4 Different Accounts of the Gospels

Sometimes individuals ask as to why we have four different accounts of the life of Jesus. Why did God not simply reveal in one book all that Jesus did? One of the reasons is that each of the gospels has a different audience and a different purpose as they write.

Luke’s audience was Theophilus, whom he addresses as “most excellent.” This was a special term used in the first century to give honor to nobility within the government. Both Festus and Felix are addressed in this way (Acts 23:26; 24:3; 26:25). Why did Luke write this gospel? Read his opening words. There were many (obviously, not just Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) who were trying to write what they remembered about Jesus, but Luke says that he had a “…perfect understanding of all things from the very first…” and he was writing to give to Theophilus a precise account in the exact order it happened (Luke 1:1, 4).

Why is John so different from the other gospel accounts? Because his purpose is not to focus on chronology, but he selects seven miracles to accomplish his purpose.  “Truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31).

Now focus on John’s opening paragraph. There is no mention of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds, the wise men or Herod. John wanted his readers to be fully convinced that Jesus is the Christ. He goes back to the beginning, to the time before there was the heavens and the earth. Jesus was there. The Word was there; He was with God (Deity), and the Word was Deity. The rest of this book is designed to magnify the Word so that everyone might be fully convinced that Jesus is God.

In that paragraph Jesus is introduced as the One in who was life (1:4). Adam, the first life was created through Jesus (“without Him nothing was made that was made”), but He is even more. His is not just physical life, He is the One through whom all who believe may have eternal, spiritual life (20:31).

But He is even more. He was “…the light of men” (1:4). The world into which He came and this Light “shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (1:5).

He is even more. He is “the true light which gives light to every man” (1:9). He is the “…only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (1:14). While Moses gave the law, “…grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (1:17).

As you read your Bible, slow down! Look carefully at every book, every chapter, every paragraph, every sentence, every word! There are heavenly treasures in every word!