What Are the Four Gospels and Who Wrote Them?

The four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — are the first four books of the New Testament. Each one tells the story of Jesus Christ’s life, ministry, death, and resurrection from a unique perspective and for a specific audience.

Matthew

Author: Matthew (Levi), a tax collector and one of the twelve apostles. Written: ~AD 50-70. Audience: Jewish Christians. Key Theme: Jesus as the promised Messiah and King who fulfills Old Testament prophecy. Matthew quotes the OT more than 60 times.

Mark

Author: John Mark, a companion of Peter and Paul. Written: ~AD 55-70 (the earliest Gospel). Audience: Roman (Gentile) Christians. Key Theme: Jesus as the Servant who acts — Mark is the most action-packed Gospel, using “immediately” over 40 times.

Luke

Author: Luke, a physician and companion of Paul. Written: ~AD 60-80. Audience: Gentile Christians (written to “Theophilus”). Key Theme: Jesus as the compassionate Savior for all people — Luke emphasizes women, the poor, outcasts, and Gentiles.

John

Author: John the Apostle, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Written: ~AD 85-95 (the last Gospel written). Audience: All believers. Key Theme: Jesus as the divine Son of God. John’s purpose is stated in 20:31: “these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Why Four Gospels?

Each Gospel is like a portrait — painted by a different artist, for a different audience, emphasizing different aspects of Jesus. Together they give us a richer, fuller picture of who Jesus is than any single account could. Early church father Irenaeus (~AD 180) explained there are four Gospels just as there are four winds and four corners of the earth — the good news of Jesus is for everyone.