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For some readers, there are good reasons to ignore a book like this, which presents differing views on a topic that can seem
tedious and technical. The discussion of issues such as “minor agreements” and “middle terms” or the ordering of passages
Introduction to the
can appear to be the worst excesses of New Testament studies, solely for those who are stuck in an old-fashioned way of
looking at the evidence — appropriate, perhaps, for those who like doing crossword puzzles or playing Scrabble.
It would be a disappointment, though, if readers were to emerge from this project without a sense of the thrill of studying
Synoptic Problem the Synoptic Gospels and comparing them with one another, for this is fundamental to the open, critical, historical study of
the Gospels. It is in embracing the study of both the similarities and the differences between the Synoptics that we begin to
understand what it means to explore these books as distinctive literary works, each with its own perspective, its own
theology, its own style, its own character. Far from being a question of minutiae, this is the beating heart of academic study
of the New Testament.
Jan 2022 June Love
Mark Goodacre, The Synoptic Problem
1 2
What is the problem?
A baby, born in a stable to an unmarried mother….. What is the
Matthew (Joseph) Luke (Mary) problem?
Star Census Shepherds
Magi Manger Angels
3 4
1
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What is the problem? Triple tradition material
Matthew 9:9 Mark 2:14 Luke 5:27
And having passed on And having passed on And
2 Timothy 3:16 from there, Jesus saw a
man
he saw he saw a
tax-collector named
Levi son of Alphaeus Levi
seated in the tax-office, seated in the tax-office, seated in the tax office,
named Matthew,
All scripture is God-breathed….. and he says to him, and he says to him, and he said to him,
‘Follow me’. And ‘Follow me’. And ‘Follow me’. And having
having having left everything and having
arisen, he followed him. arisen, he followed him. arisen, he followed him.
5 6
double tradition material
Triple tradition material Matthew 7:3-5 Luke 6:41-43
Matthew 9:9 Mark 2:14 Luke 5:27
And having passed on And having passed on And Why do you see the speck that is in Why do you see the speck that is in
from there, Jesus saw a he saw he saw your brother’s eye, but do your brother’s eye, but do
man a tax-collector named not notice the log that is in your not notice the log that is in your
Levi son of Alphaeus Levi own eye? Or how can you say to own eye? Or how can you say to
seated in the tax-office, seated in the tax-office, seated in the tax office, your brother, ‘Let me take your brother, ‘Brother, let me take
named Matthew, the speck out of your eye,’ out the speck that is in your eye,’
and he says to him, and he says to him, and he said to him, when there is the when you yourself do not see the
‘Follow me’. And ‘Follow me’. And ‘Follow me’. And having log in your own eye? You log that is in your own eye? You
having having left everything and having hypocrite, first take the log out of hypocrite, first take the log out of
arisen, he followed him. arisen, he followed him. arisen, he followed him. your own eye, and then you will your own eye, and then you will
see clearly to take the speck see clearly to take out the speck
out of your brother’s eye. that is in your brother’s eye.
7 8
2
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double tradition material Special material
Matthew 7:3-5 Luke 6:41-43 Matthew 3:13-17 Mark 1:9-11 Luke 3:21-11
Then Jesus came In those days Jesus came Now when all the people
from Galilee to the Jordan from Nazareth of Galilee were baptised
to John, to be
Why do you see the speck that is in Why do you see the speck that is in baptised by him. John would
your brother’s eye, but do your brother’s eye, but do have prevented him, saying, “I
not notice the log that is in your not notice the log that is in your need to be baptised by you,
and do you come to me?” But
own eye? Or how can you say to own eye? Or how can you say to Jesus answered him,
your brother, ‘Let me take your brother, ‘Brother, let me take “Let it be so now; for thus it is fit-
the speck out of your eye,’ out the speck that is in your eye,’ ting for us to fulfil all righteous-
when there is the when you yourself do not see the ness.” Then he consented. and was baptised by John and when Jesus also had been
And when Jesus was baptised, in the Jordan. And when baptised
log in your own eye? You log that is in your own eye? You he went up immediately from the he came up our of the water, and was praying
hypocrite, first take the log out of hypocrite, first take the log out of water, and behold, the heavens immediately he saw the the heaven was
your own eye, and then you will your own eye, and then you will were opened and he saw the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit
see clearly to take the speck see clearly to take out the speck Spirit opened and the Spirit descended upon him in bodily
out of your brother’s eye. that is in your brother’s eye. of God descending descending upon him form as a dove
like a dove and alighting on him; like a dove and
and and a voice came from heaven
9 10
lo, a voice from heaven
saying
a voice came from heaven
“This is my beloved Son, Thou art my beloved Son;
with whom I am well pleased.” “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.”
with thee I am well pleased.”
