Four Gospels?

Matthew Mark Luke John

The Four Gospel Accounts

From A Study Prepared By John Kimbrough Fort Worth Christian College Class Notes

The Old Testament Is the Foundation for the Main Event

Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph

Israel

Saul David Solomon

Judah

Overview of Bible Structure

 Old Testament: Foundation for the story  Gospels: They tell the story of Jesus  Acts: Tells the results of the story  Letters: Encouragement and course correction  Apocalyptic: The victory in figurative language

Matthew Mark Luke John

Why are there four gospels?

The answers are speculative and primarily based on observations of differences in the works.

• • • Differences in perspective Perhaps intended for different cultures Perhaps intended to address different issues of the day

Authors’ Names Are The Same As The Books

The Synoptic Gospels

Synoptic: to see from the same eye.

• • • Matthew Mark Luke

Have similar stories and events from the life of Jesus..

John has a different perspective of Jesus.

• An Apostle • Jewish • A Publican

Matthew

Matthew’s Characteristics

• Alternating Blocks Of Narrative and Discourse • Gospel Of The Kingdom • The Gospel Of Teaching • Gospel Of Prophetic Fulfillment

Matthew Shows Jesus As

• 1. King • 2. Promised Savior • 3. Messiah

Mark

•

Companion Of Paul

•

Jewish

Mark’s Characteristics

• Mainly Narrative • Fast Moving Terse Style • Shortest Gospel • Gospel Of Vividness • Gospel Of Power

Mark Shows Jesus As

• 1. Servant • 2. Powerful Savior • 3. Man of Action • 4. Servant of Jehovah

Luke

• Companion Of Paul • A Gentile • First Christian Historian

Luke’s Characteristics

• • • • • • • • Closest To A Full Biography Most Literary Gospel Emphasizes The Perean Ministry Gospel Of Perfect Humanity Of Jesus Gospel Of Universality Gospel Of The Underdog Gospel Of Womanhood Gospel Of Prayer

Luke Shows Jesus As

• 1. Son Of Man • 2. Perfect Savior • 3. Universal Savior • 4. Bringing perfection from imperfection

John

• The "Apostle Of Love" • Jewish

John’s Characteristics

• • • • • • Emphasizes the Early Judean Ministry Has no parables Calls miracles “signs" Simple style Reputation of words and themes Reflective gospel

John’s Characteristics Continued

• • • • • • Interpretive gospel Sketches of individual characters Personal relationships of Jesus Called the “Spiritual Gospel” Gospel of belief Gospel of God-Man

John Shows Jesus As

• 1. Son Of God • 2. Personal Savior • 3. Incarnate Word

Commonly Accepted Destinations

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Matthew:

•

Mark:

•

Luke:

•

John:

Jews Romans Greeks Cosmopolitan

The Story of Jesus Four different sources

• • • Representing different cultures Different perspectives Different purposes