Gospel Symbols?

Question

In the Gosples, Mark stands for a Lion, Matthew stands for a an angle(or a man), Luke stands for a Bull, and John stands for an eagle.My question is why are those people represented like that? Did Mark have the qualites of a lion so he can be symbolized that way? Thanks so much!

Its Catholicism.

Answer 1

The lion is symbolic for the Gospel of Matthew which portrays Christ as the Messiah.

The ox (or bull) is symbolic for the Gospel of Mark which portrays Christ as servant.

The man is symbolic for the Gospel of Luke which portrays Christ as a teacher (the perfect man).

The eagle is symbolic for the Gospel of John which portrays Christ as deity.

Answer 2

Actually, I'ved heard it a little differently.

1. Matthew - Christ the King, or the Lion of Judah
2. Mark - Christ the faithful, suffering servant - an Ox
3. Luke - Christ the perfect man
4. John - Christ, God here on earth - the eagle

Revelation 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, (6) and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: (7) the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight.

Ezekiel 1:8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: (9) their wings touched one another. Each one of them went straight forward, without turning as they went. (10) As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle.

Answer 3

I've never heard of this. Ezekiel describes the Four Beasts,
Powers of the Four Directions, as ALL having four faces.
Ezekiel describes one as a Bull. John says they all have one face, and describes one as a Calf in Revelation.
Some attribute these to the Grand Cross in Astrology. Taurus,
Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. I think these also symbolize something on a higher level. Like qualities. Each being
having the Strength of a Bull, Courage of a Lion, Intelligence of the Human, and the Far-seeing ability of the Eagle, (Prophesy).

Answer 4

The four beasts are not the gospel writers. The beasts have existed since the Creation.

Ezekiel 1:5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

The four gospel writers aren't even directly connected. Matthew and John were apostles. Mark was a disciple who most likely based his gospel on Peter's accounts and Luke was a fellow evangelist of Paul who likely wrote his gospel based on Paul's preaching, accounts of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and accounts of other religious figures such as former Pharisees.

Answer 5

Supposedly, it stands for the four qualities of God:

Lion= Nobility
Man= Intelligence
Bull= Patience
Eagle= I don't actually remember...

Or for the 4 life forms:

Lion= Wild animals
Man= Humans
Bull= Tame animals
Eagle= Fowl

Answer 6

Got to say, I've never hear that... or I've forgotten it! What denomination teaches that?

Answer 7

i have never heard of that before. i have no idea, it is not scriptual that is for sure. hope you get a better answer than this.

Answer 8

I think it was part of the apocalyptic imagery.