The Gospel

Tax gatherer / publican — c. 45 A.D. (Hebrew); c. 50 A.D. (Greek)

1. First gospel written.
2. Written to meet the needs of persecuted Christians:
   1. They were regarded as traitors by fellow Jews — traitors to the Hebrew religion.
   2. They needed a gospel showing the fulfillment of the Law of Moses.
3. His gospel deals with the "King" and His kingdom:
   1. "Kingdom of Heaven" — 33 times.
   2. "Kingdom of God" — 4 times.
   3. "Son of David" — 9 times.
   4. Quotes or alludes to the Old Testament about 35 times.
   5. The words "righteous" and "righteousness" occur more often than in the other three gospels combined.
4. He is the only writer who speaks of the kingdom as the church (Matthew 16:18; 18:17).
5. He traced the lineage of Christ from Abraham to Christ.
6. He wrote of Jesus as King.

A Greek; a physician; probably a brother to Titus — c. 58 A.D.

1. Second gospel written — the most literary of the four:
   1. His gospel has a "classical" preface, in the way the Greeks wrote.
   2. E.g., Herodotus and Thucydides.
2. Luke shows that in his day there were many narratives of Christ. He used oral and written information, writing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
3. Wrote for the Greeks:
   1. Required a world outlook.
   2. A Gentile book would need to be in good form.
4. Wrote more details of the early life of Christ than even Matthew.
5. Traced the genealogy from Christ back to Adam, to show that the Gentiles were in God's plan.
6. He alone wrote of the Gentiles: the widow of Zarephath; Naaman the Syrian; the Samaritan leper (Luke 4:25–27; 10:25–37; 17:16).
7. Women and children are prominent.
8. Made much of prayer and praise.
9. He wrote of Jesus as the Redeemer.

Gospel of deeds — c. 67 A.D. ("Straightway," "immediately," "forthwith")

1. Third gospel written. Mark wrote what he had so often heard Peter preach; Peter is mentioned by name.
2. Suited especially to a Gentile audience.
3. Written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; quotes the Old Testament only once.
4. Justin says Mark styled his gospel "Peter's Memoirs."
5. Eusebius says the Romans persuaded Mark to write the "Scripture called the Gospel of Mark."
6. The scope of Mark's gospel corresponds to Peter's address at Caesarea (Acts 10:34–43).
7. External evidence points to Mark being dependent on Peter for material.
8. Written for the Roman, stoic mind, which was moved by victory achieved through apparent defeat.
9. His gospel parallels Peter's discourse in Acts 10:
   1. Mark, like Peter, introduces John the Baptist.
   2. Mark, like Peter, presents the baptism and temptation of Christ.
   3. Mark, like Peter, sets forth the Servant's defeat and final triumph.
   4. Mark, like Peter, declares that Christ manifested Himself to His apostles and disciples after His resurrection.
10. Unlike Matthew, Mark wrote of Jesus as a Servant rather than a King.

c. A.D. 85–96

1. Gospel written long after the three synoptics had already been in circulation.
2. Gives a portrait of the incarnate Christ.
3. John wrote to supply information not found in the other three.
4. He opens with the pre-existence of Christ, set against the background of Gnosticism (John 1:1–11).
5. His real aim was spiritual.
6. He omits the accounts of the birth, genealogy, youth, baptism, temptation, transfiguration, and ascension.
7. He alone reports the early Judean ministry.
8. There are no parables in John.
9. There are only eight miracles recorded, and six of the eight are unique to John.
10. John covers at most only twenty days of Jesus' ministry.
11. The three-and-a-half-year ministry is established by Christ's visits to the Passover feasts.
12. He wrote of Jesus as the Word — the Logos.
13. Christ appears under numerous titles: the Word; the Only Begotten; the Lamb of God; the Son of God; the True Bread; the Light; the Shepherd; the Door; the Way; the Truth; the Life; the Resurrection; the Vine.