Lesson 11 Four Gospels - Writers

 Lesson 11 

FOUR GOSPELS- WRITERS 

Reading Portion : Mat: 4:18-22, Luke 5:27-39, John 1:35-52

Memory Verse: John 20:31

Objective: To understand the authority of the gospels by learning the history of the writers 

Introduction 

      Where do we get information about Christ's life on earth? How many books are there in the new testament? There are 27 books in the new testament written by 8 writers.

Mathew - 1      Peter - 2

Mark      - 1      Paul   - 14 ( Including Hebrews)

Luck       - 2     James - 1

John       -  5    Jude    - 1

1. Mathew 

  He was one of the 12  apostles who was called Levi. The meaning of the word Mathew is the 'Gift of God.' He was a native of Capernaum, working as a tax collector (publican) under the Roman empire. So he was known as Mathew, the publican/ Tax collector. In those days, tax collectors were treated as sinners. Jesus called Mathew to follow him while Mathew was collecting taxes in Capernaum. He followed Jesus, leaving everything, and later, he arranged a grand feast for his old friends and announced his decision to follow Jesus.

 It is believed that Mathew preached Gospel in Palestine for 12 years after the Pentecost. Later he went to Etiopia, Persia, and become a martyr for Christ in Ethiopia. Before his death, he wrote a life history of Jesus for his own people - the Jews in their own language - Hebrew. It was later translated into Greek. Being a tax collector, Mathew was well educated and was capable of documenting the events. His aim was to reveal Jesus as expected King of Jews.

2. Mark

The second book in the new testament was written by Mark, who was called John. It is believed that among the four gospels, the gospel of Mark was written first. 

        Family relations:- His mother, Mary, was well known among the members of the church. They had a house in Jerusalem ( Acts 12:2). It was here where Jesus had his last supper. The Holy Spirit descended in the disciples, on the day of Pentecost, in this house. This house was a place of refuge for believers in Jerusalem during the persecution by King Herod Agrippa. After the miraculous deliverance from the prison, Peter came to his house. Mark was a cousin of Barnabas. Mark belongs to the tribe of Levi. 

Spiritual relations:- Peter was instrumental in bringing Mark to Christ. In 1 Peter 5:13, we can see Peter introducing Mark as 'my son.' Later, Mark accompanied Peter in his ministries. This spiritual relation with Peter might have motivated Mark to write the history of Jesus. He might have written the gospel based on the facts got from Peter. Later, Mark accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey. After some time, he returned to Jerusalem because of the difficulties. Paul hesitated to take Mark for the second missionary journey. So Mark went with Barnabas to Cyprus. But later, Mark and Paul became companions (2 Tim 4:11, Philo 1:24).

It is believed that Mark was martyred by Emperor Trajan in Alexandria ( North coast of Africa)

3. LUKE

He was from Antioch. Luke is the author of the gospel of Luke and Acts of Apostles. We can understand from Colo 4:11 that he was not a Jew. He was a physician by profession ( Colo 4:14). Luke came to Christ through Paul and accompanied Paul from Troas during the second missionary journey and was with him till his death. He came to Jerusalem with Paul during Paul's third missionary journey. Then Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea for 2 years. During this period. Luke traveled throughout Palestine and collected the necessary facts for the gospel. He preached the gospel in Macedonia and Achaia and later was killed by the Greek priests. 

4. JOHN 

'John' means 'God is merciful.' He wrote one gospel, three epistles,s and the book of Revelation. He was born as the son of Zebedee and Salome, from Bethsaida. He is believed that Salome was the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus. James was his brother. They were known as 'sons of Zebedee.' They were large scale fishermen and had a reputation in society. John was familiar with the high priest (John 18:15,16). He had a house in Jerusalem.

He was a disciple of John, the baptist. He and Andrews followed Jesus, hearing the testimony of John the baptist. John, along with James, Peter, and Andrew, left all their belongings and followed Jesus when He called them. John was one of the three closest disciples of Jesus. We can see John with Jesus at several places like

1. Mark 5: 37   - Jairus's daughter healed.

2. Mat 17: 1-8  - Transfiguration of Christ 

3. Mat. 26: 37 -  At Gethsamane

 John always preferred himself to be addressed as 'the disciple whom Jesus loved.' It was to John that Jesus asked to take care of his mother Mary, while he was on the Cross. We see that John used to lean on to Jesus's bosom. He was the only disciple who was with Jesus during the crucifixion. 

Where do we see John after the Pentecost? Act 3: 1-11, 4:13, 8:14, Gala 2:9. John preached the gospel in Jerusalem at first, and later Ephesus became his center of evangelization. He is believed that in A.D. 90, he wrote the gospel for the believers in Ephesus in the Greek language. During this period, he was put in boiling oil by the Roman emperor Domitian. Later he was exiled to the island of Patmos. In A.D. 96, he got a vision of Christ, and he wrote the book of Revelation. Later he was brought back to Ephesus by Nerva, the successor of Domitian. He might have written the epistles during his stay in Ephesus. He was the only disciple who had a natural death. He lived for about 100 years.   

John reveals the intention behind writing the gospel in John 20:31.

"But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that believing, you might have life through his name."

Have you received this eternal life in Jesus Christ?