons

Veracity: Multiple testimonies confirm the truth. The entrance of God's Son into the world demanded multiple witnesses.

Doxology: They serve as accounts that inspire worship and proclaim Christ's glory.

Universality: The diverse perspectives allow people worldwide and from different cultures to identify with Jesus’s story.

B. Practical Needs

Preservation: To capture and preserve apostolic preaching as the original witnesses faced martyrdom.

Mission Support: To support the dramatic expansion of the church into Gentile (non-Jewish) missions.

Correction: To correct false teachings about Jesus and His mission that arose in the early Church.

IV. Distinctions and Common Features

A. Key Features

Common Plotline: All four Gospels recount the fundamental common events: Jesus's life, teachings, miracles, death at the hands of Roman authorities, and resurrection (empty tomb discovered by women).

Shared Message: All agree that discipleship means radical obedience to God and service to Jesus Christ.

Four Portraits, One Jesus: While each presents a distinct perspective, they create a coherent and magnificent composite picture of Jesus—not four different "Jesuses."

B. The Synoptic Gospels

Definition: The term “Synoptic” (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) literally means “seen together.”

Characteristics: These three Gospels can be easily written in parallel columns because they:

Narrate many of the same stories.

Often use nearly identical wording.

Follow a similar general order of events.

John’s Distinction: John’s Gospel is not considered synoptic because it takes a distinctly different narrative and thematic approach.

V. Addressing Apparent Discrepancies and Infallibility

Apparent contradictions often arise from demanding modern standards of historical precision from ancient documents. Resolving them requires understanding the Gospels' literary methods.

A. Reconciling Differences

Historical Context: The Gospels are not word-for-word transcripts but follow the ancient method of summarizing accounts, paraphrasing speeches, and reporting events from specific perspectives.

Translation and Interpretation: Jesus spoke Aramaic, but the Gospels are written in Greek, meaning all his words are already translations and interpretations of his “authentic voice.”

Complementary Accounts: Discrepancies in circumstantial details (like the centurion’s request being made by himself in Matthew, but by a representative in Luke) do not prove the central facts are unhistorical. They are complementary accounts that capture the essence of Jesus’s message.

B. Infallibility and Divine Inspiration

The Nature of Infallibility: Biblical infallibility means the Bible is entirely trustworthy and without error in what it intends to communicate. It does not mean the writers cannot differ in their recounting or literary style.

Focus on the Core: Most discrepancies are trivial (e.g., numbers or dates) and often yield to careful study. The fundamental agreement across books written by different authors over centuries is seen as evidence of divine guidance.

Unresolved Questions: Acknowledging that some difficulties remain unresolved does not invalidate faith. The focus is on the essential truth of the message.