ASSIGNMENT

Assignment

Assignment

Question 1: Synoptic problem & Its Solution

When the first three gospels are compared—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—it is unmistakable that the accounts are very similar to one another in content and expression. As a result, Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as the “synoptic gospels.” The word “synoptic” basically means “to see together with a common view (Armstrong, 1997).” The many similarities between the synoptic gospels have led some to wonder if the gospel authors had a common source, another written account of Christ's birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection from which they obtained the material for their gospels(Cross, 2006). Some argue that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are so similar that they must have used each other's gospels, or another common source. This supposed “source” has been given the title “Q” from the German word quelle which means “source.”

Is there any evidence for a “Q” document? No, there is not. No portion or fragment of a “Q” document has ever been discovered. None of the early church fathers ever mentioned a gospel “source” in his writings. “Q” is the invention of liberal “scholars” who deny the inspiration of the Bible (Crossen, 1996). They believe the Bible to be nothing more than a work of literature, subject to the same criticism given to other works of literature. Again, there is no evidence whatsoever for a “Q” document—biblically, theologically, or historically.

If Matthew, Mark, and Luke did not use a “Q” document, why are their Gospels so similar? There are several possible explanations. It is possible that whichever gospel was written first (likely Mark), the other gospel writers had access to it. There is absolutely no problem with the idea that Matthew and/or Luke copied some text from Mark's gospel and used it in their gospels. Perhaps Luke had access to Mark and Matthew and used texts from both of them in his own gospel (Crossen, 2006). Luke 1:1-4 tells us, “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”

Ultimately, the explanation as to why the Synoptic Gospels are so similar is that they are all inspired by the same Holy Spirit, and are all written by people who witnessed, or were told about, the same events (Freedman, 1992). The gospel of Matthew was written by Matthew the apostle, one of the twelve who followed Jesus and were commissioned by Him. The gospel of Mark was written by John Mark, a close associate of the apostle Peter, another one of the twelve.

Question 2: Major differences between the Gospel of John and the Synoptic Gospels

John's Gospel omits a large amount of material found in the ...