New Testament
The Gospels
Four accounts of Jesus of Nazareth · Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John narrate the ministry, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Each presents testimony about his words and deeds and identifies him as the Christ.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke are commonly called the Synoptic Gospels because they share many events, sayings, and a broadly similar sequence. John contains additional signs and extended discourses and states that its account was written so readers may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31).
Period
The events they narrate are set c. 4 BCE–30/33 CE. Traditional Christian dating places the books between c. 50–65 CE (Matthew and Mark) and c. 65–85 CE (Luke and John).
Themes
- The kingdom of God
- The identity of Jesus as Messiah and Son
- Cross and resurrection
- Discipleship and the shape of a new community
- Fulfilment of Israel's scriptures
Traditional Authorship
Church tradition, going back to Papias (early 2nd c.) and Irenaeus, attributes Matthew to the apostle Matthew (originally, per Papias, 'in the Hebrew dialect'), Mark to John Mark writing down Peter's preaching in Rome, Luke to Paul's physician companion, and John to the apostle John son of Zebedee in Ephesus. The four-Gospel canon is settled by the late 2nd c.
Modern Scholarly Proposals
Many modern scholars propose that Mark was written first and that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a source. Some also propose a lost sayings source commonly called Q; no manuscript of Q is known. Scholars differ over whether the traditional names identify the original writers. These are modern reconstructions rather than statements made by the four Gospel texts.
The Books
4 booksClick any title to open it in the reader at chapter 1.
- Matthew28 ch
c. 50–65 CE per traditional conservative dating (or c. 80–90 CE in critical consensus).
The Gospel that most self-consciously reads Jesus in the light of Israel's scriptures. Structured around five great teaching blocks, including the Sermon on the Mount.
- Mark16 ch
c. 50–65 CE per traditional conservative dating (or c. 65–70 CE in critical consensus).
The shortest, fastest Gospel — 'immediately' is its favourite word. It shows Jesus as the crucified Son of God and his disciples as slow to understand.
- Luke24 ch
c. 58–62 CE per traditional conservative dating (written prior to Acts; or c. 80–90 CE in critical consensus).
The most literary Gospel, with unique material about Jesus' compassion for outsiders, women, and the poor. Volume one of Luke–Acts.
- John21 ch
c. 65–85 CE per traditional conservative dating (or c. 90–100 CE in critical consensus).
A meditative Gospel of signs and long discourses. Jesus is the Word made flesh, the light of the world, the way, the truth, and the life.