Comparing the Gospels

    When studying the New Testament, especially the four Gospels, there is always a question of comparing them and identifying their similarities and differences. While there may be fewer questions from the casual reader or believer, I believe that the more studious reader of the Gospels will desire answers to these more difficult questions. First of all, it is important to know the purpose of the gospel as well as the intended audience of the gospel. This information helps the reader place the book into the correct historical context. Secondly, the avid reader will seek the answer to how each gospel portrays the life and ministry of Jesus. It may be hard to believe, but each gospel portrays Jesus in a different light, showing various aspects of Jesus’ personality. Lastly, it is important to understand the major theme of the gospel in question.

    When studying the purpose of the gospel, it is important to view it in the correct context historically and understand the audience for which the gospel was written. For starters, the gospel of Matthew is the first book of the new testament. This means that it is ultimately the bridge between the old testament and what would become the new testament. Therefore, Matthew writes from the Jewish perspective to allow context. On page 20 of Discovering the New Testament, it states, “The Gospel of Matthew is especially suited to be the first Gospel and to function as the transition book from the Old Testament to the New. It is written with a Jewish perspective in mind and gives special attention to the way Jesus fulfilled various prophecies (and the Law) of the Old Testament.” (Varughese, 2004). The Gospel of Matthew was written approximately between 60 and 65 AD, only 30 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. Matthew was one of the original disciples of Jesus, therefore he was writing from personal experience, which added validity to the story. The book of Matthew is the gospel that provides the most structure to the story, which the main goal of proving Jesus as the Messiah. According to Mark Strauss’ Four Portraits, One Jesus, he states that Matthew “presents Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, the fulfillment of the Old Testament hopes” (Strauss, 2007).

    In the Gospel of Mark, the writer details the suffering of the son of God. This book’s primary purpose was to present the person, work, and teachings of Jesus. Unlike Matthew, Mark was not a disciple of Jesus. In reality, Mark accompanied Paul on his first missionary trip. In Discovery of the New Testament, on page 20, it states, “Mark is characterized by the energetic activity of Jesus. Mark’s descriptions are actually more detailed than Matthew’s, but Mark contains very few sections of the teachings of Jesus”(Varughese, 2004). This gospel was collected and written around 55 and 65 AD, meaning it could have been written around the same time as the Gospel of Matthew. As discussed in the YouTube video entitled, Who Was Jesus in the Gospel of Mark? Joseph Dongel explained that the Gospel of Mark is a book about Identity, mainly the identity of Jesus. He further explained the various ways that Jesus is identified throughout the book; whether it be God the Father identifying Jesus as His beloved son as Jesus’ baptism or the demons identifying Jesus as the Son of God (Who Was Jesus in the Gospel of Mark? 2012). This sentiment is reiterated in Discovering the New Testament on page 20, “The kingdom of God, Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus as the Son of God, and Jesus as the Son of Man are common themes treated in Mark” (Varughese, 2004). In Four Portraits, One Jesus, Strauss states, “Mark portrays him as the suffering Son of God, who offers himself as a sacrifice for sins” (Strauss, 2007).

    Similar to Mark, Luke was not one of Jesus’ disciples. Instead, he was a doctor who compiled an accurate account of the life of Jesus, where he presented Jesus as the perfect person and savior. Luke was a close friend and companion for Paul. The gospel was written approximately in 60 AD, after traveling and interviewing eye-witness to the ministry of Jesus. After reading and reviewing the Gospel of Luke, it is clear that Luke focused on Jesus’ relationship with people. On page 20 of Discovering the New Testament, it states, “Luke gives special attention to the poor, to the sick, to the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s plan of salvation, and to the participation of women in the work and ministry of Jesus”(Varughese, 2004). This is supported by the book Four Portraits, One Jesus by Mark Strauss which indicates on page 56 in future 1.2 that Jesus was the Savior of all people. Mark Strauss also indicates that Luke’s writing is the most thematic of the Gospels (2007). When portraying Jesus to the audience, Mark Strauss States, “Luke’s Jesus is the savior for all people, who brings salvation to all nations and people groups” (Strauss, 2007).
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    Lastly, looking at the Gospel of John the avid reader will notice a completely different writing style to the previous three gospels. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke are more narratives, where they share the events of Jesus’ ministry, John writes the most theological study of the ministry of Jesus according to Mark Strauss. Strauss also adds that John’s gospel is described as the gospel of the Devine Son who reveals the father (2007). This sentiment of the Gospel of John is reiterated in Discovering the New Testament, where page 20 states, “The Gospel of John is often characterized as the most “theological” of the four Gospels. There is a strong emphasis on Jesus as Messiah and as Son of God, with a special focus on the unique Father-Son relationship of Jesus and God” (Varughese, 2004). The book of John was the last of the gospels to be written, being dated approximately 85 to 90 AD with the express purpose of conclusively proving Jesus is the Son of God that was prophesied about so many years prior. In the final portrait of Jesus, “John’s Jesus is the eternal Son of God, the self-revelation of God the father” (Strauss, 2007). All four of these portraits give a perfect and complete look at Jesus’s personality and ministry in four separate accounts.

Resources:

Strauss, M. (2007). Four Portraits, One Jesus. zondervan. https://macu.overdrive.com/media/302063
Varughese, A. (Ed.). (2004). Discovering the New Testament: Community and faith. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press.
NIV, Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition, Bonded Leather, Black, Red Letter, Thumb Indexed (Indexed, Thumbed). (2019). Zondervan.
Who Was Jesus in the Gospel of Mark? (2012). [Video]. YouTube.com. https://youtu.be/8J2LP9_f3SY