The question of whether the Gospels actually originate from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is not an open hypothesis for the Church, but part of the handed-down truth. Thomas Aquinas never doubted this, but always firmly pointed out that the Gospels come from these four men, just as the Church has testified from the very beginning.
1. Tradition of the Church
Even the earliest Church Fathers—Papias, Irenaeus, Jerome, Augustine—testify clearly:
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Matthew, the apostle, wrote his Gospel for the Jews.
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Mark, a disciple of Peter, wrote his Gospel based on Peter’s preaching.
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Luke, companion of Paul, composed his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles.
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John, the apostle and beloved disciple, wrote the spiritual Gospel last.
These testimonies come from a time very close to the apostles and were accepted by the entire Church without any serious dissent.
2. Dictation or Own Handwriting?
In antiquity, it was common for important figures to have their writings dictated. Paul himself had some letters written down by a scribe (cf. Rom 16:22). Whether the evangelists themselves held the pen or commissioned a scribe changes nothing about authorship: the evangelist is the author because the testimony originates from him.
3. On the Question of Illiteracy
Some apostles may have been simple fishermen, but that does not necessarily mean they could not read or write. The New Testament itself shows that they were able to interpret Scripture and teach publicly (cf. Acts 2). And even if an evangelist needed a scribe, he remains the spiritual author of the work.
4. On the Gospel According to John
Modern voices often claim that John did not write his Gospel himself. Yet the Church’s tradition knows no alternative authorship. It was always John, the apostle, who was considered the author. The Second Vatican Council explicitly affirms this (Dei Verbum 19):
“The holy mother Church has firmly and with the greatest constancy held and continues to hold that the four Gospels, whose authorship is named by tradition, have their origin from these authors.”
That the style of the Gospel of John is different is explained by the particular depth and advanced age of the apostle at the time of writing.
5. Aquinas’ Perspective
Thomas Aquinas saw no need to discuss this question. For him, it was self-evident that the Gospels bear apostolic authority. He cites the Church Fathers, arranges the Gospels according to their target audiences, and sees in them the four living creatures from Ezekiel’s vision (cf. Matthew Commentary, Prologue).
6. Summary
The modern talk of “anonymous Gospels” is based mainly on the fact that the oldest manuscripts do not contain name lines. But this does not mean that the Gospels were “without known author,” but rather that the names were known orally and generally recognized. Titles only became necessary when the four Gospels were brought together in one codex.
Therefore, the following holds:
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The Church believes and teaches to this day the authorship of the four evangelists.
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Thomas Aquinas stands in this tradition and would never have accepted any relativization.
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Even if scribes were involved, authorship remains attributed to the evangelists.