THE FOUR GOSPELS [Volume I]

First published in France in 1866, The Four Gospels by Jean-Baptiste Roustaing emerged within the formative period of nineteenth-century Spiritism, alongside the foundational works of Allan Kardec. In this context of spiritual renewal and intellectual rigor, the book presents a systematic explanation of the Gospel narratives, uniting Christian revelation with reason, moral law, and the continuity of nature.

This work is neither a conventional commentary nor a confessional theology. It offers the explanation of the life and mission of Jesus Christ in spirit and in truth, as given by the Evangelists themselves, assisted by the Apostles and by Moses. The Gospel events-his origin, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension-are explained not as suspensions of divine law, but as manifestations of higher laws governing both the visible and invisible realms.

At its core lies the principle of progressive revelation: divine truth unfolds according to humanity's moral and intellectual capacity. Within this framework, Christ appears as the moral regenerator of humanity, the spiritual governor of the Earth, and the supreme exemplar of divine justice and love.

This new and unabridged English translation is presented in FOUR VOLUMES, of which this book is the FIRST. Together, they form a continuous and methodical exposition of the Gospels, followed by the explanation of the Commandments, preserving the integrity and scope of the original work.

Demanding attentive study and moral seriousness, The Four Gospels addresses readers who seek to reconcile faith with understanding, and devotion with reason. Rooted in Spiritist doctrine yet universal in scope, it invites a renewed encounter with the Gospel-no longer veiled by the letter, but illuminated by the living spirit.