Synoptic final Sherri
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 7 viewsNotes
Transcript
Hello and welcome. I wanted to speak on Synoptic Gospels.
Hello and welcome. I wanted to speak on Synoptic Gospels.
First let’s talk about the dating of the gospels, none of them mention the destruction of the Jewish temple in 70 A.D. This is good reason for believing that they were written by the disciples of Jesus Himself. If they were written by the disciples, then their reliability, authenticity, and accuracy are better substantiated. This dating wouldn’t allow time for myth to creep in and those who were alive at the time of the events could have countered the gospel accounts and we have no contradictory writings to the gospels. Though there is still some debate on the dates of when the gospels were written, they were most assuredly completed before the close of the first century and written by eyewitnesses or under the direction of eyewitnesses.
First let’s talk about the dating of the gospels, none of them mention the destruction of the Jewish temple in 70 A.D. This is good reason for believing that they were written by the disciples of Jesus Himself. If they were written by the disciples, then their reliability, authenticity, and accuracy are better substantiated. This dating wouldn’t allow time for myth to creep in and those who were alive at the time of the events could have countered the gospel accounts and we have no contradictory writings to the gospels. Though there is still some debate on the dates of when the gospels were written, they were most assuredly completed before the close of the first century and written by eyewitnesses or under the direction of eyewitnesses.
What is the Synoptic Gospels?
What is the Synoptic Gospels?
Synoptic comes from the Greek word 'synoptikos' meaning, 'able to be seen together'.
Synoptic comes from the Greek word 'synoptikos' meaning, 'able to be seen together'.
The Synoptic Gospels are the first three books of the New Testament, and are called such because they see the ministry of Jesus from similar points of view, which is quite different from that of the Gospel of John. When you talk about first four books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that is, 'The Gospels'. The Synoptic Gospels differ from John in that they closely mirror one another in their accounts. You will find similar wording, chronology, and Old Testament referencing. They have overlaps.
The Synoptic Gospels are the first three books of the New Testament, and are called such because they see the ministry of Jesus from similar points of view, which is quite different from that of the Gospel of John. When you talk about first four books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that is, 'The Gospels'. The Synoptic Gospels differ from John in that they closely mirror one another in their accounts. You will find similar wording, chronology, and Old Testament referencing. They have overlaps.
How do we explain the overlap?
How do we explain the overlap?
When the Gospels narratives are laid out side by side, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke share quite a bit material in common, so much so that one of the professors stated, 'If I receive three papers with as much in common I would wonder who copied who'.
When the Gospels narratives are laid out side by side, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke share quite a bit material in common, so much so that one of the professors stated, 'If I receive three papers with as much in common I would wonder who copied who'.
So did they all independently write their gospels and they just ended up so similar, or did they copy from themselves or other unknown sources.
So did they all independently write their gospels and they just ended up so similar, or did they copy from themselves or other unknown sources.
This leads us to the 'Synoptic Problem', the challenge of explaining the similarities and differences between the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
This leads us to the 'Synoptic Problem', the challenge of explaining the similarities and differences between the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Why worry about it, we all know the Scripture are divinely inspired. Does it really matter, maybe not to someone like me or you but there are some good reasons to explaining it. My personal thoughts on this is history, seeing the similarities can build us a picture of the times, the people, the culture etc. which helps us to interpret the Bible accurately. We're not Jewish so we don't understand the importance of their customs, festivals, or their reasoning in situations, but studying these gospels can maybe help in that.
Why worry about it, we all know the Scripture are divinely inspired. Does it really matter, maybe not to someone like me or you but there are some good reasons to explaining it. My personal thoughts on this is history, seeing the similarities can build us a picture of the times, the people, the culture etc. which helps us to interpret the Bible accurately. We're not Jewish so we don't understand the importance of their customs, festivals, or their reasoning in situations, but studying these gospels can maybe help in that.
The overlapping material falls into various categories. Material shared in all three Gospels (Triple Tradition), material shared only between Matthew and Luke (Double Tradition), material found only in Matthew (Special Matthew, M), material found only in Luke (Special Luke, L). That is the various categories of the overlapping material.
The overlapping material falls into various categories. Material shared in all three Gospels (Triple Tradition), material shared only between Matthew and Luke (Double Tradition), material found only in Matthew (Special Matthew, M), material found only in Luke (Special Luke, L). That is the various categories of the overlapping material.
