The New Testament includes four Gospels, referred to as the “Synoptic Gospels,” that exhibit comparable literary patterns and themes extensively analyzed by scholars. Nevertheless, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John possess both similarities and differences. The inquiry into which Gospel was composed first and the extent to which the authors relied on oral tradition, written sources, or one another remains unknown. This occurrence of synoptic gospels has sparked scholarly discussions for centuries and captivated numerous students studying New Testament Survey.
In order to fully understand the similarities and differences among these Synoptic Gospels, it is necessary to become familiar with the authors. It is crucial to comprehend their backgrounds, academic qualifications, experiences, literary styles, and occupations. Furthermore, we should investigate the who, what, when, where, why,and how aspects of these Gospels.
Which authors had a profound emotional and intellectual impact on us while teaching us about the life, ministries, and significance of Jesus?
The Gospel of Matthew, written by Matthew himself, is the main book in the New Testament. Its main purpose is to show that the “King” has come. At first, Matthew was disliked because he collected taxes but after a significant transformation and wholeheartedly dedicating himself to Jesus, he became one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. Around 60-65 A.D., Matthew wrote this Gospel specifically for his fellow Jews in order to confirm Jesus as the Messiah and explain the kingdom of God that awaits humanity.
The Jews were waiting for a leader who had been promised by prophets centuries ago, a leader known as the Messiah or “anointed one.” They believed that this Messiah would deliver them from their Roman oppressors and establish a new kingdom, ruling the world with justice. However, many Jews ignored prophecies that also described this king as a suffering servant who would face rejection and death. Therefore, it is not surprising that only a few recognized Jesus as the Messiah. They questioned how a humble carpenter’s son from Nazareth could be their king. Nonetheless, Jesus was the King of all the earth, and it was Matthew (Levi) who made it his mission (though not alone) to spread this message.
Matthew wrote around 1475 words, with approximately 137 being unique to him among all New Testament writers. Of these 137 words, 76 are considered classical and 15 were first introduced or discovered in Matthew’s writings. Furthermore, Matthew and Mark together introduced 8 new words, while Matthew and another New Testament writer brought forth an additional 15 words. It is likely that during Matthew’s time, all of these words were commonly used.
In his Gospel, Matthew employs distinctive expressions that contribute to his unique writing style. For example, he frequently uses the phrase “basileia ton ouranon,” which is not found in Mark and Luke; instead, they use “basileia tou thou” in parallel passages. However, it should be noted that “basileia tou thou” also appears four times in Matthew.
Matthew’s Gospel begins with Jesus’ genealogy and continues with the account of his birth and early years. This includes their escape to Egypt due to Herod’s murderous intentions and their subsequent return to Nazareth. Throughout this Gospel, Matthew consistently conveys the message that Jesus is the Christ – the King of kings and Lord of lords.
The Gospel of Mark, which is thought to be the oldest, was written between 55-65 A.D. Its primary aim was to inspire Roman Christians to strengthen their connection with God and firmly establish Jesus as the Messiah. The author sought to depict the genuine nature, actions, and teachings of Jesus. Mark presents a rapid succession of vibrant portrayals depicting Jesus in action – revealing His true essence through His actions rather than just words. It highlights Jesus’ constant movement.
Starting with John the Baptist’s preaching, Mark skips over the birth of Jesus and proceeds to Jesus’ baptism, temptation in the desert, and calling of the disciples. Mark swiftly progresses into Jesus’ public ministry, with events quickly building towards a climax. The Last Supper, betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection are vividly depicted, accompanied by further instances of Jesus’ teachings. Mark’s distinct writing style allows us to witness Jesus’ actions of movement, service, sacrifice, and salvation.
Every birth is considered a miracle and every child is seen as a blessing from God. However, around two thousand years ago, an extraordinary miracle happened. A baby was born, but this wasn’t just any ordinary baby; it was the Son of God. The Gospels document this remarkable birth, with Dr. Luke providing detailed descriptions as if he had been present at the delivery. Jesus, being both divine (through his heavenly Father) and human (through his earthly mother), became a crucial part of our history – God in human form.
The belief is that Luke originally came from Antioch. It is clear that Luke was not Jewish, as Paul distinguished him from those of the circumcision (Col. iv, 14), and his writing style indicates he was Greek. Therefore, he cannot be identified with the prophet Lucius mentioned in Acts, xiii, 1, nor with Lucius of Rom., xvi, 21, who had a connection to St. Paul. Being a doctor by profession, Luke possessed scientific knowledge and being a Greek and Gentile Christian (the only known Gentile author in the New Testament), he paid great attention to detail. St. Paul referred to him as “the most dear physician” (Col., iv, 14). This profession implied an extensive education and evidence of his medical background can be seen in his use of medical terminology. Thus, it is not surprising that Luke starts by outlining his thorough research and clarifying his intention to present factual information (Luke 1:1-4). Additionally, Luke had a close friendship with Paul and accompanied him during his travels; this gave him the opportunity to interview other disciples, access other historical accounts and personally witness the birth and development of the early church. His Gospel called Luke along with the book of Acts are reliable historical documents making up approximately one-quarter of the New Testament. The book of Luke is considered as one of the most comprehensive Gospels in terms of vocabulary range and language style which demonstrates Luke’s high level of education.
