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Gospel collection

The Four Gospels

Gospel traditions

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John narrate Jesus’ activity and teaching, the conflicts leading to his death, and the resurrection proclaimed by his followers. Read together, they reveal a shared outline and four distinct literary and theological portraits.

Composition
c. 65-100 CE, depending on the Gospel
Sources and precision

The range describes formation of the collection. Individual units may have different dates.

Confidence C · probable range

Tradition
Christianity
Period
Antiquity
Languages
English · French · Latin
Extent
89 passages · 83,949 words

Before reading

What you will learn

Compare the narrative choices of the four Gospels, notice agreements and divergences, then distinguish reported sayings of Jesus from the way each tradition organizes and interprets his story.

Short summary

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John narrate Jesus’ activity and teaching, the conflicts leading to his death, and the resurrection proclaimed by his followers. Read together, they reveal a shared outline and four distinct literary and theological portraits.

Long summary

The canonical Gospels follow a recognizable outline: Jesus’ public activity, teaching, encounters, controversies, journey to Jerusalem, Passion, and proclaimed resurrection. Matthew, Mark, and Luke share many episodes; John adopts a more distinct composition and language.

Comparison reveals choices of pace, order, and theological emphasis. A parable, healing, or saying may move or change form, while some episodes occur in only one account. These differences are not details to smooth away: they show how each tradition transmits and interprets the figure of Jesus for its audience.

Inside this work

The table of contents follows the divisions actually carried by the corpus.

Work › Biblical book › Chapter › Verse

Matthew28 passages
  1. Chapter 1
  2. Chapter 2
  3. Chapter 3
  4. Chapter 4
  5. Chapter 5
  6. Chapter 6
  7. Chapter 7
  8. Chapter 8
  9. Chapter 9
  10. Chapter 10
  11. Chapter 11
  12. Chapter 12
  13. Chapter 13
  14. Chapter 14
  15. Chapter 15
  16. Chapter 16
  17. Chapter 17
  18. Chapter 18
  19. Chapter 19
  20. Chapter 20
  21. Chapter 21
  22. Chapter 22
  23. Chapter 23
  24. Chapter 24
  25. Chapter 25
  26. Chapter 26
  27. Chapter 27
  28. Chapter 28
Mark16 passages
  1. Chapter 1
  2. Chapter 2
  3. Chapter 3
  4. Chapter 4
  5. Chapter 5
  6. Chapter 6
  7. Chapter 7
  8. Chapter 8
  9. Chapter 9
  10. Chapter 10
  11. Chapter 11
  12. Chapter 12
  13. Chapter 13
  14. Chapter 14
  15. Chapter 15
  16. Chapter 16
Luke24 passages
  1. Chapter 1
  2. Chapter 2
  3. Chapter 3
  4. Chapter 4
  5. Chapter 5
  6. Chapter 6
  7. Chapter 7
  8. Chapter 8
  9. Chapter 9
  10. Chapter 10
  11. Chapter 11
  12. Chapter 12
  13. Chapter 13
  14. Chapter 14
  15. Chapter 15
  16. Chapter 16
  17. Chapter 17
  18. Chapter 18
  19. Chapter 19
  20. Chapter 20
  21. Chapter 21
  22. Chapter 22
  23. Chapter 23
  24. Chapter 24
John21 passages
  1. Chapter 1
  2. Chapter 2
  3. Chapter 3
  4. Chapter 4
  5. Chapter 5
  6. Chapter 6
  7. Chapter 7
  8. Chapter 8
  9. Chapter 9
  10. Chapter 10
  11. Chapter 11
  12. Chapter 12
  13. Chapter 13
  14. Chapter 14
  15. Chapter 15
  16. Chapter 16
  17. Chapter 17
  18. Chapter 18
  19. Chapter 19
  20. Chapter 20
  21. Chapter 21

Concepts covered

Historical context

The world around the text

The Gospels take shape in the first century within a Jewish world under Roman rule, across Galilee, Judaea, and communities of the eastern Mediterranean. The destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, oral circulation of stories, and the needs of distinct communities help explain their differences. The images situate this shared setting without claiming to show the exact composition scene of any one text.

