Matthew, Mark, and Luke, or the Synoptic Gospels, differ from John in that they closely mirror one another in their accounts. In these three gospels, we find similar wording, chronology, and Old Testament referencing. While we should expect consistent narratives amongst all the gospels, the similarities amongst the Synoptics seem to suggest that they were written in reliance upon one another or an outside source.
Which of the Gospels are considered synoptic and why?
Synoptic. The writings of Matthew, Mark and Luke are often referred to as the synoptic gospels. They are called synoptic because they share a roughly similar viewpoint and record many of the same events in the life of Jesus. John's book is different, however, in that it includes events and dialogues not referenced in the other three writings.
How is the John's Gospel different from the Synoptic Gospels?
Differences Between John and the Synoptic Gospels Style. A divergence between John's Gospel and the Synoptic Gospels is felt immediately upon turning to John 1:1, as the first words, "in the beginning," take readers back to the ... Plot. ... The Presentation of Jesus' words and deeds. ...
Why do the Synoptic Gospels seem to contradict each other?
Why do the synoptic gospels seem to contradict each other? Certain biblical scholars have attempted to put these three gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) next to each other, lining up each of the stories that they tell and creating one cohesive narrative. But when they do this, they find that they run into problems.
Which Gospel is not synoptic?
There are many gospels that were not included in the New Testament canon, but the one that is in the New Testament but is not a synoptic gospel, is now called John’s Gospel. 323 views · View upvotes
Why is John's gospel so significantly different from the Synoptic Gospels?
John's Gospel differs from the Synoptic Gospels in several ways: it covers a different time span than the others; it locates much of Jesus' ministry in Judaea; and it portrays Jesus discoursing at length on theological matters. The major difference, however, lies in John's overall purpose.
Why are there 3 Synoptic Gospels?
Since the 1780s the first three books of the New Testament have been called the Synoptic Gospels because they are so similar in structure, content, and wording that they can easily be set side by side to provide a synoptic comparison of their content.
What are the problem of synoptic gospel?
The Synoptic Problem is the problem of the literary relationships among the first three “Synoptic” Gospels. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called “Synoptic Gospels” because they can be “seen together” (syn-optic) and displayed in three parallel columns.
What makes Luke unique and similar to the other Synoptic Gospels?
Luke's Gospel is also unique in its perspective. It resembles the other synoptics in its treatment of the life of Jesus, but it goes beyond them in narrating the ministry of Jesus, widening its perspective to consider God's overall historical purpose and the place of the church within it.
Why is Matthew Mark and Luke the same?
The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the synoptic Gospels because they include many of the same stories, often in a similar sequence and in similar or sometimes identical wording. They stand in contrast to John, whose content is largely distinct.
Why is the Gospel of John so unique?
Already by the year 200, John's gospel was called the spiritual gospel precisely because it told the story of Jesus in symbolic ways that differ sharply at times from the other three. For example, Jesus dies on a different day in John's gospel than in Matthew, Mark and Luke....
Which Gospel is most accurate?
Scholars tend to consider Luke's works (Luke-Acts) to be closer in genre to "pure" history, although they also note that "This is not to say that he [Luke] was always reliably informed, or that – any more than modern historians – he always presented a severely factual account of events." New Testament scholar, James ...
Why is it called Synoptic Gospel?
The synoptic Gospels are called synoptic from a Latin word, which means “seen together,” because the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell many of the same stories, often in the same words, frequently following the same order.
What is the Synoptic problem and why is it important?
Due to the repetitions of certain words, events, and parables in these three gospels, New Testament scholars have dubbed the relationship between Mark, Matthew, and Luke as “the synoptic problem.” As Stephen Carlson puts it, the synoptic problem is important because “one's solution to the synoptic problem will ...
How is Matthew different from the other Gospels?
Matthew is the most Jewish of the Gospels. It seeks to tell the story of Jesus Christ to a distinctively Jewish audience. Matthew's purpose in writing the Gospel is convince devote and dedicated First Century Palestinian Jews that Jesus is the promised Messiah of God.
Why did Matthew edit Mark's Gospel?
Matthew's Treatment of Mark Fourthly, Matthew often edited the Marcan texts he did retain either to remove offence or to correct unpalatable theological features in Mark's account. In Mark 6.5 Jesus is unable to work miracles in Nazareth, while the Matthean parallel in 13.58 states that he did not do many miracles.
What is the difference between Matthew Mark Luke and John?
These books are called Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John because they were traditionally thought to have been written by Matthew, a disciple who was a tax collector; John, the "Beloved Disciple" mentioned in the Fourth Gospel; Mark, the secretary of the disciple Peter; and Luke, the traveling companion of Paul.
What do the 3 Gospels have in common?
These three Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—tell the same basic story about Jesus. In two of them, Matthew and Luke, he's born of a virgin in Bethlehem. The gospel of Mark is different, because it begins with Jesus as an adult. But from there on, the stories have very similar outlines.
Why is it important to have four Gospels?
The four gospels all tell a unique perspective of the same story. They all claim Jesus is the Jewish Messiah who fulfills the Hebrew Scriptures. Mark is widely considered to be the oldest Gospel. The genealogies at the start of Matthew have hidden design patterns in them that unify the Old and New Testaments.
