5
means "good news". Kata "according" denotes, not that the gospel was in any sense Matthew's nor does it mean
that the present gospel was compiled from material gathered from Matthew's teaching, it signifies simply that
Matthew was the author of the narrative so named.
It lies beyond our immediate purpose to discuss in fuller detail the testimony of antiquity, the canonicity of
each book, and the many literary and historical side issues that naturally arise. Our chief aim is indicated by our
heading "Fundamentals of Dispensational Truth". The four gospels yield their richest treasures to those who put
into operation the principle of "Right division", and in the studies that follow these introductory notes, the
dispensational aspect will be kept steadily in view.
The number of books which make up the New Testament is twenty-seven, and they are distributed thus :
Gospels
4
Matt., Mark, Luke, John
Acts
1
Early epistles of Paul
7
Gal., Heb., Rom.,
1,2 Thess., 1,2 Cor.
Later epistles of Paul
7
Eph., Phil., Col., Phile.,
1 Tim., Tit., 2 Tim.
Epistles of Circumcision
7
James, Jude, 1,2 Peter,
1,2,3 John
Revelation
_1
27
These books fall into three groups :
(1) Historic.
Gospels and Acts.
(2) Doctrinal.
Epistles.
(3) Prophetic.
Revelation.
With this initial and introductory study, the way is clear for a consideration of the four gospels.
An approach to the Four Gospels
Four inspired accounts of the earthly ministry of the Son of God have been given to the people of God and it is
the Divine intention that these four accounts should be understood as providing four distinct aspects of the truth
represented by the earthly life and ministry of Christ. Four texts of Old Testament scripture can be used to set out
these four distinctive aspects of truth, namely :
"Behold thy King"
Matthew
(Zech. 9:9).
"Behold My Servant"
Mark
(Isa. 42:1).
"Behold the Man"
Luke
(Zech. 6:12).
"Behold your God"
John
(Isa. 40:9).
These four references can be supplemented by observing the use in the Old Testament of one peculiar title of
the Messiah, namely "The Branch". The figurative use of a great tree to set forth in symbol a great man, leads to the
use of a "branch" to indicate some notable offspring or descendant both in the Hebrew of the Old Testament and in
modern usage.
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots: And the
spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him" (Isa. 11:1,2).
Here we have the figurative use of rod and stem; branch and root, disposed in alternating pairs. This title is
endorsed and expanded in Revelation 22:16 :
"I am the root and offspring of David".