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The Four '''Gospels''' of the [[Bible]] (from the Greek for "good news") are the first four books of the [[New Testament]].  Two of the gospel accounts of [[Jesus]] are attributed to eyewitness accounts of two of His [[Apostles]] ([[Matthew ]] and [[Gospel of John|John]]) and two gospel accounts are attributed to disciples who did not know Jesus personally ([[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] and [[Luke]]).  There was no ambiguity among the early church fathers as to the [[authorship]] of the gospels, with their earliest writings attesting to our current titles.  For additional information on each Gospel, see their individual entries.

The Four '''Gospels''' of the [[Bible]] (from the Greek for "good news") are the first four books of the [[New Testament]].  Two of the gospel accounts of [[Jesus]] are attributed to eyewitness accounts of two of His [[Apostles]] ([[Matthew]] and [[Gospel of John|John]]) and two gospel accounts are attributed to disciples who did not know Jesus personally ([[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] and [[Luke]]).  There was no ambiguity among the early church fathers as to the [[authorship]] of the gospels, with their earliest writings attesting to our current titles.  For additional information on each Gospel, see their individual entries.

    

    

The Gospels were originally written in [[Greek language|Greek]], the common lingua franca (common or commercial language among diverse peoples) of the Roman Orient.  No original Gospels have been found in [[Aramaic]]; the only known Aramaic Gospels are translations from Greek versions.  The general consensus is that the Gospel according to Matthew was written particularly for [[Jews]]; the Gospel according to Mark was written particularly for [[Roman]]s; the Gospel according to Luke was written particularly for [[Greeks]]; and the Gospel according to John was written for everyone.

The Gospels were originally written in [[Greek language|Greek]], the common lingua franca (common or commercial language among diverse peoples) of the Roman Orient.  No original Gospels have been found in [[Aramaic]]; the only known Aramaic Gospels are translations from Greek versions.  The general consensus is that the Gospel according to Matthew was written particularly for [[Jews]]; the Gospel according to Mark was written particularly for [[Roman]]s; the Gospel according to Luke was written particularly for [[Greeks]]; and the Gospel according to John was written for everyone.

In addition to the four Canonical gospels, other texts claiming to record the accounts of Jesus's earthly ministry have survived in part or in whole.  Most notable among these is the [[Gospel of Thomas]], which contains additional sayings and teachings.  Recently, a [[Gospel of Judas]] surfaced, but this text is decidedly a later one, and its claim for any original authority is very slim.  These Gospels are considered apocryphal by modern Christianity, and therefore not authoritative texts.

In addition to the four Canonical gospels, other texts claiming to record the accounts of Jesus's earthly ministry have survived in part or in whole.  Most notable among these is the [[Gospel of Thomas]], which contains additional sayings and teachings.  Recently, a [[Gospel of Judas]] surfaced, but this text is decidedly a later one, and its claim for any original authority is very slim.  These Gospels are considered apocryphal by modern Christianity, and therefore not authoritative texts.

A number of other "gospels" were written sometime between the second to the four centuries, most well after the dates when the disciples lived.  They include: the Gospel of the Ebionites, Gospel of the Hebrews, Gospel of Marcion, Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Thomas, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, and the Infancy Gospel of James. <ref>Donald Harman Akenson, Surpassing Wonder: The Invention of the Bible and the Talmuds, 216.</ref>

A number of other "gospels" were written sometime between the second to the four centuries, most well after the dates when the disciples lived.  They include: the Gospel of the Ebionites, Gospel of the Hebrews, Gospel of Marcion, Gospel of Mary, Gospel of Peter, Gospel of Thomas, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, and the Infancy Gospel of James.<ref>Donald Harman Akenson, Surpassing Wonder: The Invention of the Bible and the Talmuds, 216.</ref>

Among fragments that still survive are the gospels according to the Hebrews (much prized by the early Jewish Church), according to the Egyptians, of the Ebionites, of Philip, of Matthias, of Peter, of Thomas (almost complete), of Nicodemus, of Bartholomew, of Pseudo-Melito, of Joseph of Arimathaea, of James, of Pseudo-Matthew, of Barnabas and a whole collection of infancy gospels <ref>James. M.R, The Apocryphal New Testament (Clarendon, Oxford, 1924)</ref>.

Among fragments that still survive are the gospels according to the Hebrews (much prized by the early Jewish Church), according to the Egyptians, of the Ebionites, of Philip, of Matthias, of Peter, of Thomas (almost complete), of Nicodemus, of Bartholomew, of Pseudo-Melito, of Joseph of Arimathaea, of James, of Pseudo-Matthew, of Barnabas and a whole collection of infancy gospels.<ref>James. M.R, The Apocryphal New Testament (Clarendon, Oxford, 1924)</ref>

== Teachings of Jesus ==

== Teachings of Jesus ==

* [[First Century Aramaic Jewish Christian Gospel and poetry]]

* [[First Century Aramaic Jewish Christian Gospel and poetry]]

== External Links ==

== External links ==

*[http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/Bible/Timelines/Israel/Fausset/Gospels.htm Introduction to the Gospels From Fausset's Bible Dictionary]

*[http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/Bible/Timelines/Israel/Fausset/Gospels.htm Introduction to the Gospels From Fausset's Bible Dictionary]