In the Gospel of Luke, written around 60 A.D., there are similarities with the book of Matthew. Luke recounts Jesus’ birth. Angels appear to Zechariah and Mary, informing them about the upcoming births of their sons. It is prophesied that Zechariah and Elizabeth will have a son named John the Baptist who will prepare the way for Christ. Mary conceives through the Holy Spirit and gives birth to Jesus, referred to as the Son of God.
Luke affirms the dual nature of Jesus as both divine and human, highlighting his humanity as the Son of God and the Son of Man. He provides a detailed account of Jesus’ life, including his death, but does not leave it at that. Instead, he concludes with an exciting narrative of Jesus raising the dead, appearing to his disciples, and promising them the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Luke’s writings are expertly crafted and present a precise documentation of Jesus’ divine and human essence.
The Gospel of John is unique in its approach to the life of Christ, as it is not a traditional biography. Instead, its purpose is to make a compelling argument for the incarnation and provide undeniable proof that Jesus is the Son of God sent from heaven and the sole source of eternal life. What sets this Gospel apart is that 90% of its content is original; it omits any mention of genealogy, Jesus’ birth or childhood, temptation or transfiguration, disciple selection or parables, ascension or Great Commission. Written between 85-90 A.D., it specifically targets both new Christians and non-Christians.
Throughout the entire book of John, the central theme remains constant – Christ’s identity. From the very beginning, John establishes this by declaring, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (1:1, 2). Each chapter of this book unveils Jesus’ divine essence.
The question of understanding the origin of these books and their theme revolves around when they were written. Scholars around the world compare and contrast the books of these authors, studying the wording used to determine a general idea of their relative dates. When a careful study of all four Gospels is conducted, one can recognize the astonishing similarities they share. This raises the question, “In what order were the Gospels written?” The synoptic apocalypse suggests a date before 70 A.D. is likely for all three gospels. However, most scholars believe Matthew and Luke were written after 70 A.D. Keeping this in mind, it becomes evident that at least two of the four Synoptic authors possibly wrote their books within a 40-year period.
The introduction of the “synoptic problem” occurs here. It involves investigating the existence and nature of the literary interrelationship among the synoptic gospels. The synoptic gospels, which are Matthew, Mark, and Luke, can be arranged in a three-column harmony called a “synopsis.” Unlike John, these gospels share many parallel accounts and parables, arranged mostly in the same order and told with similar words. Any proposed solution to the synoptic problem must explain these literary similarities among the authors, especially regarding the selection, arrangement, and wording of the content. This is a key aspect of historical critical scholarship of the gospels. The triple tradition refers to material found in all three synoptic gospels. Matthew contains almost all of Mark’s content, while about two-thirds of Mark can be found in Luke. The triple tradition primarily includes narrative material such as miracles, healings, and the passion, but also includes some sayings material.
Some individuals are skeptical about the existence of a synoptic problem. This doubt has been raised in a thought-provoking and contentious book titled “(1992) by Eta Linnemann. Linnemann criticizes numerous textbooks for assuming that the connection between the synoptic gospels is based on written documents rather than oral tradition without first proving this claim.
These questions may never be fully answered by humans while alive, but they will be answered in Heaven. The words written in the Bible need careful examination to better understand their meaning. Just like the example of the “bank” and its interpretations in class, the Words of God can also have multiple interpretations. However, scholars and literates are not always accurate. This is why God entrusts us with determining the meaning of the Bible. Amen, and may God bless you.
Wenham’s book titled “Redating Matthew, Mark & Luke: A Fresh Assault on the Synoptic Problem” was published in 1992 by Intervarsity in Downers Grove, Ill.
Robertson 1992
A.T. Robertson, M.A., D.D., LL.D., LITT.D, A Harmony of the Gospels for Students of the Life of Christ (Harper & Row, Publishers, Incorporated, 1992)
Stevens and Burton, in their 1932 publication, “A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study” (Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York), provide in-depth research on the topic.
Stonehouse 1963
Ned B. Stonehouse, Origins of the Synoptic Gospels, (William B. Eerdmans
Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1963)
Heim 1947
Ralph D. Heim, A Harmony of the Gospels for Students (Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1947)
Linnemann 1992, ET 1992
Eta Linnemann, English translation by Robert W. Yarbrough, Is There a Synoptic Problem: Rethinking the Literary Dependence of the First Three Gospels (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1992).
Appleton 1910
Robert Appleton, The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume IX (Robert Appleton
Company, 1910)
Koester 1990
Helmut Koester, Ancient Christian Gospels: Their History and Development (Philadelphia: Trinity Press Int’l, 1990).
Farmer 1994
William R. Farmer, The Gospel of Jesus: The Pastoral Relevance of the Synoptic Problem (Louisville, Ky.: Westminster/John Knox, 1994).
