The

Gospels
Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John
 Bible
Reading
Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John
Mt 1:1 – 2:23
Lk 1:1 – 3:38
Mk 1, 16
Jn 1
Read the following
 Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς·
ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου·
ἐλθέτω ἡ βασιλεία σου·
γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου, ὡς ἐν
οὐρανῷ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς·
τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς
ἡμῖν σήμερον·
καὶ ἄφες ἡμῖν τὰ ὀφειλήματα ἡμῶν,
ὡς καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀφίεμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις
ἡμῶν·
καὶ μὴ εἰσενέγκῃς ἡμᾶς εἰς
πειρασμόν,
ἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦ.
ἀμήν.
 Where do we get
the word “Gospel”?
Comes from the
Anglo-Saxon
godspell
“Good News”
euagelion
Ultimately in comes
from the Greek
What is the meaning
of “Gospel”?
“Good News” or
“Good Message”
Ultimately in comes
from the Greek
“Good news preached
by Jesus, or the good
news preached about
Jesus”
Can also mean:
 The books that
contain the memories
of Jesus, the gospels
we find in the N.T.
Can also mean:
What do we call the
writers of the
Gospels?
 We call them
“Evangelists”
The Gospel Writers
 Why are there
differences in the
Gospels?
“Each of the Gospel writers
wanted to say something
specific about the meaning
of Jesus”
The evangelists have
their particular emphasis
What are the two
main division
between the
Gospels?
Matthew, Mark,
and Luke
Synoptic Gospels
Why are they called
Synoptic Gospels?
 “They follow a
common outline
or synopsis”
Synoptic Gospels
How about the
Gospel of John?
“It does not follow the same
outline, has a three-year
ministry of Jesus, contains
long reflections about the
meaning of Jesus”
The Gospel
according to John
The Four Gospels

A closer look
 How can we
describe the Gospel
according to
Matthew?
“It begins by placing Jesus
within the whole story of
salvation. Jesus is son of
Abraham and son of David,
the fulfillment of all the
promises to God’s people”
Matthew
 “It is divided into five
sections, the best of
which is the Sermon on
the Mount”

Matthew
 “Many have said that
Matthew saw Jesus as a
second Moses, giving a
new Torah to God’s
people”
Matthew
 How can we
describe the Gospel
according to Mark?
“It is probably the oldest of
the Gospels. Tradition said
that it was written in Rome
by John Mark and contains
the memories of Peter”

Mark
 “The crucifixion and
resurrection of Jesus are
the key to understanding
who Jesus is. Nearly ½ of
the Gospel deals with these
events”
Mark
“Mark does not contain
the nativity narratives,
but begins with the
preaching of John the
Baptist”
Mark
 How can we
describe the Gospel
according to Luke?
“Its special interest is in
the oppressed and
outcasts of society,
especially women and
the poor”
Luke
 “It begins with the birth of
John the Baptist and of Jesus.
It has the only story of Jesus
between His birth and
ministry, at the episode in the
temple at the age of twelve”
Luke
 “Best loved parables are
contained in the Gospel i.e.
the Good Samaritan, the Lost
Son, and the Rich Man and
Lazarus”

Luke
 How can we
describe the Gospel
according to John?
 “John has less narratives
and no parables, but a
series of long reflections on
Jesus as divine Son of God”

John
 “It begins with a great
hymn on the Word who
was always God and
became flesh for the
salvation of the world”

John
“The Word is Jesus”. It also
contains a series of
miracles as signs pointing
to Jesus, and the “I AM”
sayings.

John
 What are the four
symbols for the four
Evangelists?
Jesus as the righteous
King of the Jews, the
Lion of the Tribe of
Judah. Emphasis on
Righteousness.
Jesus as the Suffering
Servant and the
Workman of the Lord.
Emphasis on his
miracles, strength and
action.
 Jesus as the great
physician and friends of
sinners. Hew was born
like us except in sin.
Emphasis on his
humanity, wisdom and
mercy.
Jesus as the Word of
God that came down
from heaven.
Emphasis on His
divinity.