Establish the chronological order of Gospel composition

Establish the chronological order of Gospel composition [∞]

The chronological order of Gospel composition is commonly accepted as Mark → Matthew → Luke → John, with each Gospel reflecting a progression in doctrinal understanding, particularly in how the authors engage with Old

Testament shadows, typology, and the progressive revelation of Jesus’ identity and mission. Below is an analysis of how each Gospel builds upon its predecessor, focusing on how doctrinal understanding deepens, especially in relation to Old Testament fulfillment.

1. Mark (ca. 65–70 AD)

Overview:

Audience: Likely Gentile Christians, as Mark provides explanations of Jewish customs (e.g., Mark 7:3–4).

Focus: Mark presents a straightforward account of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection, emphasizing His actions and miracles.

Theological Themes:

Messianic Secret: Jesus often commands people to remain silent about His identity (Mark 1:34, 3:12). This reflects the idea that Jesus’ messianic identity was not fully understood, even by His disciples, at this stage.

Suffering Servant: Mark emphasizes Jesus as the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53, who must die for the sins of humanity (Mark 10:45).

Old Testament Shadows: Mark makes several allusions to Old Testament prophecies, such as connecting Jesus to the suffering servant figure (Mark 8:31–33) and citing the prophecy in Isaiah regarding the messenger preparing the way for the Lord (Mark 1:2–3).

Progressive Doctrinal Understanding:

Mark sets the foundation by presenting Jesus primarily as the powerful yet suffering Messiah, but it is still in a form that requires further theological exploration and expansion. The doctrinal framework is established but is not yet fully fleshed out.

2. Matthew (ca. 70–85 AD)

Overview:

Audience: Primarily Jewish Christians, as Matthew frequently references the Hebrew Scriptures to demonstrate how Jesus fulfills Jewish prophecy.

Focus: Matthew’s Gospel is structured to demonstrate that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, linking Him directly to the Jewish hopes of the Messiah.

Theological Themes:

Jesus as the Fulfillment of Jewish Prophecy: Matthew emphasizes that Jesus’ birth, ministry, and death were the fulfillment of prophecies about the coming Messiah (Matthew 1:22–23, 2:5–6, 2:15, 2:23). This is evident in the frequent use of the formula “This was done to fulfill…” throughout the Gospel.

Genealogy and Son of David: Matthew traces Jesus’ lineage back to Abraham and David (Matthew 1:1–17), establishing Jesus’ messianic credentials in Jewish terms.

Kingdom of Heaven: Matthew emphasizes the Kingdom of Heaven, often presenting it as an eschatological reality, but also something inaugurated in Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 3:2, 4:17).

Moses Typology: Jesus is presented as a new Moses, paralleling the life of Moses, especially in the giving of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), which mirrors Moses’ giving of the Law in the Old Testament.

Progressive Doctrinal Understanding:

Matthew moves beyond Mark’s portrayal of a suffering Messiah by emphasizing Jesus’ role as the fulfillment of Jewish hope. The Old Testament shadows are more clearly articulated, and Jesus is seen as the one who completes Israel’s story, fulfilling its promises and expectations.

The Kingdom of Heaven is introduced as an essential theme, revealing that Jesus' mission includes establishing God’s rule over His people, not just as a spiritual reign but as a reality within the world.

3. Luke (ca. 80–90 AD)

Overview:

Audience: Primarily Gentile Christians (Luke addresses the Gospel to Theophilus, a Gentile), though it also includes elements meant for Jewish readers.

Focus: Luke’s Gospel emphasizes salvation for all people, with a particular focus on the marginalized and outcasts. It also provides a detailed, historical account of Jesus’ life and ministry.

Theological Themes:

Jesus as the Savior for All People: Luke expands the notion of Jesus as the Messiah by presenting Him as the Savior for all humanity, especially the marginalized (Luke 2:10, 4:18–19). This theme is amplified with the inclusion of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) and Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32) parables.

