Which Gospel is Your Favorite?

Of the four gospels, which is your personal favorite, and why?

I should mention that my personal favorite is Luke, followed closely by John.

Ignoring the fact that in some sense it feels wrong to have a favorite, as if it somehow denies the idea that we ought to listen to all of Scripture...

Luke is my favorite, for sure. This is probably because I find it easy to teach from when I'm instructing kids. I love having the birth narrative; the account of the sinful woman at Simon's house; the parables of the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Pharisee and Tax Collector; Zacchaeus; and the account of the evening gathering after the resurrection. Luke also includes some warm, caring touches from Jesus that the other synoptics don't emphasize.

Fun question!

I enjoy Matthew because its like 31 or so times that the "kingdom of God" is referenced, and its compelling to see the "Gospel of the Kingdom of God".

But I think Luke is my favorite because its robust and long and detailed and the narrative flows beautiful and the very purpose it was written was for Theophilus to "have certainty of the things [he had] heard". Therefore we can assume that we too can derive the same benefits...

Whats your favorite?

John's is my favorite. I think it demonstrates the love of our Saviour to a greater extent. It is out of this gospel that I've memorized more verses for my own edification, and reassurance, than out of the other three. In addition I've come to love the disciple Jesus loved.

How does one decide? They are all so different.
Matthew - for the Jews on fulfilled prophecy
Mark - for the Romans, e.g., "immediately"
Luke - for the Greeks. A full 40% of Luke is unique to Luke. Chapter 10 through 17 is all new stuff. Plus some of both 9 and 18
John - For the Christian to build the faith. Lots on the Trinity.

I guess my all time favorite is John. But my current favorite is Luke; I am leading a study through it. We just spent our third week on chapter one, and we are not finished yet.

John, because it contains John 10, which is one of my favorite chapters, with The Good Shepherd analogy included.

My favorite is probably John. But I've been preaching through Mark for just over a year, and it's been absolutely wonderful.

1 gospel: 4 accounts as the early Mss indicate w/ the kata... Just sayin'

Poor Mark. He never gets any love.

And Isaiah was called the 5th gospel [account]. Is he included?

I'm in a weird mood tonight. Apologies.

So I'll say John since I may be writing a dissertation on it. But then I may get sick of it and switch?

I'm preaching through the Gospel of Mark, so right now Mark is my favorite. I just finished expositing the Olivet Discourse (Mark 13)... fun!

SolaScriptura said:

I'm preaching through the Gospel of Mark, so right now Mark is my favorite. I just finished expositing the Olivet Discourse (Mark 13)... fun!

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I'm in 10.13-16 this Sunday, D.V.

bookslover said:

Of the four gospels, which is your personal favorite, and why?

I should mention that my personal favorite is Luke, followed closely by John.

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My 2 favorites would be the same as yours.

Asking for a favourite gospel is almost like being asked 'who is your favourite son'? I like all of them and have been instructed, edified, encouraged, challenged and rebuked by all of them. I enjoy reading Matthew and the life of the one of whom "it is written.." I like Mark for his short concise life of one who came for both Jew and Gentile. I like Luke and the way Jesus deals with the various characters he encounters and I like John for the discourses contained.

Just finished working through Mark and it was highly beneficial. John is likely my favorite. The whole light in darkness motif, the upper room discourses and high priestly prayer. What a feast!

jwithnell said:

Just finished working through Mark and it was highly beneficial. John is likely my favorite. The whole light in darkness motif, the upper room discourses and high priestly prayer. What a feast!

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The Gospel of John is said to be the easiest one to wade through, but it is also the most spiritual one, for the reasons you listed, and it is also a great primer for Calvinism.

All of them are great of course, but if I had to choose, I would say John. Not only does John have the highest Christology of the gospels, but it also contains so many things which the others do not, and as J.C. Ryle once wrote, these unique things "are among the greatest treasures of the church of Christ."

Timotheos said:

1 gospel: 4 accounts as the early Mss indicate w/ the kata... Just sayin'

Poor Mark. He never gets any love.

And Isaiah was called the 5th gospel [account]. Is he included?

I'm in a weird mood tonight. Apologies.

So I'll say John since I may be writing a dissertation on it. But then I may get sick of it and switch?

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I love Isaiah! God telling the Gospel Himself!


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All of the Gospels--of course--are God breathed and necessary for a full-understanding of God's revelation. However, the Gospel of John is probably my favorite. I feel that it is the easiest Gospel to turn to in order to refute crass heresies such as Unitarianism. John gives us a very clear and beautiful picture of the Godhood of Jesus Christ. Additionally, the writing style is unique and I appreciate it for that reason.

Haeralis said:

Additionally, the writing style is unique and I appreciate it for that reason.

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What's interesting about John's writing style is that sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between John's narrative style and the speeches of people in the gospel (including Jesus) who, at times, sound a lot like John. Commentators usually feel exegetically challenged by this.

bookslover said:

What's interesting about John's writing style is that sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between John's narrative style and the speeches of people in the gospel (including Jesus) who, at times, sound a lot like John. Commentators usually feel exegetically challenged by this.

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The main area would be if the conversation in Chapter 3 between Nicodemus and Jesus were all of them, or if John had edited it to add his own commentary notes so to speak.

Dachaser said:

The main area would be if the conservation in Chapter 3 between Nicodemus and Jesus were all of them, or if John had edited it to add his own commentary notes so to speak.

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John talks about conservation in his gospel? Heh.