How Many Gospels Are There in The Bible?

The Bible, a foundational text for Christians, encompasses a variety of writings that are considered sacred and authoritative. Within the New Testament, there are four gospels that hold a central place in Christian doctrine. These gospels, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, serve as narratives that aim to convey a specific understanding of Jesus and his significance to believers.

Unlike biographies in the modern sense, these gospels were not written to provide a comprehensive account of Jesus’ life. Rather, they were crafted with the intention of illuminating his teachings, miracles, and ultimate sacrifice, emphasizing his divinity and role as the Messiah.

Key Takeaways:

• The Bible contains four canonical gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
• These gospels are considered authoritative and sacred by the majority of Christians.
• They offer distinct perspectives on Jesus and his significance to the Christian faith.
• The selection of these four gospels as canonical scriptures was a process that occurred in the second and third centuries.
• Early church leaders, such as Irenaeus, played a significant role in determining the authenticity and relevance of these gospels.

The Proliferation of Gospels

In the early Christian movement, there was a rich diversity of writings and traditions surrounding the teachings of Jesus. Numerous gospels circulated among the early Christian communities, presenting different perspectives on Jesus and his teachings. These early Christian writings often sought to convey unique interpretations of Jesus’ life, ministry, and significance.

Some of these writings were attributed to disciples and followers of Jesus, such as the Gospel of Thomas or the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Others originated from different Christian sects or were considered heretical by the leaders of the early church.

The number of these gospels is greatly increased, as is well known,” wrote the early Christian theologian Irenaeus, referring to the abundance of gospel writings during that time.

The proliferation of these gospels presented a challenge to the emerging Christian community. They had to discern which writings were authentic and aligned with the true teachings of Jesus. This task fell upon influential figures like Irenaeus, who took a stand against what he deemed as heretical gospels and advocated for the recognition of only four authentic gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

By asserting the authoritative status of these four gospels, Irenaeus sought to establish a unified foundation for Christian doctrine and belief. These gospels were ultimately recognized as the canonical scriptures, while many other early Christian writings were disregarded or lost over time.

The Proliferation of Gospels – Timeline

Gospel	Authorship	Approximate Date
Gospel of Thomas	Unknown	Mid to late 2nd century
Gospel of Mary Magdalene	Unknown	Mid to late 2nd century
Gospel of Philip	Unknown	Mid to late 2nd century
Gospel of Judas	Unknown	Mid to late 2nd century
Matthew	Traditionally attributed to Matthew the Apostle	Between 70-90 AD
Mark	Traditionally attributed to John Mark, a companion of Peter	Approximately 70 AD
Luke	Traditionally attributed to Luke, a companion of Paul	Between 80-100 AD
John	Traditionally attributed to John the Apostle	Between 90-110 AD

The Determination of the Canon

In the second and third centuries, the early Christians faced the challenge of determining which books would be included in the official scripture known as the New Testament. During this time, there were numerous gospels and acts attributed to different apostles and disciples of Jesus. These writings circulated among the early Christian communities, presenting varying perspectives on Jesus and his teachings. However, objections arose against certain writings as the church grew, leading to the need for a process to determine the canon.

A key figure in the determination of the canon was Irenaeus, a bishop in the second century. He played a significant role in declaring that there were only four authentic gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Irenaeus believed that these gospels were the earliest and best sources, aligning with the core teachings and unique importance of Jesus. His influence and arguments for the inclusion of these four gospels carried weight and helped solidify their position within the canon.

It is important to note that while Irenaeus had a significant impact on the determination of the canon, the actual authors of the four gospels are unknown. Their selection as the canonical scriptures was based on their perceived authenticity and alignment with Christian doctrine, as determined by early church leaders.

To illustrate the variations and challenges faced in determining the canon, a comparative analysis can be made:

Gospel	Attribution	Considered Canonical?
Gospel of Thomas	Attributed to Thomas	No
Gospel of Peter	Attributed to Peter	No
Gospel of Judas	Attributed to Judas	No
Gospel of Matthew	Traditionally attributed to Matthew	Yes
Gospel of Mark	Traditionally attributed to Mark, a companion of Peter	Yes
Gospel of Luke	Traditionally attributed to Luke, a companion of Paul	Yes
Gospel of John	Traditionally attributed to John, a disciple of Jesus	Yes

This table highlights some of the major variations in the gospels attributed to different individuals. While the canonized gospels have traditionally been accepted as authoritative, the process of determining the canon involved careful consideration and scrutiny of various writings. Through the efforts of early church leaders like Irenaeus, the four gospels in the New Testament emerged as the foundation of Christian doctrine, reflecting the beliefs and teachings that were deemed most significant to the early Christian movement.

Conclusion

The Bible, a sacred text for Christians, contains four canonical gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These gospels are widely regarded as the authentic and authoritative scriptures within the Christian faith. They were not intended as modern biographies but rather as narratives crafted to convey a specific portrayal of Jesus and his significance to their respective audiences.

During the second and third centuries, there were numerous writings and traditions surrounding the teachings of Jesus in the early Christian movement. Different gospels circulated, presenting varying perspectives on Jesus and his teachings. However, the early church faced the challenge of discerning which writings were authentic and aligned with Christian doctrine.

One influential figure in the determination of the canon was Irenaeus, a bishop of the second century. He asserted that only the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were authentic. Based on his belief that these gospels were written by Jesus’ true followers, Irenaeus regarded them as essential to Christian doctrine.

Despite the existence of other early Christian writings and variations in the portrayals of Jesus, the four canonical gospels in the New Testament ultimately became the foundation of Christian teachings and the central focus of Christian faith. They continue to shape the beliefs, practices, and understanding of Jesus Christ by millions of believers worldwide.