The Gospels
Read The Gospels First
The Gospels describe the climax of the story. All the other books of the Bible prepare for, reflect upon, or deepen our comprehension of the mission of Jesus - as described in the four Gospels. Thus, the entire Bible will be easier to grasp once the words and deeds of Jesus are more thoroughly understood
- The Gospel of Matthew is written by an Apostle to explain to the Jews that Jesus is the fulfillment of dozens of their Old Testament prophecies. He is the Messiah for whom they had waited so long. It chronologically covers his entire life to include familiar nativity stories, the Sermon on the Mount, and the Last Judgment.
- The Gospel of Mark is also written chronologically, but it is much more succinct and begins with Jesus' Baptism by John. Mark was but a boy during Jesus’ ministry, but later he was to travel with Paul, Barnabas, and eventually Peter. His Gospel can be considered to be the words and perspective of Peter.
- The Gospel of Luke is the third chronologic narrative, written by a Greek physician who traveled with Paul. He includes a great deal of the infancy narratives and all that we have about the Annunciation, Visitation, and Presentation. His Acts of the Apostles is the only historical book in the New Testament.
- John writes his Gospel in a different manner; instead of a timeline of Jesus' life or ministry, he presents Seven Signs of escalating impact to prove that Jesus is who he says he Is. The climax of the whole story is the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. John writes our only eyewitness accounts of the two most important things that ever happened.
You can absolutely read and understand the entire Bible, but it will be much easier if you start with a Gospel (or four) before diving into Genesis. The origins of nearly everything, found in Genesis and Exodus, will mean much more when the close connection between the Gospels, the Beginning, and the End is seen.
