John's Gospel Compared - The Best One for All Readers, Scholars, New Comers

 

Reading books is rather scant these days, so it is good to start out one of the Four Gospels with the best one overall. Each book has strengths and great qualities. However, trying too much at once can be overwhelming.

Matthew  - The Torah Scrolls

The first of the Four Gospels is very much like the Five Books of Moses. Matthew is foundational for the other Gospels and very useful for all the aspects of Jesus, from His birth in Matthew 1 to His Great Commission at the end. This is a large treasure of the Christian Faith for readers. Trying to read it all at once can be an effort so it should be in small groups.

Mark - The Condensed Gospel

Just as Matthew and Luke offer great works of the New Testament, so Mark has a slender, handy, and lively summary version. Those who favor Matthew and Luke may wish to start with Mark as background.

Luke/Acts - 

25% of the Entire New Testament

Luke and the Acts of the Apostles include the largest share of the New Testament, 25%. They are also an enormous amount of spiritual treasure and a great amount of harmony in the New Testament books. Some may say about these four books - "That is too much, even among two!" But those of us who have spent time with favorites will also treasure the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. The believer's end is eventually the beginning.

The Gospel of John - 

The Disciple Jesus Loved

The five statements of Jesus loving John:

John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

John 20:2 When she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

John 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

In this age of brushing aside the Bible, the basic Scriptures of the Four Gospels is a great source of faith in Him and guidance of the Holy Spirit.