Reading the Gospels

The word Gospels comes from the message that Jesus Christ preached, the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15). Gospel is translated from the Greek word euangelion, meaning “good news”; and the apostles would not have used the word in the plural since there was only one true gospel. The Gospels focus mostly on the 3½-year ministry of Jesus Christ and, especially, on the last week of His life. They give very little information about His life before age 30, and so they are not really intended as full biographies.

In writing their accounts each of the Gospel writers had a different background, audience and purpose in mind:

The Four Gospel Authors

1. Matthew
   The Bible tells us that Matthew was a tax collector. His profession was despised by his fellow Jews because publicans supported the Roman occupiers and because they frequently extorted additional money for themselves. Jesus called Matthew to be one of His disciples and apostles, so Matthew left his previous profession and spent his full time traveling and learning from Jesus Christ. He was an eyewitness of the events he records. Matthew’s Gospel shows a special emphasis on the fact that Jesus is the Messiah foretold by Old Testament Prophets. Matthew quotes extensively from the Old Testament and seems to have had Jewish readers particularly in mind.

2. Mark
   The Bible does not give Mark’s previous profession but mentions his work in preaching the gospel with Paul, Barnabas and Peter. Tradition says that Mark’s Gospel reflects Peter’s eyewitness testimony of Christ’s life. Mark’s emphasis on Jesus’ mighty and miraculous works makes this Gospel action-packed, fresh and vivid.  In general, Mark presents the miracle-working Jesus, not the teaching Jesus

3. Luke
   Luke was “the beloved physician” and companion of the apostle Paul. He had read many other accounts of Jesus’ life; but using interviews of eyewitnesses and careful research, he determined to write “an orderly account” for Theophilus, “that (he) may know the certainty of those things in which (he was) instructed” . Luke had a special emphasis on Jesus’ humanity and His kindness to the weak, suffering and outcasts. At the end of his Gospel, Luke recorded Christ’s statement to the disciples explaining how the prophecies about Him in “the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” had been and would be accurately completed.

4. John
   John was a fisherman when Jesus called him to be a disciple and apostle. John focused his eyewitness account heavily on the last days and hours of Christ’s life. John explained his reason for including the material he did in his Gospel: “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).

The four Gospel writers did not intend their audiences to read their books for entertainment, or even just for information. They wrote to get a message across—a message of warning and of hope. The Gospels are a call to action.

Go Further

An Introduction to the New Testament by D. A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo

An Introduction to the New Testament by Raymond E. Brown

Four Portraits, One Jesus: A Survey of Jesus and the Gospels by Mark L. Strauss

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Article adapted from http://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/holy-bible/new-testament/gospels/