Question

[Abyssinia]

Question about the Gospels, Why have 4 versions of the same story in the first place if it isn’t that they don’t agree on absolutely everything?

 

[WorkerPriest]

At least in part, because not even the Church has the right to discard the authentic writings of the Apostles (in this case, St. Matthew and St. John.) In the case of St. Luke and St. Mark, their ties to the Apostles are so strong, that they could not be discarded, either. And of course, St. Luke’s Gospel is really just volume one of his two part history, continuing with the Book of Acts.

The Church recognized their Apostolic authority, and retained them. Those that were spurious, were rejected.

Peace to you.

Question about the Gospels, Why have 4 versions of the same story in the first place if it isn’t that they don’t agree on absolutely everything?

 

[RosaryFan]

Question about the Gospels, Why have 4 versions of the same story in the first place if it isn’t that they don’t agree on absolutely everything?

When a crime happens, why do the police interview more than one witness? Different perspectives from different people equal the whole truth.

 

[danserr]

When a crime happens, why do the police interview more than one witness? Different perspectives from different people equal the whole truth.

Good point. historians consider it very favorable when an event in attested by multiple, independant witnesses.

 

[Robert_Burns]

Question about the Gospels, Why have 4 versions of the same story in the first place if it isn’t that they don’t agree on absolutely everything?

Because 4 distinct individuals wrote them.

 

[CSJ]

The gospels were written by four different individuals at different times, and most notably, to different audiences.

Matthew wrote his gospel to the Jews showing that Christ was the successor to David’s throne and the legitimate King (Christ the King).

Mark - who worked very closely with Peter, wrote to the Romans. He focused on the Christ the Servant.

Luke wrote his gospel to the gentiles (he was also the only gentile author). He showed the humanity of Christ (Christ the Man).

**John **was the last gospel to be written and the most theological. He wrote to all. He focused on the Diety of Christ (Christ is God).

It is the same story, but from four perspectives and focuses. The Church didn’t necessarily intend to have four gospels, it just turns out that these four were compiled based on their authenticity. There are many other “gospels”, but their authenticity could not be verified, or they were found to be dubious. Others were discovered to be outright counterfeits.

Fortunately, by the Grace of God and the authority granted to the Catholic Church by Christ Himself, these four remained.

God Bless
CSJ

 

[simspt]

Question about the Gospels, Why have 4 versions of the same story in the first place if it isn’t that they don’t agree on absolutely everything?

the church teaches they r not literal histories or biographies with chronological order. they were written to different audiences by different writers with different theological emphasis decades apart from each other and were written by Christians for Christians for the most part.This understanding helps clarify why they dont agree on everything.