Synoptic Gospels

Synoptic Gospels

1. Synoptic Problem

   • Matthew, Mark, and Luke have many similarities and subtle differences that suggest a literary dependency relationship
     • Plagarism not a thing in first century
   • 18 possible solutions... 4 viable solutions
     • Augustinian Hypothesis
       • Matthew, Mark, then Luke
         • decided that because Matthew was most popular.. more than twice as many books sold than the other gospels
       • First to notice the books were similar
     • Griesbach Hypothesis
       • Griesbach and Farmer (Farmer helped reform hypothesis)
         • Problems:
           • Why would Mark abbreviate the story?
           • How do you explain Mark's editions
           • No evidence of borrowing between Matthew and Luke
           • How do you explain differences between Matthew and Luke
       • Matthew written first
         • Luke used Matthew
           • Mark used both
         • Matthew, Luke, Mark
         • He saw it was a Jewish text, and Christianity came after Judaism
     • Two Source Theory
       • H. J. Holtzmann
       • Most widely held solution
       • Mark written first
         • Matthew and Luke use Mark independently to make their own books
           • Matthew and Luke also used the Q... Q=Quelle. Quelle=Source
             • collection of Jesus' hypothetical sayings in the gospel
               • The Q= The gospel of Thomas... discovered in Egypt
                 • filled with unorthodox content
             • Problems
               • Narrative content of Q doesn't go with the fact it was a strict sayings gospel
               • Matthew-Luke agreements in a way that differs from Mark... who is supposed to be first source
           • Double Tradition: Matthew and Luke have the same content but not in Mark
             • The Q helps confirm the double tradition
     • 4 Source Hypothesis
       • B.H. Streeter

2. John

   • only a few stories happen in all 4 gospels
     • cleansing of temple
       • walking on water
         • 99% of John's content is unique
           • Redaction Criticism
             • Analyzes a writer’s editorial and compositional techniques in an effort to understand the text’s theological perspective