For more religious people, it's no mystery that the Christian Bible is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Within the latter, several texts stand out, known as the Gospels. While the term is certainly familiar to us in religious contexts, not everyone can explain exactly what the Gospels are.
To clear up any doubts and fully explain this concept, this article will explain what these biblical scriptures are, how many there are, and provide a brief summary of each. So, if you're unsure what the Gospels are, I recommend you keep reading.
What are the gospels that we find in the Bible?
The term "Gospel" comes from Latin and translates as "good news." It is the narrative of the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. In other words, it is the good news of the fulfillment of the promise God made to Isaac, Jacob, and Abraham. In it, He promised to redeem their descendants from sin through the death of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. He would die to atone for the sin that concerns all humanity, but He would rise again after three days to offer both repentance and forgiveness to all who believe in Him.
Therefore, to answer the question of what the Gospels are, we can say that they are writings produced by the first Christians. These texts record the early teachings of the disciples of the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth. The central message they convey concerns both the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, it is interesting to explore how this relates to the genealogy of Jesus and his historical context.
How many are the gospels?
The New Testament of the Bible contains a total of four gospels, also known as the canonical gospels. These are considered part of Revelation, according to Christian doctrine. While some scholars propose earlier dates for their creation, the vast majority speculate that the four gospels were written approximately between 65 and 100 AD. Each is known by the name of its respective author and they appear in this order:
- Mateo
- Mark
- Lucas
- Juan
Besides the canonical gospels, there are other writings known as apocryphal gospels . Unlike the canonical gospels, these are not recognized by the Christian Church as reliable or divinely inspired. However, some factions stemming from the divisions within Christianity during its early centuries do consider them scripture. One of the most insistent groups in this regard is Gnosticism, which contributed the majority of these apocryphal gospels. Other Christian communities that do consider these texts reliable tend to be those with closer ties to Jewish tradition. It is important to ask these communities about their views on the origins and interpretations of the Bible .
Summary of the canonical gospels
Now that we know what the Gospels are, let's see what they are about. It's worth noting that the four canonical Gospels can be subdivided into two groups. The first group consists of the Synoptic Gospels, which include Mark, Matthew, and Luke, and share certain similarities and affinities in terms of narrative and content. On the other hand, the Gospel of John, or Fourth Gospel, is classified separately, as it has very marked thematic and stylistic differences compared to the other three. Let's look at them in more detail.
Gospel of Matthew
The first Gospel in the New Testament is Matthew's. In it, this apostle recounts how Jesus of Nazareth was rejected as the Messiah of Israel and subsequently executed. Later, Jesus Christ pronounces judgment on Israel and ultimately becomes the only salvation for righteous people and Gentiles.
This writing reflects the conflicts and struggles that existed between the evangelical community and the other Jews. The latter, having rejected Christ, had been deprived of the so-called "Kingdom of Heaven," which had been transferred to the Church. The main objective of the Gospel of Matthew was to demonstrate to these Jews that Jesus Christ was the Messiah they had been awaiting for so long. Furthermore, it is interesting to note how this narrative relates to other stories in the Bible.
Gospel of Mark
Next comes the Gospel of Mark. This recounts the life, miracles, teachings, and ministry of Jesus Christ. Unlike Matthew, who presents Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, Mark emphasizes the aspect of Jesus's service to God. It's worth noting that it is the shortest canonical gospel, but also, according to experts, the oldest. This leads us to wonder who wrote the Bible and how they influenced its formation.
Gospel of Luke
Thirdly, there is the Gospel of Luke, the longest of the canonical Gospels. This writing recounts the life of Jesus, giving special importance to his birth, the public ministry he established, his death, his resurrection, and finally his ascension. Luke's objective was to reach people who did not follow this culture, those outside the faith, to help them understand the message of salvation. Therefore, the Gospel of Luke clearly has a pastoral purpose. This apostle's intention is to present Jesus Christ as the Savior, highlighting above all his mercy. This can be related to the importance of prayer in the Christian life.
Gospel of John
Last but not least, we must discuss the fourth Gospel: the Gospel of John. As we have already mentioned, this text differs considerably from the others, both in its narrative style and its content. Among the most notable characteristics of this writing is its liturgical and symbolic nature. This text focuses primarily on the public ministry of Jesus and the successive Jewish festivals, including the Feast of Dedication, the Feast of Tabernacles, and Passover. According to many biblical scholars and experts, the Gospel of John possesses a distinctly mystical character.
I hope that with all this information I have clarified what the gospels are. Although it is true that we can know more or less what they are about and intuit their intentions, it is best to read them ourselves to understand them in depth, even without being believers.
