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The Gospels (Greek for "good news") are accounts of Jesus as written by two of His Apostles (Matthew and John) and two disciples (Mark and Luke). 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 discovered 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 (Greek for "good news") are accounts of Jesus as written by two of His Apostles (Matthew and John) and two disciples (Mark and Luke). 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)).

Luke was a Greek physician (see Col 4:14) who accompanied Paul and also wrote the Acts of the Apostles describing the arrival of the Holy Spirit.  Unlike the firsthand Gospels of Matthew and John, the Gospel of Luke records eyewitness accounts of others, much as a doctor asks a patient for his medical history and then writes it down in the medical file.  Due to Luke's professional nature, his Gospel is very comprehensive about Jesus' life and resurrection, and it also conveys the great sense of joy that Jesus' family, friends and followers felt.  In the [[Battle of the Bulge]] in World War II (the surprise Nazi counterattack in Dec. 1944), which was one of the worst military defeats in American history, a minister’s son who had memorized Luke's description of the Nativity recited it for his fellow soldiers on Christmas Eve while together in the trenches.  Many of them died soon afterwards in battle.

==The relationship of the Gospels==

The greatest writing in the history of the world is the Gospel of John, the Apostle whom Jesus loved the most.  John likely revised and perfected this Gospel for decades before releasing it to others.  As was typical for many of the greatest authors in history, such as Copernicus, John's work was probably not released to the public until he passed away.  Isaac Newton, to take another example, delayed publication of his great mathematical discoveries for decades.  John's life was devoted to writing his Gospel (and Book of Revelation), and he would be expected to improve the work as long as he lived.

Although Matthew comes first in Biblical order, the gospel of Mark is widely agreed to be the oldest of the Gospels.  Matthew and Luke were probably compiled slightly later, drawing both from the oral traditions of the life of [[Jesus]], as well as from a collection of Jesus's sayings known as the [[Q Document]].  John is the last of the Gospels, and the most theological in its purport, and the strongest in its emphasis on God's loving sacrifice of his only son, [[Jesus]], and the ways in which this sacrifice redeemed all mankind.  The four canonical Gospels are often called the "synoptic" Gospels, as they tell slightly different versions of the same underlying story of Christ's life and ministry on earth.

American soldiers in World Wars I and II would carry copies of the Gospel of John with them as they journeyed to faraway battles.  This single book has done more to shape human thought and behavior than any other work.  Our uniquely American First Amendment right of free speech is based on ministers preaching of the "Word" of God as described in the first few verses of the Gospel of John.

Luke was a said to have been a Greek physician (see Col 4:14) who accompanied Paul and also wrote the Acts of the Apostles describing the arrival of the Holy Spirit.  Unlike the firsthand Gospels of Matthew and John, the Gospel of Luke records eyewitness accounts of others, much as a doctor asks a patient for his medical history and then writes it down in the medical file.  Due to Luke's professional nature, his Gospel is very comprehensive about Jesus' life and resurrection, and it also conveys the great sense of joy that Jesus' family, friends and followers felt.  

In addition to the four [[synoptic]] or Canonical gospels, many other early texts claiming to record the accounts of Jesus's earthly ministry have survived.  Most notable among these is the [[Gospel of Thomas]], which some scholars believe is as old as the Canonical gospels, and 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 nearly all modern Christian denominations, and therefore not authoritative texts, but they have stirred considerable interest among theologians and many lay believers in early Christian beliefs.

In addition to the four [[synoptic]] or Canonical gospels, many other early texts claiming to record the accounts of Jesus's earthly ministry have survived.  Most notable among these is the [[Gospel of Thomas]], which some scholars believe is as old as the Canonical gospels, and 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 nearly all modern Christian denominations, and therefore not authoritative texts, but they have stirred considerable interest among theologians and many lay believers in early Christian beliefs.

[[Category:Bible]]

[[Category:Bible]]