Clarifying What the Gospels Are
In this episode, we begin a series looking at the Gospels. We’ll talk about:
What a Gospel actually is, by definition – and what it isn’t.
What the “synoptic” gospels are.
Why there are four different gospels.
And more.Approaching the Gospels with More Confidence
By learning to answer the question, “what are the gospels?” – which includes understanding what they are not – you’ll be able to approach them with more confidence, understand how to engage with them as a collection, and ultimately, learn to see Jesus through a clearer set of lenses.
The Big Ideas and Helpful Highlights
A Simple Definition for A Gospel
The first four books of the New Testament are known as the Gospels. They are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
They are essentially a type of biography, which was a popular form of writing at the time of their composition. The gospels are specifically focused on the life of Jesus.
All of these four were written in the later half of the first century and accepted as authentic before the close of the following century.
They are nearly our only source of information about the earthly life of Jesus.
Four Unique Perspectives on One Extraordinary Life
Each of the gospels was written by a specific individual, with personalized intention, for a unique intended audience.
Mark’s gospel centers around asking and answering the question, “Who was Jesus?”
Matthew’s gospel was written for Jewish Christian, and, as a result, places an emphasis on both Jesus’ relationship to the law and His Messianic role as King of the Jews.
Luke’s gospel focuses less on the return of a risen Christ, and instead puts its emphasis on what the church should be doing as it waits for His return.
John wrote somewhat later and his gospel reflects the position of the early Christian church amidst its Jewish context.
The Significance of Context and Its Impact on Expectations
When we ask the question, “What are the gospels?,” we must also look at what they are not.
The gospels aren’t 21st-century biographical reports. They are not journalism or encyclopedic reference.
When we allow the gospels to exist in the context in which they were created, we can see that they provide four different ways of answering the question, “Who was Jesus?” Not one is more “correct” than another. Neither are they less for their apparent differences in approach.
In fact, when we read them as a collection, we are better able to see a dimensional Jesus, a true man and Messiah in one.
The Best Way to Read the Gospels
The gospels can be read one-at-a-time when we remember that they are faceted accounts. When we take into account the reality of a single audience with a specific set of purposes in writing, we are able to contextualize what that gospel writer included in his account.
When we read them as a collection, we see a story that’s most complete when read with all four points-of-view.
How this Helps You Read the Bible Better
When we approach the Gospels with a proper perspective, we’re best able to read them on their own terms. This helps us to take from the Gospels the best of what they have to communicate to us, rather than being restricted by what we expect them to say to us.
How to Learn Even More as You Read
You can learn practices designed to help you dig into passages from different angles, like those from the gospel, with my FREE Guide “5 Practices for Engaging Bible Study.”
