The need for specialized books on the gospels is apparent when one considers the variety of their contents. The four gospels are similar to the Greek bíos ("a life," a kind of biography), but in the format of the Old Testament historical narratives. As such they give us a selective history of the person, life, and works of Jesus the Christ. Within that history are the stories Jesus told and the miracles he performed. Focusing the study on the parables Jesus told and miracles he worked allows the Bible student to become prepared for the study of the gospels as a whole.