Introduction
Gospels have the same structure that accentuates their content. The gospels by Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as synoptic gospels because stories and their sequence in these gospels are similar in contrast to John’s one (Eve, 2016). It is important to examine the gospel model and analyze how it can be applied today.
Models from the Gospels
The gospel model includes the prologue, Jesus’s Ministry, the turning point, the journey to Jerusalem, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the epilogue (Eve, 2016). Matthew explained Jesus’s origin from Joseph’s perspective. The story of Jesus’s Ministry was presented in detail with a focus on miracle stories. Peter’s confession was in detail presented in the gospel, and Jesus’s suffering and resurrection were described differently in comparison to other authors.
Mark provided a short prologue and a comparably concise narrative on Jesus’s Ministry. The crisis was described with reference to Peter and other disciples’ inability to understand Jesus’s teachings. Mark’s description of Jesus’s suffering, resurrection, and the epilogue included only key details.
Luke started from presenting Jesus’s origin, and the further discussion of Jesus’s teaching was less detailed than presented by Matthew. In this gospel, Peter’s rebuke was not included, along with Jesus’s reaction. Describing further events, Luke followed the model provided by Mark.
John focused on Jesus’s eternal origin, and the following discussion of Jesus’s Ministry included stories interpreted differently. In the turning point, the focus was on the authorities’ perception of Jesus. The description of further events was symbolic and spiritual.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John had the same components in their gospels. However, some of the stories presented by John differed significantly from the stories in other gospels.
Application of the Model
The gospel model is widely applied in different types of writings when it is necessary to present the story of Jesus. This model is also followed in other media and contexts, including not only literature but also storytelling, songs, and films (Eve, 2016). The application of the model is also not limited by the region because these gospels are used by Christians throughout the world.
Conclusion
The model of gospels is based on the triple tradition applied to synoptic gospels. Thus, the order of stories and their content are similar in three gospels. The exception is only John’s gospel viewed as a more spiritual representation of Jesus’s story. The gospel model is currently widely applied in different regions and contexts because of tradition.
Reference
Eve, E. (2016). Writing the gospels: Composition and memory. SPCK.