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{{Christianity}}

{{Christianity}}

[[Image:Njbible.jpg|left]]

[[Image:Njbible.jpg|left]]

The Four '''Gospels''' of the [[Bible]] (from the Greek for "good news") are the first four books of the [[New Testament]].  The books were written anonymously. There is no conclusive proof of their authorship.  This does not mean they have no value as works of faith. There was no ambiguity among the early [[church fathers]] as to the authorship of the gospels, as the apostolic connections were established to demonstrate the books' authority. 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]], 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.

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.

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

"Gospel" is derived from the Middle English word "godspel," in which "god" means "good" and "spel" means "news." Thus "Gospel" literally means "good news," and some denominations like to use the phrase "good news" because they feel it conveys the nature of the Gospel clearly. It is a translation of the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον  (euangelion), which is also the root of the word "evangelist;" an evangelist is someone who spreads the good news. The "good news" here is, specifically, the news of Christ's redemption. The label "good news" was also used to compete with the "good news" propaganda created by Emperor Augustus. The four Gospels offer different, yet complementary, accounts of the story of Jesus's life and teachings, and, along with Paul's Epistles lay the foundation for the doctrine of Christ's redemption.

"Gospel" is derived from the Middle English word "godspel," in which "god" means "good" and "spel" means "news." Thus "Gospel" literally means "good news," and some denominations like to use the phrase "good news" because they feel it conveys the nature of the Gospel clearly. It is a translation of the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον  (euangelion), which is also the root of the word "evangelist;" an evangelist is someone who spreads the good news. The "good news" here is, specifically, the news of Christ's redemption. The four Gospels offer different, yet complementary, accounts of the story of Jesus's life and teachings, and lay the foundation for the doctrine of Christ's redemption.

==The relationship of the Gospels==

==The relationship of the Gospels==

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.  John is the last of the Gospels, the most theologically mature, 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 first three 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.

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.  John is the last of the Gospels, the most theologically mature, 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 first three 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.

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)|Acts of the Apostles]] describing the arrival of the [[Holy Spirit]].  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.

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)|Acts of the Apostles]] describing the arrival of the [[Holy Spirit]].  Unlike the Gospels of Matthew and John, written as firsthand accounts, 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.

==Non-canonical Gospels==

==Non-canonical Gospels==