Week 2: Introduction to the Gospels

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Introduction to the Gospels

What is the Gospel?

The Four Gospel Accounts

"It is not possible that the Gospels can be either more or fewer in number than they are. For, since there are four zones of the world in which we live, and four principal winds, while the Church is scattered throughout all the world, and the "pillar and ground" of the Church is the Gospel and the spirit of life; it is fitting that she should have four pillars, breathing out immortality on every side, and vivifying men afresh. From which fact, it is evident that the Word, the Artificer of all, He that sits upon the cherubim, and contains all things, He who was manifested to men, has given us the Gospel under four aspects, but bound together by one Spirit."

"As also David says, when entreating His manifestation, 'You who sits between the cherubim, shine forth.' For the cherubim, too, were four-faced, and their faces were images of the dispensation of the Son of God. For, as the Scripture says, 'the first living creature was like a lion,' symbolizing His effectual working, His leadership, and royal power; 'the second was like a calf,' signifying His sacrificial and sacerdotal order; but 'the third had, as it were, the face of a man,' - an evident description of His advent as a human being; 'the fourth was like a flying eagle,' pointing out the gift of the Spirit hovering with His wings over the Church."

"And therefore the Gospels are in accord with these things, among which Christ Jesus is seated.
For that according to John relates His original, effectual, and glorious generation from the Father, thus declaring, 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.' Also, 'all things were made by Him, and without Him was nothing made.' For this reason, too, is that Gospel full of all confidence, for such is His person."

"But that according to Luke, taking up His priestly character, commenced with Zacharias the priest offering sacrifice to God. For now was made ready the fatted calf, about to be immolated for the finding again of the younger son."

"Matthew, again, relates His generation as a man, saying "the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham;" and also, "the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise." This, then, is the Gospel of His humanity; for which reason it is, too, that the character of a humble and meek man is kept up through the whole Gospel."

"Mark, on the other hand, commences with a reference to the prophetical spirit coming down from on high to men, saying, 'the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it is written in Isaiah the Prophet,' pointing to the winged aspect of the Gospel; and on this account he made a compendious and cursory narrative, for such is the prophetical character."

The Good News

Characteristics of the Four Gospels

The evangelists did not try to give a comprehensive view of the life and ministry of Christ. But they picked and chose which stories, parables, miracles, etc. to write down to serve their purpose. They had no obligation to document everything, they were simply spreading the "good news" - telling their audience "this is what you need to know about Jesus. This is the good news." Back then it would have been impossible to write very long volumes - everything had to be hand-copied. Writings needed to be limited in length. It is not dishonest of them to leave things out.

Gospel According to St. Matthew

Gospel According to St. Mark

Gospel According to St. Luke

Gospel According to St. John

Activity


Revision #20
Created 10 August 2021 19:09:09 by Morcous Wahba
Updated 4 October 2021 00:57:46 by Morcous Wahba