The Four Gospels Overview

The Gospels are not like modern biographies. They’re about the ‘good news’ of Jesus Ministry.

The earliest NT writings The fragment beside is taken from his Letter to the Ephesians Ephesus – modern day Turkey St Paul ’ s letters are among the earliest Particularly his Letters to the Thessalonians C. 50 AD

Four Canonical Gospels Fragment of St Matthew ’ s Gospel Fragment of St Luke ’ s Gospel Fragment of St Johns ’ s Gospel

Inspiration Inspiration according to Judeo-Christian understanding The various author ’ s talents, abilities and even limitations are engaged Grace builds on nature

Gospel formation Process by which the gospels came about … Christian oral tradition Eyewitness accounts Use of written records now lost

Evangelists: St Matthew St. Matthew's Gospel The Apostle Matthew (Levi) For people who were Jewish converts to Christianity. Jesus' Jewish background and Jewish customs are explained. Many quotations from the Jewish Scriptures to show that Jesus was the fulfilment of God's promise to the Jews about the Messiah.

Evangelists: St Mark St. Mark's Gospel Short Gospel Concentrates on the last week before Jesus died. Shows how Jesus accepted suffering and won final victory. To encourage the Church in Rome which was suffering persecution. Message was to keep faith in Jesus in spite of troubles.

Evangelists: St Luke St. Luke's Gospel Gentile writer for a Gentile church. Includes many stories to show that Jesus is the saviour of the whole world. Shows how Jesus had time for the outsider, for people in society who were normally on the margins - women, the poor, foreigners, the sick and sinners.

Evangelists: St John St. John's Gospel The Apostle John Many differences between St. John's Gospel and the other three.

Terminology check synoptic evangelist Christian oral tradition inspiration Judeo- Christian gentile Messiahpersecution

Synoptic Gospels Matthew's gospel verses (28 chapters) about 600 verses from Mark about 218 from sources known to Matthew about 250 verses from a source known to Luke and Matthew Written in Antioch (?) about A.D ? Luke's gospel verses (24 chapters) about 350 verses from Mark about 600 verses from sources known to Luke about 250 verses from a source known to Luke and Matthew Written in Syria (?) about A.D ? Mark's gospel verses (16 chapters) Early records Memories of Peter Stories from first disciples Written in Rome about A.D. 65

THAT’S ALL FOR NOW