There are three basic solutions offered to account for the Synoptic Problem among Matthew, Mark, and Luke: the Two-Source theory, the Farrer theory, and the Griesbach theory. Central to each theory are two questions" (1) which Gospel was written first? (2) what written source were available to each of the Synoptic Gospel writers.
There are three basic solutions offered to account for the Synoptic Problem among Matthew, Mark, and Luke: the Two-Source theory, the Farrer theory, and the Griesbach theory. Central to each theory are two questions" (1) which Gospel was written first? (2) what written source were available to each of the Synoptic Gospel writers.
Let's look at these theories. The first and most commonly accepted solution among scholars for solving the Synoptic Problem is the Two-Source theory. The Two-Source theory argues that Mark was the first written Gospel and that Matthew and Luke used Mark as one of their written sources.
Let's look at these theories. The first and most commonly accepted solution among scholars for solving the Synoptic Problem is the Two-Source theory. The Two-Source theory argues that Mark was the first written Gospel and that Matthew and Luke used Mark as one of their written sources.
You might be wondering about this little fellow here 'Q' well it's thought to be another source for the writing of the Gospels. That being so Mark and Q are the theoretical two sources for Matthew and Luke. Assuming Mark and Q as sources for Matthew and Luke is appealing because together these two sources could account for all the material that Matthew and Luke share.
You might be wondering about this little fellow here 'Q' well it's thought to be another source for the writing of the Gospels. That being so Mark and Q are the theoretical two sources for Matthew and Luke. Assuming Mark and Q as sources for Matthew and Luke is appealing because together these two sources could account for all the material that Matthew and Luke share.
The majority of scholars today embrace the Two- Source Theory as the most satisfactory solution to the Synoptic Problem. Furthermore, nearly all scholars support that Mark was the first of the three written Gospels in the New Testament.
The majority of scholars today embrace the Two- Source Theory as the most satisfactory solution to the Synoptic Problem. Furthermore, nearly all scholars support that Mark was the first of the three written Gospels in the New Testament.
Now we all have our critics and so does the Two-Source theory. One of the competing theories is the Farrer theory, it maintains that Mark was written first however it argues that Luke knows both Mark and Matthew so there is no need for Q.
Now we all have our critics and so does the Two-Source theory. One of the competing theories is the Farrer theory, it maintains that Mark was written first however it argues that Luke knows both Mark and Matthew so there is no need for Q.
Our next critic to the Two-Source theory is the Griesbach theory. Griesbach just does this wild pitch and say hold up everyone I theorize Matthew wrote first , then Luke edited Matthew, and finally Mark condensed both Matthew and Luke. Griesbach theory has for the most part lost support.
Our next critic to the Two-Source theory is the Griesbach theory. Griesbach just does this wild pitch and say hold up everyone I theorize Matthew wrote first , then Luke edited Matthew, and finally Mark condensed both Matthew and Luke. Griesbach theory has for the most part lost support.
The majority of scholars today embrace the Two- Source Theory as the most satisfactory solution to the Synoptic Problem. Furthermore, nearly all scholars support that Mark was the first of the three written Gospels in the New Testament.
The majority of scholars today embrace the Two- Source Theory as the most satisfactory solution to the Synoptic Problem. Furthermore, nearly all scholars support that Mark was the first of the three written Gospels in the New Testament.
Let's do a quick recap of what we just discussed. The Synoptic Gospels are the first three books of the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, and Luke share quite a bit material, which leads us to the 'Synoptic Problem', which is the challenge of explaining the similarities and differences. The overlapping material falls into various categories Triple Tradition, Double Tradition, Special Matthew, M, and Special Luke, L. There are three basic solutions offered to account for the Synoptic Problem the Two-Source theory, the Farrer theory, and the Griesbach theory, with the Two-Source theory being the most satisfactory solution and most scholars saying Mark was the first of the three gospels written.
Let's do a quick recap of what we just discussed. The Synoptic Gospels are the first three books of the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, and Luke share quite a bit material, which leads us to the 'Synoptic Problem', which is the challenge of explaining the similarities and differences. The overlapping material falls into various categories Triple Tradition, Double Tradition, Special Matthew, M, and Special Luke, L. There are three basic solutions offered to account for the Synoptic Problem the Two-Source theory, the Farrer theory, and the Griesbach theory, with the Two-Source theory being the most satisfactory solution and most scholars saying Mark was the first of the three gospels written.