Genealogy Back to Adam: Unlike Matthew, who traces Jesus' genealogy back to David, Luke traces it to Adam (Luke 3:23–38), emphasizing Jesus’ universal mission for all people, not just for Jews.

The Holy Spirit: Luke emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Jesus and the church (Luke 4:14, 10:21–22), preparing the way for the coming Pentecost.

Old Testament Shadows and Typology: Luke presents Jesus in continuity with Israel's past. His ministry is portrayed as the fulfillment of God's covenant with Israel, which includes fulfilling the promises made to the patriarchs and prophets. For instance, Jesus is portrayed as the new Elijah and Elisha, as seen in His miracles and teachings (Luke 4:25–27).

Progressive Doctrinal Understanding:

Luke builds on Matthew's emphasis on the fulfillment of prophecy but goes further by emphasizing the inclusiveness of Jesus’ mission. The shadows of the Old Testament are reinterpreted in light of Christ’s universal saving work.

Luke shows that the salvation inaugurated by Jesus is for Gentiles as much as for Jews, and Jesus' teachings reach beyond traditional Israel to include those considered outsiders.

4. John (ca. 90–100 AD)

Overview:

Audience: A more theologically mature Christian audience, likely a mixture of Jews and Gentiles, with a focus on deep theological reflection about the nature of Jesus.

Focus: John’s Gospel focuses on the eternal nature of Jesus and His divine relationship with the Father. It presents a high Christology that emphasizes the preexistence of Christ and His role in creation.

Theological Themes:

Jesus as the Preexistent Word (Logos): John begins with a profound theological statement, presenting Jesus as the Logos (Word), who was with God and was God from the beginning (John 1:1–14). This reflects a deep engagement with the Old Testament and Hebrew wisdom literature, where God’s Word is a central concept.

Old Testament Fulfillment: John interprets Old Testament symbols and events in light of Jesus’ divine role. For example, Jesus is presented as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), fulfilling the Passover Lamb symbolism from Exodus.

The “I Am” Statements: John contains a series of I Am statements that directly relate to Old Testament images of God (e.g., I Am the Bread of Life in John 6:35, I Am the Good Shepherd in John 10:11). These statements deepen the theological connection between Jesus and Yahweh in the Old Testament.

New Covenant and New Creation: The Gospel of John introduces the concept of Jesus instituting a new covenant through His death and resurrection. The image of Jesus as the new temple (John 2:19–22) and the concept of the new birth (John 3:3–5) represent a transformation from the old order to the new, fulfilling the prophecies of a new covenant in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Progressive Doctrinal Understanding:

John represents the culmination of doctrinal understanding, emphasizing the divinity of Christ, the eternal nature of His mission, and His fulfillment of the Old Testament’s ultimate purpose.

The Old Testament shadows are brought to their full revelation in Jesus. The Logos is identified as the preexistent Christ, fulfilling roles like the Lamb, the Bread of Life, and the Light of the World, all of which build upon earlier Jewish types but are now revealed in their fullest sense in the person of Jesus.

John's Gospel presents the final revelation of God in Christ, moving beyond the shadowy figures of the Old Testament to the substance (Colossians 2:17).

Conclusion:

Each Gospel shows a progressive doctrinal understanding:

Mark introduces the basic framework of Jesus as the Messiah and suffering servant.

Matthew deepens the understanding by connecting Jesus to Jewish prophecy and presenting Him as the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.

Luke expands the scope, presenting Jesus as the Savior for all people, focusing on inclusivity and salvation for the marginalized.

John represents the theological culmination, highlighting Jesus as the preexistent Logos and the final fulfillment of all Old Testament shadows, pointing to Him as the source of eternal life and the full revelation of God.

The Old Testament typology and shadows become progressively more detailed and expansive, with each Gospel writer offering a deeper understanding of how Jesus fulfills these symbols, culminating in John’s high Christology.