THE FOUR GOSPELS: Which ONE of these choices best fits each of the descriptions below?
a) Matthew b) Mark c) Luke d) John e) All four

  1. 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.
  2. Written in Koine Greek.
  3. An instrument of the "Good News."
  4. Jesus frequently refers to himself as "The Human One" ("Son of Man").
  5. The use of "irony" is a literary characteristic.
  6. 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.
  7. Composed in the first century CE.
  8. Written ca. CE 70 for a Gentile Christian community, possibly in Rome.
  9. Emphasizes the initial secrecy of Jesus' messiahship (i.e., the "messianic secret").
  10. Realized eschatology is a notable theological theme.
  11. In this gospel, Jesus often begins teaching in dialogue but ends in monologue.
  12. Is an interpretive study of Christ rather than an historical study or biography, in the opinion of many modern exegetes.
  13. Centered around five great discourses of Jesus.
  14. Gives an extensive final discourse of Jesus at table with his friends.
  15. Contains the diptychs of Annunciation and Birth of John and Jesus.
  16. This evangelist writes as a Christian scribe who makes the teaching of Jesus accessible and relevant to the Jewish Christians of his day.
  17. Presents the faith of first century followers of Jesus the Christ.
  18. Questions of wealth and its proper use play a much larger role in this gospel than in the others.
  19. Speaks of Jesus as the logos or the word/discourse of God.
  20. This has the highest Christology of all the gospels, most stressing the divinity of Jesus, and featuring many "I AM" sayings.
  21. Presents Jesus as the New Moses/the New Israel.
  22. Gospel of prayer and the Holy Spirit.
  23. 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.
  24. The first volume of a two-volume work that comprises ¼ of the entire NT.
  25. Contains a full chapter (23) of "Woe to you . . ." against false teachers.
  26. Stresses more than the others the centrality of Jesus' suffering in defining Jesus' role as Messiah.
  27. Once thought to have been deeply influenced by Hellenistic philosophy because of its dualism (among other reasons), since dualism was not expected to be found in Judaic thought; the Qumran literature, however, reflects a dualistic mindset.
  28. Written ca. CE 90-100 in the context of a Jewish-Christian community which was bitterly estranged from Judaism.
  29. 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.
  30. Written by a Jewish Christian for other Jewish Christians ca. CE 80, possibly in Syria or Palestine.