How many gospels are there, who wrote them, and what were their goals? Are some more accurate than others?
Different sources seem to have different answers; please cite the sourse if possible; thx!
2007-06-05 01:38:01 · 6 answers · asked by cheese sticks 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Four gospels were aproved for compilation by the eccumenical Council of Nicea.
The only other non-biblical gospels we have full texts of are:
1 The Infancy Gospel of Thomas [Greek Text A]
2The Infancy Gospel of Thomas [Greek Text B]
3The Infancy Gospel of Thomas [Latin Text]
4A 5th Century Compilation of the Thomas Texts
5An Arabic Infancy Gospel
6The Gospel of James
7The Gospel of the Nativity of Mary
8The Gospel of Mary [Magdalene]
9The Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew
10The Gospel of Nicodemus [Acts of Pilate]
11The Gospel of Bartholomew
12The Gospel of Peter
13The Gospel of Thomas
14The Gospel of Philip
15The Gospel of the Lord
16The Secret Gospel of Mark
Now recognized as a 20th century hoax by Stephen C. Carlson in The Gospel Hoax: Morton Smith's Invention of Secret Mark.
17 The Gospel of Judas
These are complete gospels we have. This makes a total of 21 texts. Almost 50 are referenced by assorted texts.
With this said, many are contradictory, speak of Jesus killing people in cold blood, etc. The gospels in the bible were chosen at Nicea because they are the most consistant of the four documents. Jesus breaking off the cross, killing his Roman captors and ascending to heaven, while vicerally gratifying, is not spiritually fulfilling as the story told by John, Mark, Matt, and Luke. Likewise, Jesus switching bodies with Judas in Gethsamane, while pretty entertaining, makes Jesus into a trickster figure instead of the king of kings.
Note: Most Christians would likely be offended by the varying stories told about Christ.
2007-06-05 02:52:20 · answer #1 · answered by Guy Divine 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In the Holy Bible there are four gospels, each with their own perspective
Matthew - written to the Jews - as he was a Tax Collector
Mark - written to the Romans
Luke - the Physician - written to the world
John - written to the intelligencia - spoke in abstracts
--- e.g. Jesus is the Light of the world
Note Matthew and Luke treat the genalogies differently
Matthew traces through the Mother's side of the family
Luke through the father's side
both pass through King David = prophecy fulfilled
2007-06-05 08:41:48 · answer #2 · answered by tom4bucs 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There are four gospels. Matthew Mark Luke and John. They are all from a different perspective of the same events.
2007-06-05 08:44:42 · answer #3 · answered by SS4 Elby 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
6 if you wanna add a Gospel from Thomas, and the other one from Judas
2007-06-05 08:55:31 · answer #4 · answered by IggySpirit 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It depends on what Christian group you belong... But i think it's more than four... Others just got junked by the people who created the Bible.
2007-06-05 08:46:47 · answer #5 · answered by gerardos_cakes 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Too many.
2007-06-05 10:14:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