The Gospels

The Gospels are a collection of writings that are central to the New Testament of the Christian Bible. These texts narrate the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The term "gospel" derives from the Old English "god-spell," meaning "good news" or "glad tidings," which itself is a translation of the Greek word "εὐαγγέλιον" (evangelion).

Canonical Gospels

The canonical gospels are four books that have been universally accepted by most Christian denominations. These are:

Gospel of Matthew: This gospel emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and portrays Him as the Messiah and King of the Jews.
Gospel of Mark: The shortest of the four, this gospel focuses on the actions and miracles of Jesus, depicting Him as the suffering servant.
Gospel of Luke: Known for its detailed account of Jesus's life, this gospel highlights His compassion and includes parables like the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son.
Gospel of John: Distinct from the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), John's account emphasizes Jesus's divine nature and includes unique content such as the "I Am" statements.

Synoptic Gospels

The synoptic gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—are so named because they present similar narratives of Jesus's life, often in the same sequence and sometimes even using identical wording. This has led scholars to study their interrelationships, a field known as the Synoptic Problem. A widely accepted hypothesis is the existence of a hypothetical source known as Q source, which may have been used by both Matthew and Luke in addition to the Gospel of Mark.

Gospel of John

The Gospel of John stands apart from the synoptics due to its unique structure and content. It includes extended discourses by Jesus and emphasizes His identity as the pre-existent Word (Logos). The account of John the Baptist in this gospel differs significantly, portraying him more as a witness to Jesus than as the baptizer.

Apocryphal Gospels

In addition to the canonical gospels, there are numerous apocryphal gospels that were not included in the New Testament canon. These include works like the Gospel of Thomas, which consists of sayings attributed to Jesus, and the Gospel of Judas, which presents an alternative view of Judas Iscariot's role in the events leading to Jesus's crucifixion.

Gospel Harmonies

Gospel harmonies are attempts to compile the four canonical gospels into a single coherent narrative. The most famous of these is the Diatessaron, composed by Tatian in the 2nd century. Harmonies can be useful for gaining a synoptic view of Jesus's life, though they sometimes require creative resolution of differences between the texts.

Impact and Influence

The gospels have had a profound impact on Christian theology, art, music, and literature. They are foundational texts for Christian liturgy and have been the subject of intensive scholarly study, including historical, literary, and theological analysis.