This document provides an overview of the four canonical gospels of the New Testament - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It discusses the intended audiences and key themes of each gospel. The main points are: - The gospels are based on the words and deeds of Jesus as witnessed by his early followers and are meant to convey what the early Christian community believed about Jesus. - Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the synoptic gospels because they share similar narratives of Jesus' life and ministry. John's gospel has a more theological focus. - Each gospel was written for a different intended audience - Matthew for Jewish Christians, Mark for persecuted Christians, Luke for Gent

2. “Reform your lives and believe in the GOSPEL!”
Mark 1:15
The word “Gospel” usually refers to the
written record of Christ’s words and deeds.
Etymology:
Anglo-Saxon: “god” (good) “spell” (to tell)
Greek : “Evaggelion” (glad tidings)
The GOSPEL is the Good News of
Salvation proclaimed by Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ himself is the GOOD NEWS.
Jesus is THE GOSPEL.

3. THERE IS ONLY ONE THE GOSPELS ARE THE
GOSPEL: WRITTEN FAITH ACCOUNTS
JESUS CHRIST OF THE EARLY CHURCH.
• Direct experiences by the
HE IS GOD’S TOTAL followers of the historical
MANIFESTATION OF Jesus
HIMSELF. • Eyewitness testimonies that
were heard and recorded
HE IS THE SAVIOR OF • Collections of oral preaching
THE WORLD. • First Christians’ experiences
of the Risen Lord.
THE GOSPELS ARE NOT BIOGRAPHIES OF CHRIST. THE GOSPELS ARE FAITH
SUMMARIES DESCRIBING WHAT THE EARLY CHRISTIANS BELIEVED ABOUT JESUS.

5. The Gospels are based on the fact that the Son of God became
Man and walked on this planet in the person of Jesus of
Nazareth.
The Gospels are rooted in the words and works of Jesus, in his
interactions with people, and in the significant events of his life.

6. The Early Church was a preaching
church more than a writing church.
Writing the gospel was not a
primordial concern of the early
Christians at that time it was
thought that the end of the world
was taking place soon.
The Christians kept the memory of
Jesus alive by collecting his
sermons, parables, works and
sayings. These were used in the
liturgy, in preaching, and in
instructing the new converts.

7. Realizing that Christ’s second coming was not
going to take place any time soon, the Early
Christians wrote the Gospels for the following
reasons:
•There had to be written texts against which oral
preachings will be measured. This was
especially because there were teachers who
preached doctrines that were against authentic
tradition and remembrance of Jesus.
•The apostles and other eyewitnesses of Jesus
were beginning to die either through old age or
organized persecutions.
The human authors of the Gospels are called
EVANGELISTS.

8. EVANGELIST: JOHN MARK- believed to be the
chronicler of Peter
DATE OF COMPOSITION: After Peter’s death,
probably around 65 A.D.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Persecuted Christians
THEMES: Jesus is the Christ
Jesus is the Suffering Servant
The Messiah and the Suffering Servant
are one and the same.

9. EVANGELIST: Author is unknown. Probably Matthew was
used as a source. The original text was a collection of
sayings compiled in Aramaic by the Apostle Matthew.
DATE OF COMPOSITION: The original Matthew was written
around 50AD but was lost. The existing text is the Greek
translation written sometime 85 A.D. after the fall of
Jerusalem.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Jewish converts to Christianity
THEMES: Jesus is the New Law-Giver
Jesus is the Messianic king promised to the Jews.

10. EVANGELIST: Luke, the “beloved physician”; the
secretary of Paul
DATE OF COMPOSITION: c.75 A.D.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Gentile converts to Christianity
THEMES: Jesus is for Jews and Gentiles alike.
Jesus is the compassionate savior who
identifies himself with the poor and the
outcast.
*The Gospels According to Mark, Matthew, and Luke are
called SYNOPTIC GOSPELS because they follow more
or less the same story line.

11. EVANGELIST: Most probably the JOHANNINE
COMMUNITY
DATE OF COMPOSITION: c.90-100 A.D.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: The Christian Churches in the
Roman Empire; Christians who were already familiar
with the Synoptics
THEMES: Jesus is Divine
Jesus is the center of all religious beliefs and
practices
Jesus is superior to all the prophets

12. “MASTER, TO WHOM
SHALL WE GO?
YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF
ETERNAL LIFE.
WE HAVE COME TO BELIEVE
AND ARE CONVINCED
THAT YOU ARE THE
HOLY ONE OF GOD.”
John6:68-69

13. James Finley and Michael Pennock
JESUS AND YOU: DISCOVERING THE REAL CHRIST
Ind: Ave Maria Press, 1977
Francis E. Gigot (transcribed by Douglas J. Potter)
GOSPEL AND GOSPELS
www.newadvent.org
Felix Just, S.J.
TEN STAGES OF NT FORMATION AND TRANSMISSION
http://clawww.lmu.edu/faculty/fjust/Bible/NT_Canon.htm#Evangelists