INTRODUCTION TO THE FOUR GOSPELS How could an obscure Galilean peasant and carpenter with no academic training and no social status, one who died the most ignominious death imaginable, establish a movement that would conquer the Roman world and become a worldwide religious force? Moreover, how do we affirm the historical trustworthiness of such incredible stories about a man who controlled nature’s forces, healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, and was raised himself after being crucified? The Gospels tell us the story of Jesus—his virgin birth and childhood; his inauguration to ministry; his impact on the people of Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and Phoenicia during his messianic ministry; and his death and resurrection. It is the most important story that history will ever tell, for it chronicles the life of the extraordinary Son of God who has come into this world. SETTING gives the principles for living SUMMARY The setting for the Gospels includes as citizens of God’s Kingdom All four Gospels tell the story of both Jewish and Greco-Roman (e.g., Matt 5–7). Jesus leads Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. cultures (see also “The Historical the disciples to overcome their Two of the Gospels (Mark and John) Background of the Intertestamental failures and find understanding, contain prologues that describe Period,” p. 1552). Jesus lived and in spite of their “little faith.” Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, died in the Jewish world of the first the “Word” or living voice of God, ● Mark centers on Jesus as century, and Jesus and his disciples and God incarnate. The other two Messiah and Son of God. Mark ministered primarily to the Jew- Gospels (Matthew and Luke) begin reports the disciples’ difficulties: ish people. But Jesus was raised in with accounts of Jesus’ genealogy, They misunderstand and fail Galilee and conducted his ministry birth, and childhood. Matthew re- as they try to follow Jesus. mainly in “Galilee where so many lates how God supernaturally over- Mark shows the nature of true Gentiles live” (Matt 4:15), so he came Herod’s evil attempt to thwart discipleship through characters also reached out to Gentiles, and the divine plan of Jesus’ coming into who appear briefly, like the his resurrection inaugurated the the world. Luke relates the births of woman from Phoenicia, the mission to Gentiles (Matt 28:19). the prophet John the Baptist and father of the demon-possessed Jesus, the greater prophet. During the time of Jesus, Jewish boy, and blind Bartimaeus. Only John tells of the early territories were ruled by the de- months of Jesus’ ministry, how he scendants of Herod the Great and ● Luke has more on the subject of drew his first disciples from the by Roman governors like Pontius social concern than any other group following John the Baptist Pilate who resided at Caesarea but Gospel. Luke also highlights the and then traveled frequently from came to Jerusalem for festivals. Jew- importance of prayer, the Spirit, Galilee to Jerusalem for festivals ish civic affairs were handled by the and worship. He shows how, (John 1–7). Matthew, Mark, and Sanhedrin, the Jewish high council through Jesus, God has worked Luke—the “synoptic” Gospels that that consisted mainly of Sadducees out his salvation in human have the “same look”—focus on and Pharisees (see “The Pharisees” history and become Lord of all. Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. at Matt 3:7, p. 1581; “The Saddu- ● In John, Jesus is the living None of the Gospel writers take cees” at Matt 16:1-12, p. 1610). revealer of God who encounters a chronological approach to Jesus’ all people with the “light of the life. Instead, the Gospels are more THE FOUR GOSPELS world” and the “bread of life” topical, organized to provide a theological portrait of Jesus’ ac- Each of the four Gospels presents and with the need to believe. tions, teachings, and impact. Jesus’ life in a different way with Jesus is “the unique One, who From the start Jesus combined different themes, showing differ- is himself God” and has entered miracles with teaching, so that the ent nuances of Jesus the man and this world and brought the glory crowds were astounded with his of the various groups who encoun- of God’s presence into the world words and deeds (Mark 1:21-28). tered him. and among his own people. He controlled every aspect of his ● Matthew’s Gospel is the Jewish Each Gospel is meant to be stud- creation: He could stop the forces of Gospel. It shows how Jesus ied on its own. Each has unique nature, heal the sick, raise the dead, fulfilled the Torah and provided perspectives and theological mes- and cast out demons (Mark 3:27), the final understanding of it. It sages that supplement the others