Comparative analysis of the four gospels

1. JEFF CLYDE G. CORPUZ
DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY
MANILA

2. Mark Matthew Luke John
The
evangelist
“John Mark”
Acts 12:12
Companion of
Peter in the
mission in
Asia minor
and Rome.
Feast Day
April 25
“Levi son of
Alphaeus”
Mark 2:14
A tax
collector
Feast Day
September 21
A companion
of St. Paul
2 Tim 4:11;
Philemon 1:24
A physician
Col 4:14
He also wrote
the “Acts of
the Apostles”
Feast Day
October 18
“John the
Apostle” son
of Zebedee
Disciple
whom Jesus
loved
Identified
with the
author of
revelation as
well as 3
epistles
which bears
the name
“John”
Feast :Dec 27

3. Mark Matthew Luke John
Audience Persecuted
Jewish and
Gentile
Christians
Jewish
Christians
Gentile
Christians
from the
lower urban
classes of
the Roman
World
Christians
communitie
s with issues
against
“Jews” and
“Gnostics”

4. Mark Matthew Luke John
Date and
place of
Composition
70 AD
Rome
after the
death of
Peter
80 AD
Antioch
80-85 AD
Rome
90-98
AD
Ephesus

5. Mark Matthew Luke John
Characteristics Shortest
Gospel
Gospel of
deeds
“Jesus
performing
miracles”
Messianic
secret
Jesus true
identity is
kept hidden
during his
earthly life
and revealed
only by the
cross
Seeks to show
that the NT is
the
continuation
of the OT.
5 great
teachings of
Christ
The only
gospel to use
the word
Church
(16:18)
Universality
of salvation
Most
theological
of the
gospels
Full long
discourses
with less
actions of
Jesus and
many things
such as light ,
light , and
glory which
demand
deeper level
of
reflections.

6. Mark Matthew Luke John
Identity
of Jesus
Jesus as
the
suffering
servant
Jesus is a
man, by his
suffering at
the cross,
his divinity
is revealed
Jesus as
the divine
Messiah
announced
by the
prophets,
the bringer
and the
herald of
salvation
Jesus as
divine
savior and
healer
He is the
“savior of
the world.”
Jesus as the
Eternal
Word made
flesh
John 1:2 “In
the
beginning
was the
Word, and
the Word was
with God,
and the
Word was
God. He was
with God in
the
beginning.”

7. Mark Matthew Luke John
Message Jesus is the
suffering
servant,
one with
those
persecuted.
He consoles
them and
sustains
their faith.
The reign
of God is
open not
only to the
Jews but
also to all
humankin
d
Christianity
is a
universal
religion
which
witnesses
to the love
of Jesus for
all people
Jesus
Christ, he
who “dwelt
among us”
is truly
God, the
only
begotten
Son of
God.

8. Mark Matthew Luke John
Symbols Lion – It
fits mark’s
style
which is
vivid and
as direct
as the
lions roar.
Man –
His
gospel
opens
with a
record of
Jesus
human
ancestors
.
Ox- His
gospel
opens with
Zechariah
offering a
sacrifice to
God in the
temple.
Eagle – His
gospel starts
with a
prologue that
expresses a
hymn of
praise to
Jesus, who
alone can
uniquely
look on the
face of God
just as the
eagle alone
can look
upon the
sun.

9. Matthew
 Mathew was a tax
collector. He has the
longest gospel. He wrote
for the Christians
converted from Judaism
in Palestine. Jesus in his
gospel is pictured as the
Servant-Messiah
Emmanuel

10. Mark
 The shortest gospel of
the four is the one
written by Mark who was
known as John Mark. He
was with Paul and Peter
in the missionary
activity. Mark wrote for
the persecuted non-
Jewish Christians in
Rome. The Suffering
Messiah is the image of
Jesus in the Gospel

11. Luke
 Luke is a learned man
and physician by
profession. He belonged
to a Greek family in
Antioch. Luke wrote for
the gentile Christians
stressing salvation as
universal.

12. John
 John focuses on Christ’s
divinity. Christ is the
revealer of the Father.
John is the son of
Zebedee, the brother of
James, the disciple whom
Jesus loved. This gospel
was written for the
Hellenistic Community.