The Four: A Survey of the Gospels

How do the four different Gospels teach us different things about Jesus? Leithart dives into the differences between the different books and shows how their differences can be gloried in rather than apologized for.

Look Inside the Book

In his sequel to the Canon Press bestseller A House for My Name, Peter Leithart dives deep into the fascinating web woven by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Writing as a scholar and a pastor, Leithart rejects much of modern textual criticism, but gleans from the best of it to show how radically political Jesus' message actually was. The book includes a chapter on the themes highlighted in each individual gospel, showing that Jesus is revealed as a Lawgiver, as a king, as a Prophet, and the Son of God.

This book is accessible to high school students and includes review questions for anyone who wants to use it in their curriculum. However, it will also give anyone familiar with the Gospels much to think about.

From the Book:

"It is a strange story, the story of Jesus. To the Jews, it is not the story of Israel’s redemption but some odd detour. For Christians, though, the story of Jesus is the final chapter of the story of Israel. For Christians, all that Israel hopes for—redemption from enemies, forgiveness of sins, triumph and exaltation, a restoration of Eden, the conversion of the nations, the earth filled with the glory of Israel’s God—all of it comes to pass through Jesus. Not through the sword of Zealots, or the rigid purity of the Pharisees, or the political compromises of the Sadducees, or the withdrawal of the Essenes. Israel’s story is carried to its conclusion by a different sort of Jew entirely, a different sort of holiness, a different story-line, a story-line of compassion, service, suffering, death. And, over all and transforming all, resurrection. For Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed." -From the book