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Minimalist critics, like the Jesus Seminar, treat the Gospels, as in-consistent with each other, since some quote some saying of Jesus, in one setting, whereas others put those words, into Jesus' mouth, in some other setting.
But, there is no in-consistency. The Gospel writers could have "fluffed" their Gospels, adding arbitrary amounts, of extraneous information, e.g. "Jesus got up, Jesus ate breakfast, Jesus breathed in & out, Jesus walked 10 steps with his walking stick in his right hand, then changed hands", etc.
Instead, for sake of time, their's and their reader's, & papyrus + ink, the Gospel writers arguably streamlined their Gospels, only including important sayings, one time. But, Jesus was a wandering preacher, repeatedly repeating important points, over and over, time and again, town after village. So, what the Gospels actually reveal, is which sayings of Jesus, the various Gospel writers remembered, in various settings -- for some reason (say), Matthew remembered Jesus' parable in Capernaum, but Mark remembered Jesus (re-)saying that parable, in Magdala or Bethsaida.
Surely, Jesus stated each of his parables, hundreds of times, in his 1000 days of ministry. Different Gospel writers remembered different parables, from different settings, showing more about their own memory, than about any inconsistencies between their various accounts.
But, there is no in-consistency. The Gospel writers could have "fluffed" their Gospels, adding arbitrary amounts, of extraneous information, e.g. "Jesus got up, Jesus ate breakfast, Jesus breathed in & out, Jesus walked 10 steps with his walking stick in his right hand, then changed hands", etc.
Instead, for sake of time, their's and their reader's, & papyrus + ink, the Gospel writers arguably streamlined their Gospels, only including important sayings, one time. But, Jesus was a wandering preacher, repeatedly repeating important points, over and over, time and again, town after village. So, what the Gospels actually reveal, is which sayings of Jesus, the various Gospel writers remembered, in various settings -- for some reason (say), Matthew remembered Jesus' parable in Capernaum, but Mark remembered Jesus (re-)saying that parable, in Magdala or Bethsaida.
Surely, Jesus stated each of his parables, hundreds of times, in his 1000 days of ministry. Different Gospel writers remembered different parables, from different settings, showing more about their own memory, than about any inconsistencies between their various accounts.