Comparative Analysis of the

Four Gospels

JEFF CLYDE G. CORPUZDE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY

MANILA

Mark Matthew Luke John

The evangelist

“John Mark”Acts 12:12

Companion of Peter in the mission in Asia minor and Rome.

Feast DayApril 25

“Levi son of Alphaeus”Mark 2:14

A tax collector

Feast Day

September 21

A companion of St. Paul2 Tim 4:11; Philemon 1:24

A physicianCol 4:14

He also wrote the “Acts of the Apostles”

Feast DayOctober 18

“John the Apostle” son of Zebedee

Disciple whom Jesus loved

Identified with the author of revelation as well as 3 epistles which bears the name “John”

Feast :Dec 27

Mark Matthew Luke John

Audience

Persecuted Jewish and Gentile Christians

Jewish Christians

Gentile Christians from the lower urban classes of the Roman World

Christians communities with issues against “Jews” and “Gnostics”

Mark Matthew Luke JohnDate and place of Composition

70 AD

Rome after the death of Peter

80 AD

Antioch

80-85 AD

Rome

90-98 AD

Ephesus

Mark Matthew Luke JohnCharacteristics

Shortest Gospel

Gospel of deeds“Jesus performing miracles”

Messianic secret

Jesus true identity is kept hidden during his earthly life and revealed only by the cross

Seeks to show that the NT is the continuation of the OT.

5 great teachings of Christ

The only gospel to use the word Church (16:18)

Universality of salvation

Most theological of the gospels

Full long discourses with less actions of Jesus and many things such as light , light , and glory which demand deeper level of reflections.

Mark Matthew Luke John

Identity of Jesus

Jesus as the suffering servant

Jesus is a man, by his suffering at the cross, his divinity is revealed

Jesus as the divine Messiah

announced by the prophets, the bringer and the herald of salvation

Jesus as divine savior and healer

He is the “savior of the world.”

Jesus as the Eternal Word made flesh

John 1:2 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”

Mark Matthew Luke John

Message

Jesus is the suffering servant, one with those persecuted. He consoles them and sustains their faith.

The reign of God is open not only to the Jews but also to all humankind

Christianity is a universal religion which witnesses to the love of Jesus for all people

Jesus Christ, he who “dwelt among us” is truly God, the only begotten Son of God.

Mark Matthew Luke John

Symbols Lion – It fits mark’s style which is vivid and as direct as the lions roar.

Man – His gospel opens with a record of Jesus human ancestors.

Ox- His gospel opens with Zechariah offering a sacrifice to God in the temple.

Eagle – His gospel starts with a prologue that expresses a hymn of praise to Jesus, who alone can uniquely look on the face of God just as the eagle alone can look upon the sun.

MatthewMathew was a tax

collector. He has the longest gospel. He wrote for the Christians converted from Judaism in Palestine. Jesus in his gospel is pictured as the Servant-Messiah Emmanuel

MarkThe shortest gospel of

the four is the one written by Mark who was known as John Mark. He was with Paul and Peter in the missionary activity. Mark wrote for the persecuted non-Jewish Christians in Rome. The Suffering Messiah is the image of Jesus in the Gospel

LukeLuke is a learned

man and physician by profession. He belonged to a Greek family in Antioch. Luke wrote for the gentile Christians stressing salvation as universal.

JohnJohn focuses on

Christ’s divinity. Christ is the revealer of the Father. John is the son of Zebedee, the brother of James, the disciple whom Jesus loved. This gospel was written for the Hellenistic Community.