The Synoptic Problem: Forces Us to Distinguish the Historical Jesus from the Jesus of the NT

Introduction to the Synoptic Problem Issue: Mt., Mk, and Lk. contain a strikingly high degree of verbal agreement and, order of the material. Questions: What is the literary relationship of these Gospels? Who copied from whom? Luke says others preceded him (1:1-4).

The Synoptic Fact (Introduction to the New Testament, R. Collins, 1987 A.) The selection of material is strikingly similar: Virtually all of the material contained in Mark is contained in Mt and/or Luke. Of 661 verses in Mark, some 330 appear in both Mt. and Lk, while 310 appear in either Mt. or Lk. Below 5 percent of Mark is restricted to Markan "Sondergut" or "special Mark.” Mt. contains some 1,068 verses, of which 622 appear in Mark and 235 appear in Lk. Thus the Matthean special material or "sondergut", is limited to approximately 210 verses or some 20 percent of the gospel. Lk has 1,149 verses, of which 350 or so are to be found in Mk and 235 can be found in Mt. Lucan special material or "Sondergut" consists of 550 verses, or approximately 43 percent of the entire Gospel.

The Synoptic Fact (contd) B.) Similarities of vocabulary and style : among the stories/units material in two of the three Synoptics C.) Similarity of arrangement of the gospel stories/units: similarity in the arrangement of the Gospel stories/units. groups of material of similar content. CONCLUSION: the Synoptics are literally dependent upon one another.

18 Possible Solutions to the Synoptic Problem Introduction to the New Testament, R. Collins, 1987

Main Solutions Adopted by Scholars Augustine (b.354, Conv 386, Bishop Hippo 396, d 430): traditional theory Griesbach (1783) versus the emergence of the Priority of Mark: two gospel hypothesis

Position Held by Most ScholarsToday 3. The Sayings Source (Q): (H.J. Holtzmann, 1863) The two-source hypothesis The four-source hypothesis (B.H. Streeter in 1924 Mark = the oldest written Gospel, which provided the narrative framework for both Matt & Luke Q = "Quelle" = a hypothetical written "Source" of some sayings / teachings of Jesus  (now lost) M = various other materials (mostly oral, some maybe written) found only in Matthew L = various other materials (mostly oral, others probably written) found only in Luke Note: the arrows indicate direction of influence; older materials are above, later Gospels below Note: by definition, Q consists of materials found in Matthew and Luke, but not in Mark.

Suggested Links for More Information The Synoptic Problem: Home Page (http://www.mindspring.com/~scarlson/synopt/) “The Synoptic Problem,” by Felix Just, S.J. (http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Synoptic_Problem.htm) “New Testament Gateway, ” Dr. Mark Goodacre, Duke (http://www.ntgateway.com/)