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

Ada

m

Gre

at P

atri

arch

s

AbrahamIsaacJacobJoseph

Isra

el in

Egy

pt

Exo

dus

Mt.

Sin

ai

Wan

deri

ngs

Con

ques

t

Judg

es

Uni

ted

Kin

gdom

SaulDavidSolomon

Div

ided

Kin

gdom

Israel

Judah

Cap

tivi

ty a

nd e

xile

Ret

urn

from

cap

tivi

ty

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

MatthewMark

LukeJohn

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

John has a different perspective of Jesus.

Have similar stories and events

from the life of Jesus..

Matthew

• An Apostle

• Jewish

• A Publican

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

• Interpretive gospel

• Sketches of individual characters

• Personal relationships of Jesus

• Called the “Spiritual Gospel”

• Gospel of belief

• Gospel of God-Man

Continued

John Shows Jesus As

• 1. Son Of God

• 2. Personal Savior

• 3. Incarnate Word

Commonly Accepted

Destinations

• Matthew: Jews

• Mark: Romans

• Luke: Greeks

• John: Cosmopolitan

The Story of JesusFour different sources

• Representing different cultures

• Different perspectives

• Different purposes