and he gave the same authority to his represents Jesus as the descendant and challenge readers in important disciples (Mark 3:14-15). He chose of David who fulfills the OT ways. God chose to inspire four dif- twelve disciples, included them in his promises for the Messiah, the ferent writers because each perspec- ministry, and frequently sent them King of Israel. In Matthew, Jesus tive is important for the church. out on missions (Luke 9–10). The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved. INTRODUCTION TO THE FOUR GOSPELS 1562 1563 INTRODUCTION TO THE FOUR GOSPELS crowds were enamored with Jesus days and nights in Jewish reckon- John is separate from the oth- they interpret his life. Each Gospel died, thus asking for an indefinite God’s reign, into this world. Jesus and flocked after him, but they were ing). Jesus was then vindicated and ers. Over 85% of his material is has as much theology as it does his- postponement, but it more likely has achieved a new age of salvation unwilling to commit themselves to exalted by rising as Messiah and unique, and he follows a very dif- tory. Therefore, the task of the reader refers to the sacred responsibility through his atoning death on the him. In the end, they called for his Lord. He showed himself to his fol- ferent organization. John has long is to catch the theological message of a son’s burial duties (Gen 25:9; cross, along with a new certainty death (Mark 15:8-15). The Jewish lowers for forty days in three ven- been thought of as the “spiritual as much as the historical story. 35:29). The background behind about the afterlife through his resur- leaders, by contrast, utterly opposed ues: in Jerusalem (Luke, John); in Gospel,” but scholars have been re- the parable of the shrewd manager rection. Through him the last days him and plotted to kill him almost Galilee (Matthew, John); and finally alizing that John actually has more 1. Study the context in which the (Luke 16:1-8) could be commercial, have begun, and those who trust from the beginning (Mark 3:6). at his ascension on the Mount of on the historical and chronological passage is embedded reflecting a loan of money, or a ten- in him have become God’s people, The turning point in Jesus’ Olives (Luke, Acts). During this time aspects of Jesus’ life than the oth- Each Gospel has its own structure, ant farm situation where the farm- citizens of his Kingdom. They have ministry was at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus also met his brothers who had ers (although his organization is and sometimes stories or sayings ers owed the owner half the crops. been given a new direction for liv- when Peter called him Messiah but never believed in him, and they still not strictly chronological). He are found in different contexts. The Understanding the background ing “righteous” lives through Jesus’ refused to accept that it meant suf- became followers (see 1 Cor 15:7; is the one who tells us that Jesus’ authors of the Gospels were not helps in determining what is hap- teaching, and they have new au- fering and death (Mark 8:27-33). James Introduction, p. 2110; Jude ministry included three Passovers providing a day-by-day description pening in such situations. thority as Jesus has constituted the Shortly afterward Jesus was trans- and several trips to Jerusalem. Some Introduction, p. 2156). Jesus also of Jesus’ ministry, but rather a topi- church and given it the “keys of the figured, his preexistent glory radi- scholars think John was written by 4. Study the editorial differences strengthened and commissioned cal or thematic presentation. Each kingdom” (Matt 16:18-19). ating through his humanity (Mark a group of John’s disciples, but the in the texts his disciples to carry on his work Gospel’s order has a theological pur- The disciples are the nucleus of 9:1-8). Then Jesus “resolutely set book has a literary unity that belies (Matt 28:18-20; John 21:1-25). pose. For instance, Mark 4:35–5:43 Each Gospel author tells the story of the church, and they represent the out for Jerusalem” to fulfill his mis- that thesis, and there is nothing in collects four different types of mir- Jesus in a way that fits his theologi- church in their struggles to under- sion (Luke 9:51). His journey to it that could not have been written cal purpose. There were far more AUTHORSHIP acles—controlling nature, casting stand, in their failures, and in their his God-ordained destiny saw him by the apostle John himself. out demons, healing the sick, rais- events in Jesus’ ministry and far The Gospels are anonymous; they triumphs due to the presence of gradually retreat from public minis- ing the dead—into a single episode more of his sayings than the Gospel try and focus on his disciples (Luke do not explicitly name their au- Jesus.