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
Israel
Judah
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Joseph
Saul
David
Solomon
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.
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
•
•
•
•
•
•
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
•
•
•
•
Matthew:
Mark:
Luke:
John:
Jews
Romans
Greeks
Cosmopolitan
The Story of Jesus
Four different sources
• Representing different cultures
• Different perspectives
• Different purposes