The Gospels Part 1 - Introduction

A study of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as they relate to each other

The Synoptic Gospels

Synoptic is a term in greek that refers to seeing together.

synoptic as with synonym and synopsis deals with things in common.

The Synoptic Gospels is a noun to refer to the Gospels that have things in common.

Most commonly they include Matthew, Mark, and Luke because these three are very similar in structure, content and wording.

1. Agreement in Wording

Matthew, Mark, and Luke share 50% of the same Greek words They only share 10% of the same words with John's Gospel.

Some passages are even more similar: when they introduce John the Baptist, Matthew, and Mark share 90% of their Greek words.

Remember: Jesus and his disciples spoke ARAMAIC, not Greek. How likely is it that Matthew and Mark would use the exact same phrases in Greek to translate Aramaic?

2. Parenthetical Material :

• PARENTHESIS means brackets - when a text adds a comment for the reader in brackets to make a point clearer

Parenthetical material is identical in the Synoptic Gospels

Parenthesis is used in writing, not speech and therefore cannot be due to the Gospel writers being eyewitnesses to the same speeches or conversations!

3. Luke's Prologue

Luke's Gospel begins by explicitly claiming to have taken material from earlier sources

"just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eye-witnesses”

In our study over the next 4-6 months I want to look at how all the Gospels, including John, relate to each other.

Picture of where the authors get their material…

Things in all four gospels…

Jesus as Messiah and Son of God

Focus on life and teachings of Jesus

Powerful deeds reveal Jesus's identity

Jesus and John the Baptist

Jesus feeds the 5,000

Death by crucifixion outside Jerusalem

Similar Order of Events in the Passion Narrative

Jesus arrives in Jerusalem for Passover 

Jesus debates with religious leaders 

Jesus is arrested, tried, and executed via crucifixion

Jesus resurrects

Jesus Dies Around Passover

Cleansing of the Temple

Calling the First Disciples

Baptism and the Beginning of Jesus’s Ministry

Things only found in John

Jesus's ministry lasts three years

Makes three trips to Jerusalem for the passover: John 2:13, John 6:4, 11:55…-vs- listed 1 time in synoptic

Jerusalem

Christological Prologue - John 1:1-18…

Turning Water to Wine at Cana - John 2:1-11

Raising Lazarus (John 11:1-44)

Specifically Seven Signs

Changing water to wine (2:1-11) 

Official's son healed (4:43-54)

Healing of the disabled man at Bethesda pool (5:1-15) 

Feeding of the five thousand (6:1-14) 

Walking on water (6:16-21)

Healing the man born blind (9:1-12)

Lazarus raised (11:1-44)

"I Am" Sayings

I am the bread of life (John 6:35)

I am the light of the world (John 8:12)

I am the gate for the sheep (John 10:7)

I am the good shepherd (John 10:11)

I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)

I am the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6)

I am the true vine (John 15:1)

Washing the Disciples Feet

Samaritan Woman at the Well

Doubting Thomas

Teaching Discourses

High Focus on Love

"Love" (agape)

"to love" (agapao)

"beloved" (agapetos)

12x in Matthew

7x in Mark

16x in Luke

44x in John

“Out of the Synagogue”

John 9:18-23…

John 12:42-43…

John 16:1-4…

A reflection of the separation of the church and Judaism

"The Gospel of John is shallow enough for a child not to drown and deep enough for an elephant to swim." -Augustine (4th cent. CE)