Photo: The Four Evangelists.  From the Book of Kells.  Source: Wikipedia: The Four Evangelists

6 Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.”

(Revelation 4:6-8, NIV)

You are probably familiar with the notion that the four living creatures described in this passage have been equated with the four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  The most common arrangement in medieval art and literature is:

• Matthew=Man
• Mark=Lion
• Luke=Ox
• John=Eagle

But what is the significance of these symbols? Various interpretations have been given. But none of them seems particularly helpful in typifying the content or purpose of the Gospels themselves.

When we think of the Gospels we tend to group them in our head as four different versions of the same story.  But that doesn’t help show us what is distinctive about each of the accounts.  There is a broad division between the synoptic gospels and the gospel of John.  But, again, that doesn’t really tell you anything useful about the gospels. 

What I’m looking for is an iconography of the Gospels, much in the same way that we have an iconography of the Evangelists.

I will share a couple ideas that I have, but I’d really like to hear from you as to what concept, symbol or idea captures the essence of the various gospels.

Matthew: Jesus Christ, the son of David

Matthew opens like this:

“A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham“

The dual concept of son of David and son of Abraham is in a way emblematic of the whole content of Matthew’s gospel.  As Son of David, Jesus represented the royal Davidic line and was a candidate to be the Messiah.  As Son of Abraham his lineage placed him within the covenantal history of God’s people.  Matthew’s gospel is greatly concerned with the notion of The Kingdom of Heaven.

Mark: Jesus Christ, The Son of God

Mark’s gospel opens like this:

“The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.“

This identification from the onset of Jesus Christ as the Son of God is iconic of the entire theme and content of Mark.

Luke: Jesus Christ, The Son of ADAM

A great deal of Luke’s gospel is spent showing the universality of Christ’s mission, specifically to the Gentiles.  Therefore, while Matthew’s genealogy traces Jesus’ roots back to Abraham, Luke traces Jesus’ roots back to Adam and even God!

John: Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God

Finally, John portrays Jesus as the ultimate high priest, offering himself for the sins of the people.  When Jesus comes to the Jordan, John the Baptist declares, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!”

That’s about as far as I’ve got in looking at an iconography of the Gospels.  Do you think that these concepts are helpful symbols of the theme or purpose of each of the gospels? How would you summarize each of the gospels?