Four Gospels, Four Perspectives
In the New Testament, we know four books of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each conveys the story of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from different perspectives. But who actually wrote these four Gospels? Is it true that they were written by the people whose names appear in the book titles? Or is there another possibility?
1. Gospel of Matthew: Written by a Tax Collector
Ancient Christian tradition associates this Gospel with Matthew, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus who was formerly a tax collector (Matthew 9:9). This Gospel frequently quotes prophecies from the Old Testament, indicating that its author was familiar with the Jewish context. Therefore, many scholars believe this Gospel was intended for a Jewish audience to show that Jesus is the promised Messiah.
However, this Gospel does not directly mention the author’s name. The attribution to Matthew only appears in early church writings, such as those of Papias and Irenaeus. Nevertheless, modern scholars remain divided: some accept this tradition, while others consider that the Gospel was written by a community following Matthew’s teachings.
2. Gospel of Mark: Peter’s Testimony Recorded by Mark
Mark was not one of the twelve apostles listed as Jesus’ disciples, but he was a ministry companion of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 12:12) and a spiritual son of the apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:13). According to early church tradition, Mark wrote the Gospel based on Peter’s direct testimony. Papias said that Mark accurately recorded everything Peter conveyed about Jesus, although not always in chronological order.
Because the Gospel of Mark is the shortest and most straightforward, many scholars believe it was the first written and served as a source for Matthew and Luke in their writings.
3. Gospel of Luke: Written by a Non-Jewish Doctor
Luke is the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. He is known as a doctor (Colossians 4:14) and a traveling companion of Paul. The Gospel of Luke was written for someone named Theophilus (Luke 1:3), and emphasizes Jesus’ humanity as well as His concern for the poor, marginalized, and non-Jewish nations.
Luke himself most likely was not an eyewitness to Jesus’ life, but he carefully investigated and interviewed direct witnesses (Luke 1:1-4).
His writing style is smooth and neat, reflecting his high educational background.
4. The Gospel of John: Known as the Spiritual Gospel
Unlike the other three Gospels (called the Synoptic Gospels), the Gospel of John has a unique style and structure. Early church tradition associates this Gospel with the apostle John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23). He presents Jesus with a strong emphasis on His divine identity, as in the famous sentence: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
Although it is not explicitly stated that John is the author, John 21:24 provides strong evidence that this Gospel is based on the direct testimony of the disciple who was close to Jesus.
So, Who Is the Original Author?
Historically, the early church accepted that the four Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John either directly or through their disciples. Although modern scholars consider the possibility that the Gospels were written or edited by certain communities, there is no strong evidence to completely overturn the traditional attribution.
Most importantly, the content of the four Gospels remains consistent in conveying who Jesus is: the Lord who came as a man to save the world.
