The names Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are instantly recognizable, deeply intertwined with the foundation of Christian scripture. These are the men traditionally attributed to writing the first four books of the New Testament, known as the Gospels. Crucially, their writings serve as the primary source of information about the earthly life of Jesus Christ, detailing His ministry, miracles, teachings, death, and resurrection. For those seeking to understand the life and teachings of Jesus, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are indispensable.
These four Gospels have been cherished since their inception. Imagine the profound impact these texts had on early Christians eager to learn about the Savior. To hear recounted the very words and deeds of Jesus would have been transformative. But while Matthew and John were among Jesus’s original twelve Apostles, the roles of Mark and Luke in documenting the Savior’s life might be less immediately clear. Understanding who these men were and how they came to write their accounts enriches our appreciation for the Gospels themselves.
Matthew: The Tax Collector Apostle
Matthew, before his life was redirected by Jesus’s call to apostleship, was a publican, or tax collector. This profession in first-century Judea came with social stigma but also implied a certain level of education and literacy. Tax collectors needed to be proficient in reading, writing, and arithmetic, likely in multiple languages including Greek, the lingua franca of the Roman Empire. Matthew’s background suggests he was well-equipped to document events and teachings. It is plausible that Matthew, even during his time with Jesus, made notes or kept a journal of the Savior’s sayings and actions. These personal records would have served as a valuable foundation when he later compiled his Gospel, preserving his eyewitness testimony of Jesus’s ministry.
Matthew’s Gospel is distinctly oriented towards a Jewish audience. He frequently emphasizes Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah, meticulously demonstrating how Jesus fulfilled prophecies from the Old Testament. For readers deeply familiar with Jewish scriptures and expectations of a Messiah, Matthew’s Gospel provided compelling evidence of Jesus’s divine role.
Interestingly, Matthew’s prior profession as a publican seems to subtly surface in his writing. His account of the Resurrection includes a detail unique to his Gospel: the bribery of the guards at Jesus’s tomb. Matthew recounts how the guards witnessed angels rolling back the stone and reported this to their superiors. In response, the Jewish leaders offered the soldiers a substantial sum of money to spread the false narrative that Jesus’s disciples had stolen His body. (See Matthew 28:2–15). This insider knowledge of political maneuvering and financial transactions suggests Matthew’s familiarity with such practices, perhaps stemming from his earlier life in public service. This detail, found only in Matthew, offers a unique insight into the aftermath of the Resurrection.
Mark: Peter’s Interpreter and Gospel Writer
Mark stands apart from Matthew and John as not being one of the original twelve Apostles. He was also likely younger than the other Gospel writers. However, Mark had significant connections to the early Christian community. His mother was a prominent follower of Jesus, and her home in Jerusalem served as a gathering place for disciples. Acts 12:12 mentions this specifically, identifying Mark by his full name, John Mark. This detail highlights Mark’s early immersion in the nascent Christian movement.
While likely a younger follower during Jesus’s ministry in Jerusalem, Mark would have had opportunities to witness and hear the Savior. Later, after the Resurrection and the spread of the Christian message, Mark became a companion of the Apostle Paul on missionary journeys. He then joined the Apostle Peter in Rome, becoming closely associated with him, even staying by Peter’s side during imprisonment. Mark is traditionally known as Peter’s interpreter, both linguistically and theologically. Peter, a Galilean fisherman, may not have been fluent in Greek, the language of wider communication in the Roman Empire. Mark likely facilitated Peter’s ministry by translating and articulating his teachings.
Mark’s Gospel is widely understood to be heavily influenced by the Apostle Peter’s eyewitness accounts and perspectives. It is believed that Mark wrote down Peter’s recollections and interpretations of Jesus’s life and ministry. This Petrine influence is reflected in Mark’s Gospel, which demonstrates a particular emphasis on spreading the gospel message to the Gentiles, aligning with Peter’s own ministry focus. Mark’s Gospel provides a dynamic and action-oriented portrayal of Jesus, reflecting perhaps the direct and energetic personality of Peter himself.
Luke: The Physician and Historian of Jesus
Luke’s background is distinct from the other Gospel writers. He was not an original Apostle and did not personally know Jesus during His earthly ministry. Luke became a follower of Christ after Jesus’s death and resurrection, converting to Christianity through the teachings of Paul. Luke was a physician by profession, a role requiring education, observation skills, and a meticulous approach. He later left his medical practice to become a companion of Paul, traveling with him and participating in his missionary work. This association with Paul placed Luke in contact with numerous early Christian leaders and eyewitnesses to Jesus’s life.
