The Four Gospels of Jesus Christ

The Author / Matthew
The Teacher / Mark
The Preacher / Luke
The Historian / John
The Theologian
Meaning of his Name / Gift of God
[Levi: joined in harmony] / Mighty Warrior
[John: God is gracious] / Bringer of Light / God is gracious
His Occupation / Tax Collector
in Capernaum / Christian Ministry
(youthful failures:
to Jesus & Paul) / Physician / Fishing Business
His Nationality / Jew / Jew / Gentile / Jew
Discipled by / Jesus / Peter/ Barnabus / Paul / Jesus
Date Written / AD 60-70 / AD 58 / AD 60-70 / AD 85-90
Recipients / Jews / Romans / Greeks / Church
Whole World
Purpose / To show Jewish mind:
That Jesus FULFILLED Messianic prophecies / To show Roman mind:
"What could He DO?" / So Theophilis
could know all about Him / That you might BELIEVE and
have eternal life
Face of Jesus
Ezekiel 1:10
Rev 4:6-8 / Lion of Judah
Son of David
Messiah/King
Jer. 23:5,33:15
Branch of rt.
For David / Ox
Servant of God
Is. 11:1-2
My servant the
Branch / Man
Son of Man
Zech. 6:12-13
The man whose name is Branch / Eagle
Son of God
Is. 4:2
The Branch of the Lord
Character of God / Law
Sovereignty
Rule & Reign / Power
Humility
Serve & Suffer / Grace
Humanity
Share & Sympathize / Glory
Deity
Reveal & Redeem
Genealogy / Abraham
David
Jesus (Messiah) / NONE
Servants did NOT have a lineage / Adam
(Mary)
Jesus / No human lineage
WAS God
Special Features / Sermons
Topical arrangement
Kingdom of heaven
Emphasis on Law
Jesus paid the temple tax
Herod killed the Jewish babies / Miracles
Shortest arrangement
Most passionate
Immediately: action, obedience to the gospel
House of prayer for ALL nations
Failures of Peter / Parables
Chronological arrangement
Kingdom of God
Childhood of Jesus / Doctrines
Selective arrangement
7 miracles
7 "I AM"s
Eternal security
Jesus' private thoughts, conversations, prayer
Shows response of listeners:
belief or unbelief
Ending / Resurrection:
Proof of Messiahship / ASCENSION:
From lowly to exalted / Promise of the Holy Spirit
The coming power
to indwell man / Promise of 2nd Coming
& restoration of fallen man
Special hope for the Church
Comparisons / Outer /Human facts of Lord's Life / Inner/ Divine
Public/ Galilean teaching ministry / Mostly Private/ Judean
Like the front page of a newspaper / Like an editorial
Synoptic ("See Together") / Interpretive