WHICH GOSPEL IS IT? 

  1. Said to be the most kerygmatic and primitive of all the gospels.
  2. Contains three predictions of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus (8:31; 9:31; 10:33).
  3. Written in Koine Greek.
  4. Sixty percent of the gospel is composed of the Logia (sayings) of Jesus.
  5. An instrument of the "Good News."
  6. Jesus most frequently refers to himself as "The Human One" (or "Son of Man").
  7. The use of "irony" is a literary characteristic.
  8. Often uses the phrase "the Jews" to refer to group opposition to Jesus rather than referring to specific individuals or groups within the Jewish people.
  9. Composed in the first century CE.
  10. Twofold meaning leads to misunderstanding but finally to clarification.
  11. Gospel of Mercy and Universal Salvation.
  12. Text criticism or achieving the critical text of the gospel is an important consideration.
  13. Emphasizes the initial secrecy of Jesus' messiahship (i.e., the "messianic secret").
  14. The Gospel of the Great Pardons.
  15. Realized eschatology is a notable theological theme.
  16. Jesus often begins teaching in dialogue but ends in monologue.
  17. Interpretive study of Christ rather than a historical study or biography, in the opinion of many modern exegetes.
  18. Centered around five great discourses of Jesus.
  19. Gives an extensive final discourse of Jesus at table with his friends.
  20. Contains the diptychs of Annunciation and Birth regarding John and Jesus.
  21. Gospel of Absolute Renunciation.
  22. Gives rich background on the eucharist.
  23. More than any other, it finds in the words and deeds of Jesus the fulfilment of themes and prophecies from the Hebrew Scriptures.
  24. Presents the faith of first century followers of Jesus the Christ.
  25. Stresses replacement of Torah feasts and institutions.
  26. Most theological and mystical of all the gospels.
  27. Contains many dualities, e.g., light/darkness, life/death.
  28. Speaks of Jesus as the logos or the word/discourse of God.
  29. Written to produce and maintain faith in Jesus.
  30. Presents Jesus as the New Moses/the New Israel.
  31. Concentrates more than the others on the interior thoughts or subjective states of those who encountered Jesus.
  32. Gospel of prayer and the Holy Spirit.
  33. This gospel was the subject of Wrede's theory.
  34. Half of a dual work (two parts) that comprises one fourth of the New Testament.
  35. Contains a full chapter (23) of "Woe to you . . ." against false teachers.
  36. He stresses more than the others the centrality of Jesus' suffering in defining Jesus' role as Messiah.
  37. Recent scholarship speaks of a triple authorship of this gospel and speaks of a Disciple-Evangelist and a Disciple-Redactor.
  38. Written ca. CE 70 for a Gentile Christian community, probably in Palestine or Rome.
  39. Some scholars are convinced that this evangelist draws from the Wisdom Literature of the First Testament in order to present Jesus as the most perfect expression of Wisdom.
  40. Once thought to have been deeply influenced by Hellenistic philosophy because of its dualism (among other reasons); dualism was not expected to be found in Judaic thought; the Qumran literature, however, reflects a dualistic mindset.
  41. This gospel demonstrates a move away from the futuristic eschatology and apocalyptic point of view characteristic of the earliest Christian proclamation. It is optimistic (even conciliatory) toward the Roman socio-political structure.
  42. Written by a Jewish Christian for other Jewish Christians ca. CE 80, possibly in Syria or Palestine.
  43. Jesus and the disciples fulfill the ideals of friendship and hospitality. "I call you friend" is one of Jesus' last words to the disciples.
  44. Written ca. CE 90-100 in the context of a Jewish-Christian community which was bitterly estranged from Judaism.
  45. Presents the story of Zacchaeus, a short and wealthy tax collector who converts to the Jesus movement and begins to live a life of justice.
  46. Questions of wealth and its proper use play a much larger role in this gospel than in the others.
  47. This has the highest Christology of all the gospels, most stressing the divinity of Jesus, and featuring many "I AM" sayings.
  48. This evangelist writes as a Christian scribe who makes the teaching of Jesus accessible and relevant to the Jewish Christians of that day.