A gospel is a writing that describes the life of Jesus. The word is primarily used to refer to the four canonical gospels: the Gospel of St. Mark, Gospel of St.Matthew, Gospel of St.Luke and Gospel of St.John.
The first canonical gospel written is thought by most scholars to be St. Mark
The fourth gospel, the Gospel of St.John, presents a very different picture of Jesus and his ministry from the synoptics. In differentiating history from invention, historians interpret the gospel accounts skeptically.
John provides a theological description of Jesus as the eternal Word, the unique savior of humanity. All four attest to his Sonship, miraculous power, crucifixion, and resurrection.
More generally, gospels compose a genre of early Christian literature. Gospels that did not become canonical likely also circulated in early Christianity. Some, such as the Gospel of Thomas, lack the narrative framework typical of a gospel. These gospels appeared later than the canonical gospels, and in the case of Thomas, after the Bible was officially cannonized.
www link :|