Perspectives on the four Gospels

August 2004

Contents of this issue of the Joan K. Snipes e-newsletter:
- perspectives on the four Gospels;
- article about shepherding;
- review of The Pilgrim Book of Bible Stories;
- upcoming Bible workshops.

Dear Readers:

Over the last few years my appreciation for the four Gospels has grown. Although we Christians tend to think of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John as a set, it is also helpful to consider each of them individually. Each one is unique, and students of the Bible should have some understanding of their differences. Perhaps the best way to get the feel of each of the Gospels is to simply read them straight through.

In a talk by Dr. Christopher Langton, a Professor of Religion at Principia College, I learned that the author of Matthew emphasized the teaching role of Jesus, that Mark emphasized the preaching role of Jesus, and that Luke emphasized the healing role of Jesus. Scholars think that Mark was the first Gospel written, probably about 70 CE. Matthew and Luke were likely written about 85 CE.

Matthew was written for a Jewish audience, so there are numerous references to Old Testament passages and prophecies concerning the Messiah. Matthew and Luke each include a genealogy for Jesus and the nativity story. Interestingly, Matthew's genealogy includes four mothers among the list of ancestors, none of whom were Jewish. This is one of a number of details in the Gospels that point to Jesus as a universal Messiah, not just a Messiah for the Jews. (Note, for example, that the first individuals to recognize Jesus' messiahship were the Magi -- Gentiles, not Jews.)

Mark is the shortest of the four Gospels. According to author Benson Landis, Mark "is distinguished for his vivid observations of the settings of events--he notes the 'green grass' and uses expressions like 'asleep on a pillow.'" (An Outline of the Bible, Book by Book. HarperPerennial, 1963.)

According to a lecture by Bible speaker Caryl Waller Krueger, Luke has five themes. They are: an appreciation of women, the place of Christianity as a world religion, compassion for the poor, the importance of prayer, and an emphasis on the Holy Spirit. I highly recommend any Bible tape by Caryl Krueger, but especially "The Gospels," which includes excellent information about the three synoptic Gospels. Please see her website for ordering information: www.Bibleinspiration.com

The Fourth Gospel, John, is quite different from the other three. While the Synoptics focus on Christ's ministry in Galilee, John tells mainly of his labors in Judea. John records Jesus' teaching about himself, and this usually occurs in the form of extended discourses.

Jesus' betrayal, arrest, trials, crucifixion and resurrection are narrated by all four of the Evangelists. Several well-known healings, however, are only included in John. These include: Jesus' healing of the nobleman's son at Cana, the healing on the Sabbath of a man at the pool of Bethesda, and the raising of Lazarus in Bethany.

To gain an understanding of the life of Christ Jesus, it is very helpful to consult a harmony of the Gospels. Many exist, both in Bible reference books and online. One that I have relied on for decades appears in The New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible under the heading of "Gospels." A harmony is simply a table consisting of a numbered list of incidents in the life of Christ and the corresponding passages, if any, in each of the Gospels. Such a table enables the reader to quickly see which events are told in which Gospels.

According to Manuscripts of the Greek Bible, the church historian Eusebius of Caesarea was the first person to arrange the Gospels in a harmony.

There is an accurate, easy to read harmony of the Gospels online at a Baptist site called MinistryServer.com. I printed out a copy, and it took 11 sheets of paper. To see it, please visit:
http://www.ministryserver.com/bible/lectures/5003.htm

SHEPHERDING ARTICLE
A friend recently sent me a copy of an old Reader's Digest article about shepherding. The author, James K. Wallace, interviews a Basque shepherd named Ferando D'Alphonso. The shepherd relates each line of the 23rd Psalm to the various practical tasks of finding "green pastures" and "still waters," and anointing the sheep with oil. It is a reverent and lovely essay with a number of helpful insights. If you'd like a copy via email, please let me know. I'm delighted to pass it along.

BOOK REVIEW
In a recent e-newsletter issued by the folks at www.seekingandfinding.com, I wrote a positive book review for The Pilgrim Book of Bible Stories, published by Pilgrim Press in 2003. If you'd like to read the full review, please click on the link below or email me for a copy. http://www.seekingandfinding.com/jc/Newsletter/newsletter30.html

UPCOMING SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
I'll be giving Bible workshops in New Hampshire and England this Fall. Please email me for specifics on any of these talks.

Saturday, September 25 - Concord, NH (two workshops)
Sunday, September 26 - Dover, NH
Saturday, November 13 - Woking, Surrey, England (two workshops)
Friday, November 19, 2004 - Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Saturday, November 20, 2004 - Altrincham, Cheshire, England
Sunday, November 21, 2004 -Birmingham, West Midlands, England

If your church or organization would be interested in sponsoring a workshop, please contact me for details.

Yours truly,

Joan Koelle Snipes

Volume 4; No. 4
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