The Bible is far and large the most well-known literary work in the history of mankind. It is a work that needs no introduction, as its message transcends what is to be found in the written word. To try and summarize the themes at play would be folly, as this literary work defies typical conventions. At its heart though, the Bible is inherently a story.
In the Gospels of Mark and Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, we gain a glimpse into the most transformative and influential time in the story. This is epitomized in the death and rebirth of Jesus Christ. These passages cover both the preceding and subsequent events revolving around this event.
In the Gospels of Mark and Luke, we get two separate accounts covering the same story. These two writings are both similar and wholly unique in their nature. While the story in its base form is the same, the way in which it is told is contrasting.
In the Gospel of Mark, we get an archaic account of Jesus’s life. In my own opinion, this Gospel came off to me as the story of Jesus in its barest form. Mark wrote of the path of Jesus as the tale would be passed by the common tongue, and for being the oldest gospel it deserves credit for laying the foundation for what would come after.
In the Gospel of Luke, we see an educated man build upon the literary foundation set by Mark and breathe life into the story of Jesus. Luke seemingly fills in the holes of the story with his beautiful writing and manages to make the story more elaborate and concise at once. The two gospels culminate in the death and rebirth of Jesus, which leads to the Acts of the Apostles.
The Acts cover the earliest days of the Church in its modern form, with the followers of Christianity spreading their faith across the countryside. In a sense, this is the story of the roots of the religious mammoth. Like the Gospels, one of the primary themes is maintaining one’s beliefs and morals in an imperfect and dangerous world.
Jesus and his followers strive to be true children of God, but these passages do not stray from showing the struggles they encountered and the at times vile nature of the world around them. As Luke emphasized, we are all sinners in need of salvation.
American Bible Society. (1986). In The holy bible: Containing the old and new testaments translated out of the original tongues and with the former translations diligently compared & revised. essay.