Luke explicitly states in the opening verses of his Gospel his methodology: he undertook careful investigation, drawing upon the accounts of eyewitnesses and “ministers of the word” (Luke 1:2). He sought to compile an accurate and ordered account of the events surrounding Jesus’s life. This dedication to historical accuracy and reliance on primary sources is evident throughout his Gospel. Luke’s Gospel and the Book of Acts, also attributed to him, demonstrate a historian’s approach to documenting the origins and spread of Christianity.
One of the most poignant examples of Luke’s access to unique sources is his detailed account of Jesus’s birth. Elder Bruce R. McConkie, a respected theologian, suggested that Luke likely obtained information about Jesus’s birth directly from Mary, Jesus’s mother. This possibility underscores the value of Luke’s historical approach and his efforts to gather firsthand accounts.
Luke’s Gospel likely benefited from interviews and conversations with many individuals who had known Jesus. Paul himself mentions in 1 Corinthians 15:6 that over 500 people witnessed Jesus after His Resurrection, and many of these individuals were still alive when the Gospels were being written. Luke’s Gospel, therefore, can be seen as a carefully researched and historically grounded narrative, drawing upon a rich tapestry of eyewitness testimonies and early Christian tradition.
John: The Beloved Disciple and Theologian
John, often referred to as “John the Beloved,” was one of the original twelve Apostles, forming an inner circle with Peter and James. His Gospel is generally considered to be the last written among the four. Internal evidence suggests that John was familiar with the other three Gospels – Matthew, Mark, and Luke – and that he intentionally wrote to complement, rather than simply repeat, their accounts. Where the other Gospels might recount specific events or parables, John often focuses on aspects not covered by the others, offering unique perspectives and insights.
John’s intended audience was primarily members of the early Church, individuals already familiar with the basic narrative of Jesus’s life and teachings. Consequently, John’s Gospel delves deeply into the theological significance of Jesus Christ. A central theme of John’s Gospel is the divine nature of Jesus, emphasizing His identity as the Son of God, co-eternal with the Father. John’s Gospel presents a more explicitly theological and reflective portrait of Jesus, exploring His divine identity and His relationship with God.
Interestingly, John’s Gospel also includes the testimony of John the Baptist, suggesting access to writings or traditions associated with this important figure. This inclusion further enriches the historical and theological depth of John’s account.
The concluding verses of John’s Gospel offer a unique glimpse into the Apostle John’s own destiny. Referring to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” John recounts a conversation with Jesus where it was indicated that John would not die but would remain on the earth until the Second Coming of Christ (John 21:20–23; Doctrine and Covenants 7). This remarkable prophecy further distinguishes John’s unique role within the apostolic circle.
In conclusion, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, while distinct in their perspectives and emphases, collectively provide a multifaceted and comprehensive portrait of Jesus Christ. Originally circulating as individual scrolls, these Gospels were later compiled, along with other significant writings, to form the New Testament. The warning in Revelation 22:18, often attributed to John, cautioning against adding to scripture, likely referred specifically to the Book of Revelation in its original context, rather than prohibiting future revelation.
The New Testament, built upon the foundation of the four Gospels, includes the Book of Acts, traditionally attributed to Luke, which chronicles the early Church’s development after Jesus’s ascension. The majority of the remaining New Testament books are epistles, letters written by Paul, James, Peter, John, and Jude, addressing various aspects of Christian doctrine and practice. The Book of Revelation, again attributed to John, concludes this collection, presenting a vision of the end times.
For a deeper understanding of the Gospels, resources like the “Harmony of the Gospels” found in Bible Dictionaries are invaluable. This tool allows readers to compare parallel accounts of the same events or teachings across the four Gospels, enriching comprehension and revealing unique nuances in each writer’s perspective. For example, the baptism of Jesus is recounted in all four Gospels, while other events, such as Jesus’s appearance to Thomas after the Resurrection, are unique to John. John’s Gospel, in fact, contains the most unique material, with approximately 90% of its content not found in the other three. Mark’s Gospel, conversely, contains the least unique material, around 7%. Studying Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John individually and collectively offers a rich and rewarding journey into the heart of Christian faith.
