Canonical and Noncanonical Gospels
Canonical Gospels refers to inspired writing
Introduction
Canonical in biblical usage, according to the Pocket Catholic Dictionary of John A. Hardon, S.J., refers to the inspired writings known as the Old Testament and the New Testament. There are four canonical gospels in the New Testament: Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John.
Canonical gospels
Gospel of Mark - this was most probably written in Greek at Rome in the decade 60-70 A.D. It is written evidently for Christians because Mark uses terms meaningful only to Christians. Mark's gospel is a blend of history and theology written in simple but forceful language.
Gospel of Matthew - this was most probably written at Syria or Palestine in the decade 80-90 A.D. Matthew's purpose of writing was to convince the Christians of Jewish origin that Jesus was the Messiah and that He fulfilled the promises of the Old Testament prophets. This explains why Matthew also cites the Old Testament more frequently compared to either Mark or Luke
Gospel of Luke - scholars estimate that much of the writing of Luke was done at Antioch about the same time as Matthew - 80-90 A.D. Luke may have been a Greek Gentile directing his message to Gentile Christians. His gospel shows how in Jesus God has visited his people and manifested his loving-kindness towards them. He also wrote a second volume, the Acts of the Apostles.
Gospel of John - this gospel, written in Asia Minor about the years 95-100 A.D., is obviously the work of one close to Jesus - an eyewitness of his ministry and one who loved Jesus. The gospel of John as a whole is a profound meditation on Jesus as the Word of God. It shows how the crucified Jesus is still alive today and gives us His Spirit.
Noncanonical gospels
Listed below are other gospels not considered inspired writing by the Catholic Church. Eight are described below but there may be others existing of which are not as known or as popular.
Gospel of the Ebionites - this gospel was written in the first half of the second century. It was apparently an abridged and altered form of the Gospel of Matthew, which Epiphanius incorrectly refers to as the "Gospel of the Hebrews" or the "Hebrew Gospel". Written in Greek, this gospel was used by the Jewish Christian sect known as Ebionites. The Ebionites denied Jesus' birth of a virgin. They believed that Jesus' sonship to God rested not on his birth in a special way, but on the union of the Spirit with him at the time of his baptism. The seven existing fragments of this work are found in Epiphanius' "Against Heresies" XXX, 13-22
Gospel of the Hebrews - this gospel was written in the first half of the second century, for Greek-speaking Jewish Christian circles. It probably originated in Egypt since some of its main witnesses were the Alexandrians Clement and Origen. The gospel is apparently not a development from any of the four canonical gospels.
Gospel of the Egyptians - probably written in the first half of the second century, this gospel was used by Christians in Egypt as their only "life of Jesus". Though this gospel was influenced by Gnosticism, it was quoted by the author of II Clement. Clement of Alexandria also quoted this gospel and did not consider it heretical. Origen, however, regarded this gospel as heretical.
Gospel of the Naassenes - this gospel was quoted by Hippolytus in Book V of his "Refutation of All Heresies". The origin of the Naassenes, or Orphites, i.e. Serpent-Worshippers, is unknown, but they practiced heathen rites and were considered heretics by Hippolytus.
Gospel of the Nazaraeans - this gospel appeared in the first half of the second century in Syrian Jewish Christian circles. It is apparently an Aramaic translation of a Greek form of the Gospel of Matthew.
Gospel of Peter - this gospel comes from the middle of the second century and is a development in a Gnostic direction of the four canonical gospels. It is not, however, a full-blown Gnostic work. It was known by reference to its title only until the winter of 1886-87 A.D. when a fragment of it, coming from the eighth or ninth century, was found at Akhmim in Upper Egypt. The gospel began with Pilate's washing of his hands and ended with a unique description of Jesus' resurrection.
Acts of Philip - this is a fourth century Gnostic work which we know from fragments of later revisions.
Gospel of Thomas - this is a late fourth century "gospel" found about 1945 A.D. near the village of Nag Hammadi, up the Nile River in Egypt. Written in Sahidic Coptic, it is a collection of sayings of Jesus, many of them strongly influenced by Gnostic thought. The sayings probably originated in Greek about 140 A.D.
Sources and references:
- Pocket Catholic Dictionary, by John A. Hardon, S.J.
- How to Read the New Testament, by Etienne Charpentier
- Gospel Parallels, by Burton H. Throckmorton, Jr.
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