3 & 4 THE TERM "GOSPEL"
QUESTION 3 & 4. THE TERM "GOSPEL"
ln Greek-Evangelio, it means the "Good News", which is about the salvation of the human race by the incarnate Son of God. The Lord Himself called so the sermon about the Kingdom of God, which is approaching (and which is, in reality, He Himself). Four of His disciples recorded the most important moments of His earthly life and teachings. Matthew and John were among the 12 apostles, and Mark and Luke were among the 70. The expression "The Gospel according to Matthew, Mark", etc. indicates the recognition by the Church of the authorship of this book.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE GOSPELS AND THEIR FEATURES
The first three Gospels have a lot in common and are called synoptic (from Greek-"looking at one place"). The 4th Gospel, according to John, written much later, as if complements the first three. The Apostle Matthew (or Levi) - a former publican, wrote his Gospel, probably the first, around the 40s of the 1st century. It was written for fellow Jews, in their language, and contains many references to the prophecies of the Old Testament, as well as references to Jewish customs without explaining them. Later, this gospel was translated into Greek and spread throughout the Roman Empire. Probably, the apostles Peter and Paul knew and used it in their sermons, so their collaborators Mark and Luke wrote their versions of the Good News not without the influence of this first Gospel. That's why 3 Gospels have much in common.
The gospel of Mark is like the Matthew's shortened retelling for Gentiles who are not familiar with the Jewish tradition, so it omits Old Testament quotes, while Jewish customs are explained. The gospel is compiled on the basis of the preachings of the Apostle Peter to the Romans, so there are quite many Latin terms in the text.
The Apostle Luke, like Paul, was a learned man (a doctor and an artist), so his Gospel is the most detailed, written after the first two, in the 60s, after "a careful investigation of the things fulfilled among us". It is addressed to all mankind, as well as Apostle Paul's sermon: Christ came to save all who believed Him. For example, in the Gospel according to Matthew, the genealogy of the Messiah begins with the father of all Jews, Abraham, while in the Luke's Gospel it goes back to Adam, etc.
Also, Luke wrote a continuation of the Gospel - the book of Acts of the Apostles.
The gospel according to John differs from the Synoptic ones by its emphasis on the Divinity of Jesus Christ, and it was a response to the heresies that did not recognize God in Jesus. Also, the apostle John, as the closest witness, clarifies the chronology, complements the story with important events (especially during the Holy Week) and the Savior's sermons. lt was written about 100-110 AD.
DIATESSARON means "Through the Four (Gospels)"
In the 2nd century, Tatian compiled the "Four Gospels"-the text of the 4 canonical Gospels set out in one book in chronological order, without repetitions and with the agreement of parallel places. lt was of great help to explain the controversial points in the Gospels and became very popular. The Gospel according to John was taken as a basis. The use of only these four gospels emphasizes that even at that time only they were recognized as authentic.
THE SYMBOLISM OF THE EVANGELISTS
In the Orthodox iconography, each Evangelist has his own symbolic image. Thus, St. John is depicted as an Eagle or with an Eagle, this is a symbol of the height of the theology of his Gospel. The Taurus with Apostle Luke symbolizes the service of Christ as High Priest and as Sacrifice. The Lion with St. Mark means the royal omnipotence of the Lord, and the Man with St. Matthew means the perfection of the human nature of Jesus.