Blog Post #3: Gospel Writers

I learned many things about the Gospel Writer's from the presentations. I was not really familiar with Gospel Writers before this project. Before this project, I thought each Gospel writer (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) were one person each. I soon learned that they are one name made up of many people's writings. This made more sense to me, in a way, because I always wondered how one person's writings would be recognized and be put into a book still read many years later. This makes more sense because it was many people's writings into one Gospel writing.







I saw some similarities between the four Gospels. For example, they were all written in Greek. This was surprising to me, because I thought it would be a mix of different languages. It also seems that every symbol for each Gospel book has something to do with wings. The symbol for the Gospel of Matthew is a winged man, Mark's is a winged lion, Luke's is a winged ox, and John's is an eagle. Although it is not a winged eagle, eagles still have wings so there is still a similarity there. This is interesting to me. I wonder if this was a coincidence or not.

There were many differences in the four Gospels. The most differences I saw was in the Gospel's purpose, historical background, and who the Gospels were written for. The Gospel of Matthew was written for the Jews, around the time when the temple was destroyed. The purpose of this Gospel was to help people to better understand Jesus' life and so that they could believe that Jesus was coming for  his people. The Gospel of Mark was written for anyone who wanted to read it, when troops were sent into Jerusalem and in result 36,000 people were killed. The purpose of this Gospel was to proclaim Jesus' good works and so that Roman followers could grow in their faith. The Gospel of Luke was written for Theophilus, Gentiles, and Christians, when Romans destroyed the temple of Jerusalem. The purpose of this Gospel to emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' life. The Gospel of John was written for everyone, but mostly people of the Asia Minor. It was twenty years after the destruction of the temple, and the purpose was to reflect on Jesus' life.

Out of all the Gospels, I would want to read the Gospel of John. It sounds very interesting. I also prefer to read things about reflection. I think since this Gospel has a lot of reflection, I would like it. I think it would be calming to read this Gospel. I hope to read some excerpts sometime in the year.

“A possible first century Greek Manuscript of the Gospel of Matthew,..” 123RF Stock Photos, www.123rf.com/photo_26475273_a-possible-first-century-greek-manuscript-of-the-gospel-of-matthew-published-as-a-facsimile-by-const.html. Accessed 29 Sept. 2017.
Out of Empire and into the Margins: Exploring the Gospel of Mark I The Hampton Institute, www.hamptoninstitution.org/into-the-margins.html. Accessed 29 Sept. 2017.