The answer
Firstly, the word “evangelion” (Gospel) itself is Greek, which means good news, or glad tidings.41 It is repeated 72 times in the New Testament, 54 of which are in the Epistles of the Apostle Paul, and it conveys the news of the joyous salvation, which was offered to us by God in His Son Jesus Christ, to enter with us into the Bosom of His Father by His Holy Spirit.
The New Testament begins with four books, which are known as the Four Gospels, which proclaim to us the good news of salvation in the Redeemer Jesus Christ.
These Four Gospels bear the names of their writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They are amongst the Disciples of Christ, and this is why, for example, the Gospel will be referred to as the “Gospel of (according to) Matthew” = The Proclamation of Matthew = the glad tidings which were relayed to us by the Apostle Matthew concerning the life of Our Lord Jesus. Thus, these joyous gospels were written by four evangelists, each with his unique language and method, as was inspired by the guidance of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21; 2 Tim. 3:16).
In reality, it is One Gospel (four accounts written by four witnesses) that speaks of the life of One Person, Who is Our Lord Jesus Christ, and one work, which is God’s redemption of mankind. This in itself is an affirmation of its reliability, truth, and precision.
This does not mean that each cannot have its own unique characteristic. The Four Gospels shape four sides of one frame, inside of which is one object, being the life of the Master Christ, the God Who has appeared in the flesh. In this form, they complete one another. For example:
- ❖ Matthew the Evangelist wrote primarily to the Jews concerning Christ the King.
- ❖ Mark the Evangelist wrote primarily to the Romans concerning the Mighty Christ.
- ❖ Luke the Evangelist wrote primarily to the Greek concerning Christ, the Son of Man.
- ❖ John the Evangelist wrote primarily to the whole world concerning Christ, the Incarnate God.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
Notes
41 Translator’s note: evangelion, n.: a reward for good tidings; good tidings (cf. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon.).
Pope Tawadros II, My Faith: A Series of Dialogues on the Creed (Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, 2014), 109–110.
The pages in the book (109–110)
