The Gospels 101: A Catholic Course on Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John

The four Gospels are foundational to Christianity. They provide the earliest written narratives of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Yet Christians are often puzzled by the differences between the Gospels, preferring to harmonize the four into a single narrative. Now, this twenty-four-part lecture course invites you to understand each Gospel's distinctive message. Along the way, you will examine theories about how the three Synoptic Gospels are related. You will also learn why the evangelists are symbolized by four living creatures: the man or angel, the lion, the ox, and the eagle. Each Gospel will then be introduced in turn, focusing on three essential components: - Its overall narrative shape, - Its distinctive portrait of Jesus, and - Its theological understanding of Christ's passion and resurrection. As you will see, each Gospel offers a compelling depiction of Jesus. As you compare the four Gospels in detail, you will gain new insight into Jesus of Nazareth and the ways Christians have developed personal relationships with him through the ages.