How many Synoptic Gospels do we have?
threeThe four gospels that we find in the New Testament, are of course, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The first three of these are usually referred to as the "synoptic gospels," because they look at things in a similar way, or they are similar in the way that they tell the story.
What is the Synoptic problem and how did it arise?
What is the synoptic problem? And how did it arise? All the problems that involved how the first three Gospels related to one another collectively are called the "the Synoptic problem"; When the three Gospels began being compared and studied for historical background and overlay to see which was the first.
Why are the Syntopic Gospels most similar?
The Synoptic Gospels were written before the book of John. While there is some discussion regarding the order in which these three books where written, there is evidence to suggest that they were written only 20-30 years after the death of Jesus, as outlined in “ The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown .” John’s Gospel would have been written after this timeframe, but John confirms that he was an eyewitness to the events of the Gospel ( John 21:24 ). The Gospel of John had a wider audience in mind than the previous three gospels, and therefore a broader theological reach, because the Gospel message had spread and new clarifications to the Synoptics were needed. Regardless of the timeframe in which each gospel was written, all four gospels rely heavily upon eyewitness accounts.
What can Christians learn from the Synoptics?
While wading through solutions to the Synoptic Problem may seem heady and laborious, the discussion is valuable for the scholar and the layman alike. When we survey our options and scrutinize the differences and similarities between the gospels, we begin to piece together a more comprehensive understanding of the theology communicated between all four. We see a stronger relationship between content and audience. We see that the gospels build upon one another, confirming and clarifying the documented life of Jesus and the corresponding theological truths he taught. In laying out the similarities and differences side by side, it is as if there is a highlighter going across the pages of our Bibles drawing attention to details we may have otherwise missed.
Why is there more than one gospel?
While each of the gospels are united in their purpose to record the life of Jesus and the corresponding gospel message, each author takes a slightly different tack. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each had a different audience in mind and customize their writing for that group. Each man had a different perspective and shares the gospel message from his vantage point.
How should we answer when people say the gospels contradict themselves?
This should be expected when we consider that each gospel was indeed written by a different source and was purposed for a different audience. Like a garment that comes in various sizes though all the same design, differences amongst the gospel accounts often tell us about the intended recipient.
Why is the Gospel of John a broader theological reach than the previous three Gospels?
The Gospel of John had a wider audience in mind than the previous three gospels, and therefore a broader theological reach, because the Gospel message had spread and new clarifications to the Synoptics were needed. Regardless of the timeframe in which each gospel was written, all four gospels rely heavily upon eyewitness accounts.
What is the Synoptic Problem?
Many theories exist today to explain what has become known as the Synoptic Problem, or the remarkable similarities between the Synoptic Gospels. A dominant theory, Markan Priority, suggests that Mark was written first, followed by the Matthew and Luke. Matthew and Luke would have used Mark as a source document for their own books.
Why did Matthew write the Gospel of Matthew?
The Gospel of Matthew, one of two gospels written by a disciple, tailored its account for a Jewish audience. Matthew wrote to identify Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies so that the Jews would recognize Jesus as the Messiah they had long awaited.
Why are the Gospels of John and Matthew called the Gospels?
These three books plus John are called the “Gospels” because they chronicle the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection—the basis of our salvation. The Gospel of Matthew was written by Matthew the apostle, one of the twelve commissioned by Jesus.
What is the synoptic problem in Luke 10-20?
Much of Luke 10—20 is unique to that Gospel. The difficulty in explaining the similarities and differences among the Synoptic Gospels is referred to as the Synoptic Problem in the world of biblical scholarship. In the final analysis, the Synoptic “Problem” ...
Who wrote the Gospel of Mark?
The Gospel of Mark was written by John Mark, a close associate of the apostle Peter. The Gospel of Luke was written by Luke the physician, a friend and traveling companion of the apostle Paul. The first three Gospels are called “synoptic” because they “see together with a common view” (the word synoptic literally means “together sight”).
Where are the parables of Christ found?
All of the parables of Christ are found in the Synoptics ( the Gospel of John contains no parables). There are differences, too. Matthew and Luke are both considerably longer than Mark. Matthew was written for a Jewish audience, Mark for a Roman audience, and Luke for a broader Gentile audience.
What are the synoptic gospels?
Despite their unique qualities, the first three gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke —share many of the same accounts of Christ, often shared in the same order and with the same wording. Because of their similar perspectives on Jesus' ministry, together they’re known as the synoptic gospels.
Why is the Gospel of John not one of the synoptic gospels?
The Gospel of John isn’t one of the synoptic gospels because it was clearly written independently. Over 90% of the Book of John is unique, that is, the book’s material is not found in any of the other three gospels.
Which gospels contain unique material?
The problem with this argument is that Matthew and Luke both contain unique material we don’t see in any of the other synoptic gospels. That material had to come from somewhere, and while an additional source currently only exists in theory, it’s one of the main reasons most scholars instead believe Mark came first.
Which argument is less convincing: Matthean or Markan?
