Why do we have4 Gospels?

Matthew Mark

Luke John

Chartwell

Irenaeus

Matthew Mark

Luke John

MatthewThe Gospel with a human face

• 42% unique• 5 great sermons• Jesus is Messiah• Very Jewish• Sometimes is

anti-Jewish

MarkThe bounding lion

• 7% unique – 90% in Matthew

• Immediately 42x• Dark, suffering,

fearful tone• Who is Jesus?• Miracles

LukeThe plodding ox

• 58% unique• Slow, steady,

lumbering • Holy Spirit,

women and poor• Orderly account• Parables

JohnThe soaring eagle

• 92% unique• Most “spiritual”• Simple words• Belief• No parables nor

casting out demons

4 Accounts of the Birth of Jesus

Tell me about

Dewey & Dura

McLarty.

Irenaeus(130-200)

John, the disciple of the Lord,

who leaned on his breast, also

published the Gospel while

living at Ephesus in Asia.

Clement of Alexandria(155-220)

John, perceiving that the bodily facts had been made plain in the Gospels, being

urged by his friends, and inspired by the Spirit, composed a spiritual gospel.

Origen(185-254)

The Gospels are the

“firstfruits of all Scripture.”

The Gospel of John is the

“firstfruits of the Gospels.”

John Calvin(1509-1564)

The Synoptic Gospels allow us to

see “the body of Jesus.”

The Gospel of John reveals “the soul

of Jesus.”

John is arguably the most

influential book of the New Testament.

(13)

John’s Chronolo

gy

Gospel of John

A ministry that oscillates

between Judea and Galilee

Do you have a picture

of Jesus?