THE WITNESS OF THE SCRIPTURES
Introduction
The authors of the four Gospels maintain their anonymity throughout their accounts of the life of Christ. They write as journalists or biographers recording events rather than as active participants describing their involvement in these events. The Gospels focus on their subject – Jesus Christ – and how people are reacting to Him, with the author fading into the background. The Gospel writer’s demonstrated attitude mirrored that of John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 JKV)
Many scholars argue that the opening line of the Gospel of Mark probably also functioned as the original title of the text and the inspiration for establishing euaggelion (a Greek word meaning “good news”) as a new literary genre of books that record the words and deeds of Jesus Christ:
The beginning of the gospel (euaggelion) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1 KJV
This original text-title of Mark can be compared with those of other ancient texts in which the opening lines served as titles. Herodotus’ Histories, for example, begins with the following line which probably served as the title of the text:
This is the exposition of the history of Herodotus…
A major difference between the Gospel of Mark and Herodotus’ Histories is that the opening line of Mark does not name the text’s author, but instead attributes the gospel to Jesus Christ. We see this same total focus on Jesus with no thought of trying to get personal recognition for their work in the openings of the Gospel that has been attributed to Matthew and that attributed to John:
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of. Abraham. Matthew 1:1 KJV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 NIV
Despite the anonymity of the writing there is still evidence within each gospel as to who their author might be. Over the next four blogs we will examine that evidence of scripture to see whether it supports, or contradicts, the church tradition with regard to each of the four Gospel accounts.
Who Wrote Each of The Four Gospels 3-The Witness Of Scriptures
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The authors of the four Gospels maintained their anonymity throughout their account of Jesus’ life.Their findings were written as reporting journalists and as a written biographies of other people.
Their Gospels had a focus on their subject as Jesus Christ- the Messiah, his power and his marvellous deeds.
They demonstrated a focused attitudes that would make everyone know who Jesus is. It is true that there are other Gospels,but the four Gospels in the scriptures are those accepted as inspired by God.
Even though, the original texts of the four Gospels are said to be anonymous, there is still the evidence that each of them has a specific writer behind it since there cannot be a smoke without fire.
There might be deferring views however, there are traditions that dictate those behind the authorship of the four Gospels.
The writers of all the 4 gospels did not include their names
This is thought , they wrote biographers or like journalists
They wrote narratives which belonged to others of which they could not include anything concerning them even indicating the writers name
These were not letters like the Pauline Epistles which had a specific audience at a particular place .These letters had to show to the readers from what authority they came from in order to be adhered t because they were, instructive, authoritative, reproving and guiding
On the other hand,the gospel writers concentrated on the deeds and birth of one particular individual ,Jesus Christ. Therefore there was no need to include the name of the writer.