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The Gospels (from the Greek for "good news") are accounts of Jesus attributed to two of His Apostles (Matthew and John) and two disciples (Mark and Luke).  The evangelical biblical scholar E.P. Sanders notes that the original texts were internally anonymous and that the four gospels were not ascribed to these figures until after 150 A.D.<ref>E.P. Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus, 163-166.</ref> The Gospels were originally written in 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 Romans; the Gospel according to Luke was written particularly for Greeks; and the Gospel according to John was written for everyone. Jesus had emphasized that scribes were part of those He sent forth to proselytize the world.  "I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes ...."  (Matt 23:34 (NAS)).

 

The '''Gospels''' (from the Greek for "good news") are accounts of Jesus attributed to two of His Apostles (Matthew and John) and two disciples (Mark and Luke).  The evangelical biblical scholar E.P. Sanders notes that the original texts were internally anonymous and that the four gospels were not ascribed to these figures until after 150 A.D.<ref>E.P. Sanders, The Historical Figure of Jesus, 163-166.</ref>

 

The Gospels were originally written in 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 Romans; the Gospel according to Luke was written particularly for Greeks; and the Gospel according to John was written for everyone.

 

Jesus had emphasized that scribes were part of those He sent forth to proselytize the world.  "I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes ...."  (Matt 23:34 (NAS)).

There are a number of other "gospels" writen during this period.  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>

There are a number of other "gospels" writen during this period.  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>

==Etymology==

==Etymology==