"The Synoptic Problem"?

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JairCrawford

Senior Member
Oct 31, 2017
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#1
Scholars often talk of the "synoptic problem" when studying the synoptic Gospels. I understand the basics of what they are saying, but the majority of their studies reek of a heavily secularist bias, so I am a bit skeptical of their conclusions.

That being said, I do think there is some evidence that the writers of Matthew and Luke had access to the Gospel of Mark. (This is not necessarily a bad thing.)

Has anyone here ever attempted to study the synoptic Gospels (or even all 4) side by side? If so, do you have any advice, recommendations, or insights on this?
 
Jul 23, 2017
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#2
scholars have always been very skeptical and Jesus had a lot of issues with the 'scholars' of his day too.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
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#3
Scholars often talk of the "synoptic problem" when studying the synoptic Gospels. I understand the basics of what they are saying, but the majority of their studies reek of a heavily secularist bias, so I am a bit skeptical of their conclusions.

That being said, I do think there is some evidence that the writers of Matthew and Luke had access to the Gospel of Mark. (This is not necessarily a bad thing.)

Has anyone here ever attempted to study the synoptic Gospels (or even all 4) side by side? If so, do you have any advice, recommendations, or insights on this?
I tried it several times (to read them side by side) and I discovered so many differences and inconsitencies, that I better stopped doing that.

I think they should not be read in this way. They have different purposes.
 

JairCrawford

Senior Member
Oct 31, 2017
107
6
0
#4
I tried it several times (to read them side by side) and I discovered so many differences and inconsitencies, that I better stopped doing that.

I think they should not be read in this way. They have different purposes.
Differences are not necessarily bad though in this case, are they? Could we not potentially delve deeper into Jesus' teachings this way?
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
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#5
Depends on what you mean by bad.

I think its a serious problem when we want to know what Jesus really said and synoptics differ from each other. Even some different teachings can be based of various variants like in "Our Father" prayer.
 

Kavik

Senior Member
Mar 25, 2017
785
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#6
Mark is generally regarded as the basis for the other three. There is also the so-called Q-gospel which is the basis for Mark. Whether the Q-gospel is one book (probably unlikely) or a compendium of several texts (more likely) will probably never be known.

What is quite interesting is that the Mark's Gospel was written for a very obvious Greek speaking audience who was very familiar with the concept of the 'literary epic' - it follows the literary template for the Greek epic to a tee.
 

JairCrawford

Senior Member
Oct 31, 2017
107
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#7
I am familiar with the Q-source hypothesis.

I've also read about the Greek epic theory, but to be honest, isn't it a bit on the short side? And I thought Greek epics were written in poetry not prose.
 
Jul 23, 2017
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#8
I tried it several times (to read them side by side) and I discovered so many differences and inconsitencies, that I better stopped doing that.

I think they should not be read in this way. They have different purposes.
I think its a serious problem when we want to know what Jesus really said and synoptics differ from each other. Even some different teachings can be based of various variants like in "Our Father" prayer.
is this pretty much atheism? would go well with the evolution theory u believe in.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
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#9
is this pretty much atheism? would go well with the evolution theory u believe in.
Its called reality. Instead of attacks, simply check it out.
 
Nov 6, 2017
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#10
Scholars often talk of the "synoptic problem" when studying the synoptic Gospels. I understand the basics of what they are saying, but the majority of their studies reek of a heavily secularist bias, so I am a bit skeptical of their conclusions.

That being said, I do think there is some evidence that the writers of Matthew and Luke had access to the Gospel of Mark. (This is not necessarily a bad thing.)

Has anyone here ever attempted to study the synoptic Gospels (or even all 4) side by side? If so, do you have any advice, recommendations, or insights on this?
I do not know if this will help or not. Knowing who the Gospel was written to really helped me understand them more.

Matthew was written to the Jews
Mark was written to the Roman Gentiles
Luke was written to the Greek Gentiles
 

JairCrawford

Senior Member
Oct 31, 2017
107
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#11
I don't think anyone is supporting atheism here. I can tell you I certainly am not.

