Page 5 - Advanced Life of Christ - Student Textbook

after Jesus’ death. There were plenty of witnesses to the same events Matthew wrote about when he
penned the Gospel. If He made an error in details, there were those alive who could object or correct
him. But no ancient document records such. Matthew wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to
document for all mankind his perspective on Christ’s life and suffering.

Mark was a disciple of the Apostle Peter and quite often, he represented Peter. He was the nephew of
Barnabas who journeyed with Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey. Luke was a medical
doctor who had a passion for accuracy and detail. He was a companion of Paul on his later missionary
journeys.

All four Gospels were almost immediately recognized by the early church as part of the canon of
Scripture. Other “gospels” appeared shortly after they were written (Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of
Nicodemus, Gospel of the nativity of Mary, the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, and the Arabic Gospel of the
infancy of Jesus to name a few) but they were never recognized by the apostles and the early church as
holding a position in the canon.

Some have taught that the early church spent years attempting to determine what books belonged in
the Bible. But that is not true. We have evidence from the early church fathers and a document called
the Muratorian Fragment that the books of the New Testament were well established very early,
including the four Gospels we are studying.

The Gospel writers were either eyewitnesses of Jesus, or they knew people who were.

Luke 1:2-3 . . . just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses
and servants of the word, it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from
the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus . . . (NASB)

Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would help them remember all things. The Holy Spirit
brought to memory information that they did not have. For example, how did the disciples who were
not with Jesus and were sleeping know what Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36-
43)? Or, how did they know what occurred between Jesus and Satan in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11)? It
was the Holy Spirit who helped them know what occurred, or Jesus had told them.

Each of the Gospel writers had a reason for writing:

Matthew’s target audience was to the Jewish community presenting Jesus as Israel’s long-awaited
Messiah and rightful King of Kings. That’s why Matthew opens with the genealogy of Jesus to
demonstrate that Jesus qualifies to sit on the throne through the royal descent of King David.

Mark targeted the Gentile audience, especially Romans. Mark sought to present Jesus as the Servant
who came to suffer for the sins of all men.

Luke wanted to document the truth and to present an accurate account of the life of Christ to
Theophilus, perhaps a doubter. He also wanted to put everything in chronological order.

Luke 1:4 . . . so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. (NASB)

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