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| | The four books of the Gospels have fascinating differences in perspective, and [[ordering the Gospels|their optimal ordering]] is probably not their current one: | | The four books of the Gospels have fascinating differences in perspective, and [[ordering the Gospels|their optimal ordering]] is probably not their current one: |
| − | *[[Gospel of Matthew]] - the longest eyewitness account, by [[the Apostles|the Apostle]] [[Matthew]]; thorough with many powerful [[parables]], expanding on the [[Gospel of Mark]] | + | *[[Gospel of Matthew]] - the longest eyewitness account, by [[the Apostles|the Apostle]] [[Matthew]]; thorough with many powerful [[parables]], expanding on the [[Gospel of Mark]]. (28 chapters in the Gospel of Matthew) |
| − | *[[Gospel of Mark]] - first written, also by an eyewitness ([[Mark]]), this is concise, fearless, and irreverent towards [[the Apostles]] and the "Herodians". | + | *[[Gospel of Mark]] - first written, also by an eyewitness ([[Mark]]), this is concise, fearless, and irreverent towards [[the Apostles]] and the "Herodians". (16 chapters in the Gospel of Mark) |
| − | *[[Gospel of Luke]] - the most beautiful book ever written, this longest Gospel describes everything with the elegance of a historian. | + | *[[Gospel of Luke]] - the most beautiful book ever written, this longest Gospel describes everything with the elegance of a historian. (24 chapters in the Gospel of Luke) |
| − | *[[Gospel of John]] - an entirely independent eyewitness account by [[the Apostles|the Apostle]] [[John]], and the most profound and theological. | + | *[[Gospel of John]] - an entirely independent eyewitness account by [[the Apostles|the Apostle]] [[John]], and the most profound and theological. (21 chapters in the Gospel of John) |
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| | The first gospel chronologically was by Mark, probably a [[Gentile]], who was fearless of authorities and irreverent towards all other than Jesus. Matthew then reused 97% of Mark's gospel,<ref>"Matthew adopted all but 304 of Mark's 11,025 words." [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/new-testament-studies/article/abs/matthews-use-of-mark-did-matthew-intend-to-supplement-or-to-replace-his-primary-source/2893B4D82A9178BDD6693A64A9237E53 New Testament Studies, published online by Cambridge University Press]</ref> omitting merely some of its boldness and irreverence, while adding more content. The [[Gospel of John]] was completely independent, and thus a corroboration of what is found in the other Gospels. | | The first gospel chronologically was by Mark, probably a [[Gentile]], who was fearless of authorities and irreverent towards all other than Jesus. Matthew then reused 97% of Mark's gospel,<ref>"Matthew adopted all but 304 of Mark's 11,025 words." [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/new-testament-studies/article/abs/matthews-use-of-mark-did-matthew-intend-to-supplement-or-to-replace-his-primary-source/2893B4D82A9178BDD6693A64A9237E53 New Testament Studies, published online by Cambridge University Press]</ref> omitting merely some of its boldness and irreverence, while adding more content. The [[Gospel of John]] was completely independent, and thus a corroboration of what is found in the other Gospels. |