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How are the four Gospels related to the life and teachings of Jesus?

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Mosaic: Christianity — Christianity Christ as Ruler, with the Apostles and Evangelists (represented by the beasts). The female figures are believed to be either Santa Pudenziana and Santa Práxedes or symbols of the Jewish and Gentile churches. Mosaic in the apse of Santa Pudenziana basilica, Rome, 401–417 ce.

The four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are biblical narratives that document the life, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. Rather than simple biographies, these accounts were written from a post-Resurrection perspective to inspire belief in Jesus as the Christ.1

The evangelists shaped their narratives based on the theological needs of their audiences and their own presuppositions. While the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) share a similar structure and treatment of Jesus’ life, the Gospel of John offers a distinct arrangement and perspective.12

These texts expanded upon earlier Christian affirmations regarding Jesus’ message of the kingdom and his Resurrection by incorporating traditions of his earthly ministry. This included his ethical teachings, such as his demands for internal purity and complete devotion to God, which were framed within the context of his role as an eschatological prophet who believed divine intervention was imminent.13