Favorite Gospel

[A18]

Which of the New Testament gospels is your favorite?

Discuss.

[useful idiot]

John, without hesitation.

[Ringorules]

Luke.  (s)he has a clear grasp of history, and (forgive me, useful) is not as tainted with gnosticism as the document we know as the Gospel of John.

[JSojourner]

Luke.  (s)he has a clear grasp of history, and (forgive me, useful) is not as tainted with gnosticism as the document we know as the Gospel of John.

It's curious, Ringo.  I have to wonder if Luke's experience as a physician led him to a more visceral rejection of the Gnostic heresy.  (Before it really coalesced, of course...though the concepts have always been with us and still are...)

[anvi]

I like Luke too, both for its historical value and for the degree to which it
portrays Jesus as concerned with social issues and not just issues that
were, for the other gospel writers, centered around christological issues.

[True Federalist]

It should be no surprise given my Ebionite viewpoint that Matthew is my favorite gospel.

[BushKenya]

All four gospels offer the same story from a different point of view.  Matthew focused on Jesus, the King.  Mark focused on Jesus, the Servant.  Luke focused on Jesus, the Savior.  John focused on Jesus, the Son of God.  I like all four pretty equally well, but I chose John.  His gospel is the easiest to understand for new Christians and is what I generally recommend new converts to study first.  I especially tell them to really hone in on John 3:16 and apply that logic to the rest of the book and the rest of the Biblical study, for that verse summarizes the entire Bible and the purpose of the Bible in just a few short words.  Luke, is a great gospel, too as it has a "sequel" in the book of Acts which was written by Luke and picks up right where the Gospel of Luke leaves off and goes all the way through the Apostle Paul's ministry.  For a class on Servitude, one should read the Gospel of Mark.  It focuses in on the verse that says "For [Christ] came not to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many."

[JSojourner]

BO,

The synoptic Gospels are generally regarded as...

Matthew -- a Gospel for the House of Israel

Mark --  a Gospel for the Roman world

Luke --  a Gospel for the Greek world

The idea being that each, without seriously contradicting the other, had a different emphasis and tone for a different audience. 

[Sibboleth]

I don't know... probably Matthew, but I do quite like Mark and John (though for different reasons). Least favourite is easier to work out. Luke.

[12th Doctor]

I like both Matthew and John, as I have always seen them as being two sides of the same coin.  Matthew focuses on establishing the order of the Earthly Church, which Jesus as Messiah of the OT.  John, on the other hand, discusses the mystical nature of that Jesus, and his Church.  Between the two, you get the mix of practical and spiritual.

[Grumps]

Luke and John

[frenger]

Luke and John

^^

Luke is the best from a narrative point of view, and the one that's a more pleasant read. John has the most theological juice, by far, though.