Pericope Matthew Mark Luke
Special material Peter’s Confession
Jesus Foretells His Passion
16:13-20
16:21-23
8:27-30
8:31-33
9:18-21
9:22
Matthew 3:13-17 Mark 1:9-11 Luke 3:21-11 “If any man would come after me…” 16:24-28 8:34-9:1 9:23-27
Then Jesus came In those days Jesus came Now when all the people The Transfiguration 17:1-9 9:2-10 9:28-36
from Galilee to the Jordan from Nazareth of Galilee were baptised
The Coming of Elijah 17:10-13 9:11-13
to John, to be
baptised by him. John would
have prevented him, saying, “I Jesus Heals A Boy Possessed by a 17:14-21 9:14-29 9:37-43a
need to be baptised by you, Spirit
and do you come to me?” But
Jesus answered him, Jesus Foretells His Passion Again 17:22-23 9:30-32 9:43b-45
“Let it be so now; for thus it is fit- Payment of the Temple Tax 17:24-27
ting for us to fulfil all righteous-
ness.” Then he consented. and was baptised by John and when Jesus also had
And when Jesus was baptised, in the Jordan. And when been True Greatness 18:1-5 9:33-37 9:46-48
he went up immediately from the he came up our of the water, baptised and was praying The Strange Exorcist 9:38-41 9:49-50
water, and behold, the heavens immediately he saw the heavens the heaven was
were opened and he saw the opened and the Spirit opened, and the Holy Spirit
Spirit of God descending descending upon him descended upon him in bodily Warnings Concerning Temptations 18:6-9 9:42-50
like a dove and alighting on him; like a dove form as a dove
and and and
11
lo, a voice from heaven a voice came from heaven a voice came from heaven 12
saying
“This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased.” “Thou art my beloved Son; Thou art my beloved Son;
with thee I am well pleased.” with thee I am well pleased.”
3
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Pericope Matthew Mark Luke Pericope Matthew Mark Luke
Peter’s Confession 16:13-20 8:27-30 9:18-21 Peter’s Confession 16:13-20 8:27-30 9:18-21
Jesus Foretells His Passion 16:21-23 8:31-33 9:22 Jesus Foretells His Passion 16:21-23 8:31-33 9:22
“If any man would come after me…” 16:24-28 8:34-9:1 9:23-27 “If any man would come after me…” 16:24-28 8:34-9:1 9:23-27
The Transfiguration 17:1-9 9:2-10 9:28-36 The Transfiguration 17:1-9 9:2-10 9:28-36
The Coming of Elijah 17:10-13 9:11-13 The Coming of Elijah 17:10-13 9:11-13
Jesus Heals A Boy Possessed by a 17:14-21 9:14-29 9:37-43a Jesus Heals A Boy Possessed by a 17:14-21 9:14-29 9:37-43a
Spirit Spirit
Jesus Foretells His Passion Again 17:22-23 9:30-32 9:43b-45 Jesus Foretells His Passion Again 17:22-23 9:30-32 9:43b-45
Payment of the Temple Tax 17:24-27 Payment of the Temple Tax 17:24-27
True Greatness 18:1-5 9:33-37 9:46-48 True Greatness 18:1-5 9:33-37 9:46-48
The Strange Exorcist 9:38-41 9:49-50 The Strange Exorcist 9:38-41 9:49-50
Warnings Concerning Temptations 18:6-9 9:42-50 Warnings Concerning Temptations 18:6-9 9:42-50
13 14
Pericope Matthew Mark Luke
Peter’s Confession 16:13-20 8:27-30 9:18-21
Jesus Foretells His Passion 16:21-23 8:31-33 9:22
“If any man would come after me…” 16:24-28 8:34-9:1 9:23-27
The Transfiguration
The Coming of Elijah
17:1-9
17:10-13
9:2-10
9:11-13
9:28-36
Historical
Jesus Heals A Boy Possessed by a 17:14-21 9:14-29 9:37-43a timeline of
Spirit
Jesus Foretells His Passion Again 17:22-23 9:30-32 9:43b-45 solutions
Payment of the Temple Tax 17:24-27
True Greatness 18:1-5 9:33-37 9:46-48
Augustinian Hypothesis
The Strange Exorcist 9:38-41 9:49-50 M2,-Q
Warnings Concerning Temptations 18:6-9 9:42-50
15 16
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Augustinian Hypothesis Augustinian Hypothesis
• "Now, those four evangelists whose names have gained the most remarkable circulation over the whole • I have learned by tradition that the Gospel according to Matthew . . . was written first;…… The
world, and whose number has been fixed as four, ...are believed to have written in the order which second written was that according to Mark, who wrote it according to the instruction of Peter.
