The Gospels as Four Portraits of Jesus. (A)Mark’s Gospel (B) Matthew’s Gospel (C) Luke’s Gospel (D) John’s Gospel (E) the synoptic gospels ABC.

The Gospels as Four Portraits of Jesus

(A) Mark’s Gospel(B) Matthew’s Gospel

(C) Luke’s Gospel(D) John’s Gospel

(E) the synoptic gospelsABC

• Written for the church in Rome and for Gentiles

• Written by a Jewish author for Jews who were converting to Christianity

• Genealogy traced to Abraham

• Genealogy traced to Adam

• Stresses Jesus as the fulfillment of promises made by God in the Hebrew Scriptures

• Stresses the humanity and suffering of Jesus

• Include Genealogy of Jesus

• Include Infancy Narratives

• Stresses the universality of the Christian message, particularly by showing the inclusion of outcasts (women, poor, and sick people)

• Stresses Jesus’ compassion, mercy, and concern for sinners

• Demonstrates Jesus’ role as teacher and preacher (Rabbi)

• Presents Jesus as "the Word of God"

• written by a Gentile doctor for Gentile Christians

• Infancy Narratives with shepherds

• the earliest and shortest Gospel

• The miracle stories emphasize Jesus’ compassion for those who are suffering

• Stresses the incarnation

• offers a unique portrait of Jesus

• Stresses the central role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life

• Infancy Narratives with magi

• Builds on poetic and memorable images of Jesus ("I am" statements

• similar portraits of Jesus

• The synoptic gospels

• Jesus’ followers take some time to catch on to who Jesus is, and when they finally do, Jesus tells them to keep it a secret, given their expectations of the Messiah)>Messianic Secret

• Probably written by followers of the Beloved Disciple

• Mark, Matthew, and Luke

• is the first of a two-volume work, the second being the Acts of the Apostles focusing on the time period from the Ascension to the Pentecost and St. Peter’s role in the early Church

• Focuses on Jesus’ inclusion of women

• Jesus washes the Apostles feet at the Last Supper

• Jesus Restores Peter