Most scholars find the Matthean priority argument less convincing than the evidence for Markan priority: the idea that Mark came first. There are several significant reasons to support this view:
When Luke presents events in a different order than Mark, does Matthew follow Mark's order?
And when Luke presents events in a different order than Mark, Matthew follows Mark’s order. It appears that Mark’s order is the original, and the other two are trying to follow it. Most scholars would suggest that the deviations occur when Matthew and Luke choose to follow another source besides Mark.
What are the three gospels?
Despite their unique qualities, the first three gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke— share many of the same accounts of Christ, ...
Do the Gospels have a work cited page?
The gospels don’t come with a “works cited” page. We don’t have a detailed list of sources to cross-examine. To answer the synoptic problem, scholars mostly have to work from the gospels themselves.
What are the similarities and differences between the Gospel of John and the Synoptic Gospels?
There are major similarities and differences between the Gospel of John and the Synoptic Gospels. All four Gospels are complementary, and all four tell the same basic story about Jesus Christ. But there's no denying that John's Gospel is quite different from the other three in both tone and content. The big question is why? ...
When were the synoptic gospels written?
What this tells us is that the Synoptic Gospels were likely written within a similar time period during the 1 st Century A.D. If you do the math, you'll notice that the Synoptic Gospels were written about 20-30 ...
How many times does Jesus say "kingdom" in the Gospel of John?
In the midst of these debates, John's Gospel is a thorough exploration of Jesus Himself. Indeed, it's interesting to note that while the term "kingdom" is spoken by Jesus 47 times in Matthew, 18 times in Mark, and 37 times in Luke -- it is only mentioned 5 times by Jesus in the Gospel of John.
How many Gospels are there in the New Testament?
The four Gospels of the New Testament function perfectly as four sections of the same story. And while it's true that the Synoptic Gospels are similar in many ways, the uniqueness of John's Gospel only benefits the larger story by bringing additional content, new ideas, and a more thoroughly clarified explanation of Jesus Himself.
What is the purpose of the Gospel of Matthew?
The Gospel of Mathew was written with both a different purpose and a different audience in mind. Specifically, Matthew's Gospel was addressed primarily to a Jewish audience in the 1stcentury -- a fact that makes perfect sense given that a large percentage of the early converts to Christianity were Jewish. One of the major themes of Matthew's Gospel is the connection between Jesus and the Old Testament prophecies and predictions regarding the Messiah. Essentially, Matthew was writing to prove that Jesus was the Messiah and that the Jewish authorities of Jesus' day had rejected Him.
What is the difference between the first three Gospels?
What many people don't know, however, is that there's a striking difference between the first three Gospels -- Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which are known together as the Synoptic Gospels -- and the Gospel of John. In fact, the Gospel of John is so unique that 90 percent of the material it contains regarding Jesus' life cannot be found in ...
Why did John not feel pressure to preserve a full historical record of Jesus' life?
Instead, John was free to construct his own Gospel in a way that reflected the different needs of his own time and culture.
What are the differences between the synoptics and the gospels?
Major Differences: 1. Omission by John of material found in the synoptics. John’s Gospel omits a large amount of material found in the synoptic Gospels, including some surprisingly important episodes: the temptation of Jesus, Jesus’ transfiguration, and the institution of the Lord’s supper are not mentioned by John.
How is John's Gospel different from the Synoptics?
John’s Gospel, on the other hand, although also written from a third person point of view, is more reflective, clearly later than the events he describes. The author of the Fourth Gospel very carefully separates himself from the events he describes (cf. the role of the Beloved Disciple in the Fourth Gospel). However clear it is that he was an eyewitness of the life of Jesus, it is no less clear that he looks back upon it from a temporal distance. While we see the events through his eyes, we are carefully guided to see the events of Jesus’ life not as John saw them when they happened but as he now sees them. We understand more of the significance of the events described from the position the writer now holds than an eyewitness could have understood at the time the events took place. In this sense John’s Gospel is much more reflective.
What is the relationship between John's Gospel and the Synoptics?
Two basic positions on the relationship of John’s Gospel to the Synoptics are possible: If John knew of the synoptics, then he wrote to supplement them.
How long did Jesus' ministry last?
According to John, Jesus’ public ministry extended over a period of at least three and possibly four years. During this time Jesus goes several times from Galilee to Jerusalem. The synoptics appear to describe only one journey of Jesus to Jerusalem (the final one), with most of Jesus’ ministry taking place within one year.
What does the prologue of John's Gospel say about Jesus?
The Prologue to John’s Gospel (1:1-18) presents Jesus as the Lovgo" become flesh (1:14). John begins his Gospel with an affirmation of Jesus’ preexistence and full deity, which climaxes in John 20:28 with Thomas’ confession “My Lord and my God!”.
What genre is the Gospel of John?
The Gospel of John passed on the words of Jesus predominantly in another genre than the synoptics; it did not do so in sayings, parables, and controversy dialogues, but in connected or dialogical discourses. 25
What are some examples of literary techniques in John?
John makes more frequent use of these literary techniques than the synoptics. Examples: John 2:25 (temple/body); John 7:37-38 (water/Spirit); John 12:32 (lifted up/exalted).