follows: first Matthew, then Mark, thirdly Luke, lastly John.” Augustine of Hippo . . . And third, was that according to Luke, the Gospel commended by Paul, which he composed
for the converts from the Gentiles. Last of all, that according to John.
Origen
17 18
Augustinian Hypothesis
• he wrote down such things as he had heard; Third, Luke; Fourth, John Historical
Muratorian Fragment timeline of
solutions
Griesbach Solution or
2 Gospel Solution
M2,-Q
19 20
5
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Griesbach or two gospel hypothesis Evidence of conflation in mark’s Gospel
• ‘erudition and of his claim to have come near to the successors of the apostles, and to have
committed to writing traditions that he has heard from the elders of olden time.’
Eusebius (speaking of Clement of Alexandria) • Mark’s Pericope Order Maintains Alternating Agreements with the Gospels of Matthew and Luke
David Peabody
21 22
Markan Redundancies Markan Redundancies
Matthew 8:16 Mark 1:32 Luke 4:40
That evening When evening had come Matthew 5:15 Mark 4:21 Luke 8:16
when the sun had set when the sun was setting Nor do men light a lamp and he said to them, “Is a No one after lighting a lamp
lamp brought in covers it with a vessel
and put it under a bushel to be put under a bushel
Matthew 8:3 Mark 1:42 Luke 5:13
And immediately the leprosy And Immediately the leprosy And immediately the leprosy left or under a bed or puts it under a bed
left him him
was cleansed And he was cleansed but on a stand, and it gives and not on a stand but puts in on a stand, that
light to all in the house those who enter may see the
light
23 24
6
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Evidence of conflation in mark’s gospel Major and minor agreements
• ‘There is a pattern of agreement between Mark and the other two Gospels which is very • Major agreement – where Matthew and Luke agree in order over Mark
difficult to account for with any other hypothesis than Griesbach……
Mark’s Gospel exhibits many of the literary characteristics derived from known examples of • Minor agreement – where Matthew and Luke agree in wording over Mark
conflation.’ Thomas Longstaff
25 26
Problems with griesbach – church history Problems with griesbach – argument from order
• The Gospel of Mark written: • Mark as the ’Middle Term’
• Iraneus (185) after the demise of Peter,
• Clement (200) during Peter’s lifetime, but without his approbation, • Why are there no birth narratives, no post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, no sermon on
• Eusebius (324) with his authentication, the mount, and no Lord’s prayer?
• Jerome (397) at his dictation.’
27 28
7
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Problems with griesbach – markan redundancies Problems with griesbach - Special Mark
• Mark 7:33-36 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers
Of 213 of Mark’s duplicate expressions: into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed
and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And
immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then
• Matthew has one half, Luke the other half 17 times Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they
• Both omit the same half 39 times proclaimed it.
• Matthew has one half, Luke has both halves 11 times • Both have Mark’s duplicate expression 6 times • Mark 8:22-26 They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him
and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the
• Matthew has one half, Luke has no parallel 46 times • Matthew has both halves, Luke has no parallel 14 times village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him,
‘Can you see anything?’ And the man looked up and said, ‘I can see people, but they look
• Luke has one half, Matthew has both halves 17 times • Luke has both halves, Matthew has no parallel 1 time like trees, walking.’ Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently
and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Then he sent him away to his
• Luke has one half, Matthew has no parallel 25 times • Matthew and Luke both have no parallel 37 times home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.’
• Mark 14:51-52 A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen
cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.
29 30
