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Gospel

Gospel originally meant the Christian message itself, but in the 2nd century it came to be used for the books in which the message was set out. The four canonical gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — were written between AD 70 and 100, and are the main source of information on the life of Jesus. All four are anonymous (the modern names were added in the 2nd century), and none were written by eyewitnesses. Modern scholars are therefore cautious of relying on them unquestioningly, but critical study can attempt to distinguish the original ideas of Jesus from those of the later authors. Many non-canonical gospels were also written, all later than the four, and all, like them, advocating the particular theological views of their authors. more »