The Synoptic Problem refers to the striking similarities between the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which often share the same stories, order, and even identical Greek wording. These close verbal parallels go beyond coincidence, showing that the authors were not writing from independent memory or eyewitness experience but were copying, adapting, and reworking shared written sources.
Note: The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are anonymous works. The names we know were added later, meaning the texts themselves do not claim authorship by the apostles.
The repeated phrases, identical sentence structures, and shared mistakes indicate a literary relationship, most likely that Matthew and Luke used Mark when composing their accounts.
Mark was likely written first, serving as a foundation for Matthew and Luke.
Matthew and Luke used Mark and another lost source (“Q”) to expand their narratives.
The Gospels were edited and shaped to reflect the beliefs and needs of early Christian communities.
Authorship was anonymous, with names added later for authority.
Scripture evolved through human transmission, blending faith, memory, and interpretation rather than direct dictation.
“The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
“…he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan…”
“The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
“…Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb… an angel said: He is not here; he has risen.”
“…Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to the tomb… they saw a young man in white who said: He has risen.”
“…the women found the stone rolled away from the tomb… they did not find the body, and angels said: He has risen.”
How could the Gospels come from independent eyewitnesses if they use exactly the same Greek phrases?
Why do the anonymous writing later called Matthew and that of Luke repeat Mark’s small errors and unusual details?
How likely is it that three separate witnesses would recall events in the same order?
If they relied on earlier written sources, can these accounts truly be called independent eyewitness testimony?
Does the consistency of wording show careful preservation, or does it reveal copying from shared sources?
The Gospels Were Edited to Reflect Community Beliefs
The Synoptic Problem shows that the Gospel writers were not merely reporting events; they were shaping the story to meet the theological and pastoral needs of their communities. Differences in wording, emphasis, and inclusion reflect these choices.
Example – Baptism of Jesus: Matthew highlights God’s voice saying, “with him I am well pleased,” emphasizing Jesus’ divine approval, which may have spoken to a Jewish-Christian audience. Luke emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s descent in “bodily form like a dove,” possibly to underscore the universality of the Spirit for Gentile readers.
Authorship Was Anonymous
None of the Synoptic Gospels identifies its author within the text. The names Matthew, Mark, and Luke were attached later, likely to give the works authority and connect them to the apostolic tradition.
Example – Baptism of Jesus: Even though we call it “Matthew” or “Mark,” the Gospel itself contains no signature or claim of firsthand authorship. This reminds readers that the texts were crafted and transmitted by communities, not dictated by the apostles themselves.
Scripture Evolved Through Human Transmission
The Synoptic Problem illustrates that the Gospels developed over time, blending oral tradition, written sources, faith reflection, and editorial decisions. They are human documents shaped by human memory and interpretation, not literal transcripts of eyewitness accounts.
Example – Baptism of Jesus: The repeated phrases, similar sequence, and slight variations in Matthew, Mark, and Luke show that the story was copied, adapted, and interpreted for each community’s theological emphasis, rather than simply recorded verbatim.
What the Synoptic Problem Reveals About the Gospels
The Synoptic Problem shows that Matthew, Mark, and Luke are literary interdependent, with Mark likely written first and serving as a source for the others. The repeated wording, identical phrases, and similar story order indicate that the authors were copying and adapting existing texts, rather than independently recording eyewitness accounts. Each Gospel was shaped and edited to reflect the beliefs and needs of its community, emphasizing certain theological points while preserving the overall narrative. Authorship was originally anonymous, with names added later to lend authority, and the texts evolved through human transmission, blending memory, interpretation, and faith rather than serving as verbatim reports. For example, the account of Jesus’ baptism shows nearly identical wording across the three Gospels, yet slight differences in emphasis reveal how each writer tailored the story for their audience.
