Why it is vital that we treat the New Testament gospels as historical documents

The gospels are the first four books of the New Testament in the Christian Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

They are accounts of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and they form the foundation of Christian belief.

The word "gospel" comes from the Old English word "godspell," which means "good news" or "glad tidings."

The gospels were written in Greek by various authors, and they were likely composed between 70 and 100 CE, several decades after the events they describe.

Together, the gospels provide the only surviving accounts of Jesus and his teachings.

The Synoptic Gospels are the first three gospels as they appear in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

They are called "synoptic" because they share many similarities in structure, content, and wording, and provide a similar perspective on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

In fact, the word "synoptic" comes from the Greek word "synopsis," meaning "to see together."

While each of the Synoptic Gospels has its unique emphasis and style, they are often studied and compared together to gain a deeper understanding of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel of John is significantly different in structure, content, and style from the Synoptic Gospels.

Unlike the Synoptic Gospels, which often present similar stories and teachings of Jesus in a similar sequence, John's Gospel has a more theological and reflective tone.

For example, while the Synoptic Gospels focus on Jesus' parables and teachings, John's Gospel places a greater emphasis on Jesus' miracles and his divinity.

The Gospel of John also contains unique stories and teachings, such as the Wedding at Cana, the raising of Lazarus, and the "I am" sayings of Jesus.

While the four gospels differ in their styles, themes, and emphases, there are also many similarities among them.

First and foremost, they all tell the story of Jesus Christ. Each of the gospels narrates the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, albeit from different perspectives.

They present a comprehensive portrait of his life and ministry, and provide a foundational text for Christian belief and practice.

In addition, the four gospels describe the same events. While there are variations in the details, the four gospels generally agree on the major events of Jesus' life, such as his baptism, his ministry, his crucifixion, and his resurrection.

Another similarity between the gospels is that they all present Jesus as a historical figure.

Despite their religious and theological content, the gospels all present Jesus as a real person who lived in a specific historical context.

Moreover, the gospels all emphasize Jesus' teachings.

Although they differ in their approach to Jesus' teachings, they all convey the core message of his message, including the call to love one another, the importance of faith, and the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Additionally, the four gospels highlight Jesus' miracles. All four gospels describe the miracles performed by Jesus, such as healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and raising the dead.

Finally, the gospels all emphasize the importance of Jesus' death and resurrection. All four gospels emphasize the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection, which form the cornerstone of Christian belief.

While the New Testament gospels share many similarities, there are also significant differences among them.

Firstly, each gospel emphasizes different aspects of Jesus' life and teachings.

For example, Matthew's gospel emphasizes Jesus' teachings on the Kingdom of God, while John's gospel emphasizes Jesus' divinity and his relationship with God.

Also, the order and timing of events in the gospels vary. For example, the timing of Jesus' cleansing of the temple is different in John's gospel than in the synoptic gospels.

There are different details of Jesus' life and ministry as well. For example, the genealogies in Matthew and Luke differ, and the number and order of the Beatitudes in Matthew and Luke differ.

Finally, the gospels differ in their accounts of the resurrection. For example, the number and identity of the women who discover the empty tomb differ among the gospels.

These differences highlight the complexity and diversity of the New Testament gospels, as well as the challenges of interpreting them.

It is important to be aware that the gospels are historical documents and should be treated as such. This means that they were written by particular authors at a specific moment in time, for a unique purpose.  

By treating the gospels as historical documents, we can use critical methods of inquiry to analyze their content and context, and to assess their reliability and accuracy.

This involves examining the gospels in light of their literary genre, language, sources, and audience, as well as external historical evidence from other sources.

By examining each of these factors in more detail, we can analyse and evaluate the gospels just as we would any other historical source. 

Furthermore, treating the gospels as historical documents allows us to appreciate their value as primary sources for understanding the life and teachings of Jesus, as well as the beliefs and practices of early Christianity.

They offer a unique and multi-faceted perspective on Jesus, his followers, and the historical events and issues of their time. 

However, it is important to acknowledge that the gospels are not neutral or objective accounts of history, but rather theological interpretations of events and teachings.

They reflect the beliefs, biases, and perspectives of their authors and communities, and they were written for specific purposes and audiences.

As such, critical analysis of the gospels must take into account their theological and literary dimensions, as well as their historical context. 

The New Testament gospels were traditionally attributed to four authors: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. However, scholars have debated the actual identity of the authors and their sources. 

Matthew was traditionally identified as a tax collector who became a disciple of Jesus. His gospel is written in Greek and emphasizes Jesus' fulfillment of Jewish prophecy and law. It is often regarded as the most Jewish of the gospels, and its audience was likely Jewish Christians. 

Mark is identified as a companion of Peter, and his gospel is believed to have been written in Rome for a Gentile audience. It is known for its brevity and immediacy, and for its emphasis on Jesus' actions rather than his teachings. 

Luke was considered to be a Greek doctor and a close companion of the apostle Paul, and his gospel is believed to have been written for a broader Gentile audience.

Finally, John has been traditionally identified as the "beloved disciple" who was a witness to Jesus' ministry. His gospel is believed to have been written in Ephesus for a mixed Jewish and Gentile audience.

The earliest copies of the New Testament gospels that have survived to the present day are fragmentary manuscripts that date from the second century CE.

These include the Rylands Library Papyrus P52 (John 18:31-33, 37-38), which is dated to around 125-175 CE, and the Bodmer Papyri (P66 and P75), which contain portions of John and Luke and are dated to the late second or early third century CE.

Other early copies of the gospels include the Codex Sinaiticus and the Codex Vaticanus, both of which are complete copies of the New Testament that date from the fourth century CE.

In addition to these manuscript copies, there are also numerous quotations and references to the gospels in the writings of early Christian authors such as Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and Justin Martyr, which provide further evidence for the existence and use of the gospels in the second and third centuries CE. 

It is important to note, however, that none of these early copies are original autographs or first-generation copies, but rather are copies of copies that have undergone multiple stages of transmission and editing.

As such, they may contain errors and variations that reflect the scribal and editorial practices of their time.

Nonetheless, these early copies are valuable for understanding the transmission and reception of the gospels in the early Christian communities. 

Treating the New Testament gospels as historical documents does not necessarily challenge their theological importance.

Rather, it provides a way to understand and appreciate their theological significance within their historical context. 

By examining the gospels in their historical context, we can better understand the social, cultural, and religious environment in which they were written, and the theological messages and themes that the gospel writers were seeking to convey.

This can deepen our appreciation for the richness and complexity of the gospels as religious texts that offer insight into the beliefs and practices of early Christianity. 

Moreover, treating the gospels as historical documents does not necessarily undermine their authority as sources of religious truth.

Many scholars, including Christian theologians, recognize that the gospels are both historical documents and theological texts that reflect the authors' beliefs about the significance of Jesus for their communities. 

Indeed, many Christian traditions emphasize the importance of historical accuracy in understanding the life and teachings of Jesus, and they view the gospels as essential sources for this purpose.

By treating the gospels as historical documents, we can engage in a more informed and nuanced exploration of the theological themes and messages that they convey, and how these messages were shaped by historical and cultural factors.