When it comes to understanding “who is Jesus” and “what did He do during His time on earth,” one key place to start is by cracking open a book — the Bible.
The first four books of the New Testament, called the gospels, all contain an in-depth summary of how Jesus came to be and what He did during His roughly 33 years as Word become flesh.
The gospels all tell what is known as “the Good News” — the story of all Jesus did, taught, promised, and fulfilled. The first three, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, are all strikingly similar.
They more or less summarize the most important details of Jesus Christ and His life and ministry, from His miraculous virgin birth to His healing and teaching ministries to His betrayal, death, and ultimate resurrection.
As a rule, they focus on the whats, wheres, whens, and hows of Jesus’ time on earth. The fourth, the Gospel of John, focuses more on the “who” — the identity of the Christ by diving in-depth into His divinity.
These first three gospel accounts are all termed the Synoptic Gospels, and they have much in common, which is both comforting and troubling, for they raise a number of questions.
These questions, from how and why they are so similar to who wrote which account first and how this all came to be, are known as the “synoptic problem.”
Here, we dive into what is the synoptic problem, and why it matters.
What Is the Synoptic Problem?
The word synoptic is an adjective stemming from the noun synopsis, which means a summary, general survey, or overall condensation of a broader body of work.
These three synoptic gospel accounts — Matthew, Mark, and Luke — each summarize in different ways what happened during Jesus’ life as a man.
In fact, the three can be lined up in parallel format, each in a column stacked one next to the other, and most of the accounts are strikingly similar. Each is written in a different manner and style, and some are shorter or longer than the others.
Some contain additional, extraneous information, such as the circumstances surrounding the impregnation of Jesus’ mother, Mary, by the Holy Spirit.
People often interpret the word “problem” in a negative light: An unwelcome or possibly harmful situation or matter that must in some way be overcome. But “problem” has another meaning — an inquiry or investigation, such as a mathematic or scientific problem, one that is to be sorted out in a way that fascinates the intellect while challenging the heart and various theories behind the question.
In the case of the “synoptic problem” of the gospels, this refers to the fact that the gospel accounts are unusually similar, down to the phrasing, miracles, and parables.
This begs the question: How and why are all three so similar, yet written by three different people in three different time periods? Were they oral accounts or written? Were they copied one from another, or somehow each inspired by a fourth, separate account?
Are they similar because each writer was infused and empowered by the Holy Spirit, or because of some other reason?
Which Gospel Was Written First?
One question many people ask is which gospel account was written first, and did the other accounts take that writing into consideration as they penned (or orally recounted) their version?
Many people believe the Gospel of Mark was written first, likely between the mid-50s and late 60s AD, and most probably while the Apostle Peter, Mark’s constant companion, was still alive.
While none of the gospel accounts specifically list an author, early church scholars unanimously agreed it was written by “John Mark,” better known simply as Mark, and geared toward non-Jewish (Gentile) Christians.
The Gospel of Matthew, while technically anonymous, is ascribed unanimously to Matthew, one of the 12 apostles. The NIV Study Bible dates the account at roughly AD 50-70 and notes it is written largely for a Jewish-Christian audience, partly because of the author’s concern for the Old Testament, his use of Jewish terminology, and his lack of explanation of Jewish customs, as a Jewish audience would have needed no explanation.
The Gospel of Luke was specifically written to a Theophilus, thought to have been either a Roman official or high-ranking patron of the author’s, though its application clearly is intended for broader reach.
Scholars date the writing of this account sometime between the 60s and the 80s AD. Luke was a Gentile physician and companion of Paul, and the gospel account largely emphasizes the teaching of Jesus to the whole world, not simply God’s “chosen people.”
Many scholars believe Mark was written first because it is shorter, and a theory is that Matthew incorporated much of Mark into his own account, possibly to expand on the brevity for his audience.
Luke is thought to have been written last, as it begins by acknowledging other accounts and notes he intends, after his own investigation into all circumstances, to set forth his own account.
However, the truth is no one really knows. Not only are the gospels anonymous but they are not dated. Hence, the “problem.”
Were the Gospels Oral Accounts or Written?
While there was indeed a strong oral tradition in the early days of the church, and certainly long before, many Bible experts believe the accounts were written.
Indeed, Luke’s account begins by acknowledging it is a letter to Theophilus, explaining at the start, “I too decided to write an orderly account for you” (Luke 1:3).
But, as Jesus taught orally and in-person, likely the stories about Jesus were first shared orally, then later written as a way of preservation.
Were They Copied One from Another or Inspired by a Separate Account?
The goal of the gospels is clearly to communicate what happened during Jesus’ time on earth. As Jesus commanded that we are to share the Good News, this is exactly what these authors are doing in their accounts.
The early church was close-knit and frequently in communication. While spread across wide expanses of land, the central church remained in Jerusalem, and church leaders would report back and share news and funds with their “home base.”
Many experts believe the gospel accounts were freely communicated, there to be helpful resources in spreading the Good News. So, the possibility is strong that the gospel writers studied and utilized each other’s research and tales to trigger their own memories.
Some scholars posit another theory: The synoptic gospels all stem not only from the writers’ own memories but from a fourth source, known as Q.Q, which stands for Quelle, is a French word meaning source.
While there appears to be no physical evidence for this “Q source,” the similarities among the accounts point to two possibilities.
One, the writers copied from each other (hence explaining the repetition of exact phrases, such as the term “divided up his clothes” after Jesus was crucified in Mark 15:24, Matthew 27:35, and Luke 23:34).
Or two, the writers based their texts upon the Q source, whether oral, written, or communicated some other way.
Did the Holy Spirit Play a Role in the Writing of These Gospel Accounts?
We know from the Book of Acts that the Holy Spirit filled the early church on the Day of Pentecost, lighting upon each like “tongues of fire” (Acts 2:3) and infusing them with the power of the Spirit. Certainly, the authors were filled with the Holy Spirit as they wrote the gospels.
Some choose to see the above-mentioned “Q source” in that same light. That is, Q is actually the Holy Spirit.
How Do We Solve the Synoptic Problem?
Solving the synoptic problem largely comes down to ideology. Some solve it by believing one of the above theories.
Others choose to disregard the problem altogether, open to the idea that however, these accounts came to be, they are part of Holy Scripture and fundamentals of our faith.
Whatever we choose to believe (or disregard), one thing is clear: All four gospels are supremely helpful in enabling us to understand who Jesus is, why He came, and what He did.
And it all comes down to belief. As Jesus asked the blind men who came to Him for healing in Matthew 9:28-29: “‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’”
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Aaron Burden