I just want to dig into the Gospels a bit more than I have.
 

trofimus

Senior Member
Aug 17, 2015
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#12
I don't think anyone is supporting atheism here. I can tell you I certainly am not.

I just want to dig into the Gospels a bit more than I have.
Its Ok, Snoozy sees atheism everywhere.
 
Feb 7, 2015
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#15
Ask any Detective or Therapist.... If four different stories all "line up" perfectly, THAT is when you'd better get suspicious.
 

JairCrawford

Senior Member
Oct 31, 2017
107
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#17
Ask any Detective or Therapist.... If four different stories all "line up" perfectly, THAT is when you'd better get suspicious.
I totally agree. The reason I'm asking is not to clear up doubts so much as it is to dig deeper into the Gospel accounts, and therefore Jesus' teachings.
 
Jul 23, 2017
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#18
Ever played the game, "telephone?"
do u believe the scriptures are inerrant? or just a game of telephone and people said different stories that they happened to remember?
why should we obey anything anymore since theres always a chance someone just remembered it wrong or misspoke...
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
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#19
Scholars often talk of the "synoptic problem" when studying the synoptic Gospels. I understand the basics of what they are saying, but the majority of their studies reek of a heavily secularist bias, so I am a bit skeptical of their conclusions.

That being said, I do think there is some evidence that the writers of Matthew and Luke had access to the Gospel of Mark. (This is not necessarily a bad thing.)

Has anyone here ever attempted to study the synoptic Gospels (or even all 4) side by side? If so, do you have any advice, recommendations, or insights on this?

The basic idea is that Matt, Mark and luke see together 'syn-optic' where as John's Gospel seems different. The idea is that Mark wrote his gospel first then Matt and luke used it as stepping stone for theirs. John wrote his independently. (in scholarly circles they often also refer to a 'q' source (from German Quelle). But these are academic questions, not that they are not important, but they no way detract from the inspiration and authority from scripture as some pretend!

There are differences with chronological order and with wording of different sayings.

Neither of these things are a problem really. Each author wrote with a specific aim.. Matthew to a Jewish audience for example. With each author having their own aim in how they presented the gospel, comes the different use of Jesus' actions and sayings. Secondly, Jesus would have undoubtedly used these saying himself in varying ways and probably with differences to different audiences.. After all His ministry lasted 3 years.. each gospel can be read in just over an hour.. not much of the three years teaching. But it is precisely what God wanted us to have.

If each gospel said the exact same thing in the exact same chronological order we would have problems. And plus we would not have a fuller account.

There are no inconsistencies in the New Testament . If there where you could not trust it for anything!
 

Laish

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2016
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#20
Scholars often talk of the "synoptic problem" when studying the synoptic Gospels. I understand the basics of what they are saying, but the majority of their studies reek of a heavily secularist bias, so I am a bit skeptical of their conclusions.

That being said, I do think there is some evidence that the writers of Matthew and Luke had access to the Gospel of Mark. (This is not necessarily a bad thing.)

Has anyone here ever attempted to study the synoptic Gospels (or even all 4) side by side? If so, do you have any advice, recommendations, or insights on this?
I really don’t see any conflict in the synoptic Gospels. What I do see is multiple points of view. Each tell the story from a separate prospective.( This is a benefit that I believe God intended. ) I see no problem having Mark or any Gospel being a source document.
If it was the first put down in writing it would been copied and would naturally spread in the Church . Other witnesses inspired by God would also record their experiences using a already established version or story as a starting point. That’s not a problem it’s using a known point of agreement or understanding as a base . Seeing differences between them is not error it actually validates them . One thing I learned In life is that if stories having too much in common they are not authentic. There is enough similarities and differences for me to know that the Gospels have the ring of truth.
Also I believe the Gospels along with the rest of scripture to be without error and to be the perfect word of God .
Just to make it clear if my above post made it seem otherwise.
Well that’s my two cents.
Blessings
Bill