THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM Flashcards
Short intro to what the synoptic problem is, an example of it, parenthetical material, agreement in wording, why it is important (proto-gospel, etc) and if it really is a problem for believing in the bible
What is the synoptic problem
refers to the fact that when Matthew mark and lukes gospels have been placed together they look remarkably similar
It is not a problem as such, but rather a puzzle that people from scholars to normal chirstians have been trying to solve for years
what is an example of the synoptic problem and why is it weird/questionable?
the feeding of the 5000: all of the synoptics use “ichthus” to represent the two fish in the passage
they use the same greek phrasing, even though jesus and his disciples spoke aramaic and not greek
stats about the agreement in wording in all of the synoptics
all of the synoptics share about 50% of the same greek words used, but john shares about 10% (the non-synoptic)
when introducing john the baptist, matthew and mark share 90% of their greek words
parenthetical material
“brackets”, or when a text adds a comment for the reader to make a point clearer
all of the gospel writers (including john) use parenthetical material, but the parenthetical material in the synoptics is usually identical
it is used in writing and not in speech, so they wouldn’t have the same due to getting the info from the same eyewitness for example
what is an example of parenthetical material
(Let the reader understand) Mark13:14 and Matthew24:15
which one of the synoptics technically admits to not all of it being his own work?
luke begins his gospel by claiming to have taken his information from previous sources
“Just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses” Luke1:2
why do some think that it is possible that they did not copy each other (a strength)
word of mouth (ORAL TRADITION) it is possible that it has been read and then passed down from comment or speaking about it
the gospel is from real historical events, which is why they were written the same because if it was changed then they wouldn’t be writing the whole truth and it would be fake/mislead people
they were all inspired by the holy spirit in the same way
counterpoint of the strength (word of mouth)
even though they may speak about it in the same story, they would’ve spoken about it in a different way
if this is true, then why is johns gospel different? johns gospel is 92% different from the synoptics so it is not possible that there has been oral tradition
if they have all been inspired by the holy spirit in the same way, then why wasn’t johns the same? was his not written by the holy spirit at all?
what is a solution to a synoptic problem (interdependence)
they all copied from each other instead of one person
what does the church believe about the synoptic problem?
MATTHEAN PRIORITY: matthew wrote his gospel first and all of the rest of the synoptics copied from him (mark cut out details and luke added some in)
what is the proto-gospel solution?
the existence of a proto-gospel means that none of them copied each other and instead of the synoptics copied from a proto-gospel, which would explain their similarities
what is a criticism of a proto-gospel solution?
there is not one trace of one, and none of the old famous scholars have talked about it (augustine and irenaeus).
instead they stand on the fact that matthew, mark and luke are the earlies gospels known
is the synoptic problem really an issue for believing in the bible? (YES, IT IS) (agree)
yes it is a problem for believing in the bible
if this is true and matthean priority happened meaning that mark and luke added more, cut a bit out, then how can be sure which events are historical and which events are fake just so they can cover up their tracks?
if there is a proto-gospel out there, it means that none of the bible is accurate and valid true text as we will not know if every single bit came from a proto-gospel
is the synoptic problem really an issue for believing in the bible (NO IT ISNT) (disagree)
even though they may have been copied, they are still passages that have been inspired by the HS, therefore giving them validity
Luke beginning (Luke 1:2) clearly stated that he had copied, meaning that the text is still true he has just written it in his own words (still technically inspired by the HS)
if some are worried that they are not valid because they all copied from a PROTO-GOSPEL, how can that be when there is no evidence and some of the oldest scholars never talked about it? this means that the gospels that we have now are the valid ones.