These are modern reconstructions. They situate a documented place, practice, or transmission and are not period documents.

Modern reconstruction of Bethany for The Four Gospels on Prokopton42.com
BethanyBethany appears in Mark's final-week route and in distinctive Johannine narratives. The generated scene uses Bethany and Judean and final-week traditions as its documented anchors.Mark 11; John 11 and 12
Modern reconstruction of Nearby historical landmark, 79 CE for The Four Gospels on Prokopton42.com
Nearby historical landmark, 79 CEVesuvius buries Pompeii and Herculaneum, preserving an abrupt cross-section of Roman life. The image situates The Four Gospels without claiming to show its scene of composition.
Modern reconstruction of Material world: technology, science, and care, 27 BCE for The Four Gospels on Prokopton42.com
Material world: technology, science, and care, 27 BCEOctavian becomes Augustus. The Roman Republic gives way to the Principate. The image situates The Four Gospels without claiming to show its scene of composition.

What the world looked like

Roman world, 1st century BCE to 3rd century CE

Modern reconstruction of the material world around The Four Gospels: Technology, science, and care
Technology, science, and carePaved roads, aqueducts, concrete, glassware, mills, and hypocaust heating equip some cities, but energy comes mainly from bodies, animals, water, and wood. Astronomy, geometry, natural history, and engineering compile Greek, Egyptian, and Roman knowledge. Measurement exists without a modern laboratory. Physicians, midwives, baths, plants, and rudimentary surgery can help; reliable anaesthesia, antisepsis, and antibiotics do not exist.
Modern reconstruction of the material world around The Four Gospels: Travel and communication
Travel and communicationOn foot, horseback, cart, or ship, road and sea networks connect the Empire. Travel remains slow, costly, and risky. Imperial couriers, letters on papyrus or tablets, inscriptions, and oral proclamations spread information. Everything is copied by hand.
Modern reconstruction of the material world around The Four Gospels: Farming and food
Farming and foodGrain, vines, olives, pulses, and livestock supply cities and armies; estates, slavery, and tenancy organize part of the labour.
Modern reconstruction of the material world around The Four Gospels: Clothing, women and men
Clothing, women and menTunics and cloaks are common to both sexes; the stola, toga, footwear, colours, and jewellery mark citizenship, office, wealth, and origin.
State of technology
Paved roads, aqueducts, concrete, glassware, mills, and hypocaust heating equip some cities, but energy comes mainly from bodies, animals, water, and wood.
Science and knowledge
Astronomy, geometry, natural history, and engineering compile Greek, Egyptian, and Roman knowledge. Measurement exists without a modern laboratory.
Medicine and care
Physicians, midwives, baths, plants, and rudimentary surgery can help; reliable anaesthesia, antisepsis, and antibiotics do not exist.
Transport
On foot, horseback, cart, or ship, road and sea networks connect the Empire. Travel remains slow, costly, and risky.
Agriculture and food
Grain, vines, olives, pulses, and livestock supply cities and armies; estates, slavery, and tenancy organize part of the labour.
Communication
Imperial couriers, letters on papyrus or tablets, inscriptions, and oral proclamations spread information. Everything is copied by hand.
Clothing and fashion
Tunics and cloaks are common to both sexes; the stola, toga, footwear, colours, and jewellery mark citizenship, office, wealth, and origin.

Editions, translations, and provenance

The following carriers represent the text. They do not create new passage identities.

  • EnglishWorld English Bible editorial project · World English Bible, Catholic book order (2020) · 2020
  • FrenchFraternite de Tiberiade · Sainte Bible neo-Crampon Libre (2022) · 2022
  • LatinBiblia Vulgata Clementina (1598), Migne witness (1880) · 1880

Source manifests: jesus.matthew, jesus.mark, jesus.luke, jesus.john

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The Four GospelsGospel traditions

Before reading

What you will learn

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