The New Testament begins with four books that tell the story of Jesus: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are called the Gospels, from an Old English word meaning "good news". Why are there four, and how are they different? This guide explains.
What is a Gospel?
A Gospel is an account of the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus. The Gospels are not full biographies in the modern sense — they say little about Jesus' childhood, for example — but they carefully record what his followers believed was most important: who Jesus is and what he came to do.
Why four Gospels?
Think of four witnesses describing the same important event. Each notices different details and writes for different readers, but together they give a fuller picture. The four Gospels are like that: four portraits of one Jesus.
Matthew: Jesus the promised King
- Author: traditionally Matthew (also called Levi), a tax collector who became one of the twelve apostles.
- Readers: probably Jewish Christians.
- Focus: Jesus as the Messiah and King promised in the Old Testament. Matthew frequently notes how events fulfil Scripture.
- Highlights: the family line from Abraham, the visit of the wise men, the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5–7) and the Great Commission (28:19–20).
Mark: Jesus the servant in action
- Author: traditionally John Mark, a companion of Peter and Paul.
- Readers: probably believers in Rome.
- Focus: Jesus as the powerful servant who came "not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45, KJV).
- Style: short and fast-moving; the word "straightway" (immediately) appears again and again. Mark is often thought to be the earliest Gospel.
Luke: Jesus the Saviour of all
- Author: Luke, a doctor and companion of Paul, who also wrote Acts.
- Readers: written to Theophilus and a wide, non-Jewish audience.
- Focus: Jesus as the Saviour for everyone — the poor, women, outcasts, Samaritans and sinners.
- Highlights: the birth stories, the shepherds, and parables found only in Luke, such as the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. Luke tells us he investigated carefully to write "in order" (Luke 1:1–4).
John: Jesus the Son of God
- Author: traditionally the apostle John, "the disciple whom Jesus loved".
- Focus: Jesus as the eternal Word and Son of God. John opens: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1, KJV).
- Highlights: seven "signs" (miracles) and seven "I am" sayings — "I am the bread of life", "I am the light of the world", "I am the good shepherd", "I am the resurrection, and the life", "I am the way, the truth, and the life".
- Purpose: stated clearly: "that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31, KJV).
The Synoptic Gospels
Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels ("seen together") because they share many of the same stories, often in a similar order and wording. John is different — about 90% of his material is not found in the other three, and he focuses more on Jesus' conversations and teaching.
Are the differences contradictions?
Readers sometimes notice small differences in details — the order of events, or the exact wording of a saying. This is normal when independent witnesses describe the same events, and the Gospel writers sometimes arranged material by theme rather than strict chronology. The differences actually show that the Gospels were not simply copied from one source. Their agreement on the central facts — Jesus' teaching, miracles, death and resurrection — is striking.
Which Gospel should I read first?
- New to the Bible: start with Mark — short and action-packed — or John, which explains who Jesus is.
- Want the teaching of Jesus: read Matthew, especially chapters 5–7.
- Want a careful, complete account: read Luke, then continue with Acts.
Reading tip
Try reading one Gospel all the way through in a week. You will see the shape of Jesus' life and ministry much more clearly than by reading isolated verses.
Continue with the book of Acts and the early church, or read how to understand the parables of Jesus.