Very few people encounter the New Testament for the first time by reading a gospel from start to finish. From an early age, most of us are told disconnected Bible stories and this continues into adulthood where we have different passages read  to us at church, usually regulated by a lectionary which ensures that the whole Bible is covered over two or three years and uses readings appropriate to the special seasons of the church’s year. Hence, most people are unaware of the distinctive characteristics of each of the gospels, the target audience for which each was written and the well thought structure into which the stories of Jesus, his life and his teaching are embedded. It is likely that few people could correctly identify the gospel and the context of a gospel story read in isolation.

 

One feels envious of the sincerely searching Jew with a good background of Old Testament teaching who embarks into a private study of Christianity by first reading a gospel unfamiliar to him or herself from start to finish.

 

The author was thrilled to discover for the first time the structure and distinctive nature of each of the gospels and the book of Acts when required to carry out some in-depth studies in order to qualify as a Reader in the Church of England. The purpose of this book is to share some of those discoveries with readers who have not been constrained to study the Bible in depth, while acknowledging that the author’s discoveries are only the tip of the iceberg to be uncovered by making journeys of discovery to reveal more of the seemingly indefinite wonder and truth contained in these books.

 

A church tradition which has associated each of the living creatures of the apocalyptic books of Ezekiel and Revelation with the works of the evangelists.

 

Ezekiel ch 1 v 10

The faces of the four living creatures looked like this. Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side, each had the face of a lion, and on the left, the face of an ox, each also had the face of an eagle.

 

Revelation ch 4 v 7

The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.

 

St. Matthew’s gospel has been associated with the man because it is claimed this gospel stresses the humanity of Jesus. As the lion is regarded as the king of beasts, this living creature has been associated with St. Mark’s gospel which emphasizes the kingship of Jesus. The ox has been associated with St. Luke’s gospel as the ox was a sacrificial animal and it is claimed that this evangelist stresses the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ life and ministry. As the eagle flies higher than any other bird, it is appropriate to associate this living creature with St. John’s gospel as St. John could see further into divine truth than any other.

These associations may not be entirely appropriate. One unlikely association has been considered in the main text of this book but we are stuck with them as symbols in churches and stained glass windows. Those of you who have visited Venice will have been impressed by the great gilded lion which is among the adornments of St. Mark’s cathedral.