The Development of the GospelsSolving the Synoptic Problem

• If one were to view the synoptic gospels side by side they would notice that much of the text between all three gospels is very similar – even plagiarized!

• The Synoptic problem explains their interrelationships, in particular which gospel came first and so was the inspiration and source for the others.

• In the middle of the 19th century a two source solution tried to solve the synoptic problem. It argued that Mark’s gospel was the first to be written of the three. Furthermore it went on to argue that Matthew and Luke were written at about roughly the same time and that they wrote independently of one another . Even more interesting was this solutions’ last proposal…….

• This solution suggests that Matthew and Luke used 2 sources of information to write their gospels.

• 1. Mark

• 2. Q from the German word for source, Quelle.

• It is believed that the gospel of Q is collection of verses af Jesus’ sayings. The existence of the gospel of Q can only be proven as a result of the versus that exist in Luke and Matthew but not in Mark. This theory is known as the two-source solution.

The Two Source Solution

Mark

LukeMatthew

Q

Bible SearchExamine the beginning of each of the four gospels (the first 2 chapters) and answer the following questions:1. Which gospels actually contain stories about the birth of

Jesus?

• Matthew and Luke

2. With what story does each of the four gospels begin with?

Matthew: Genealogy of Jesus the MessiahLuke: Birth of the BaptistMark: Proclamation of John the BaptistJohn: Prologue

What infancy stories do the gospels of Matthew and Luke contain? (Only write down the italicized titles of the stories in chapters 1 and 2 of these two gospels.)Matthew Luke

Birth of Jesus Visit of the wise men Massacre of the infants Escaped to Egypt Return to Egypt

Birth of John the Baptist foretold Birth of Jesus announced (angel

Gabriel visits Mary) Mary’s song of praise (called the

Magnificat) Birth of the Baptist Zechariah’s prophesy Birth of Jesus The shepherds visited by angels Jesus is named Jesus is presented in the Temple Return to Nazareth Boy Jesus in the Temple

FROM BASIC TO DEEEPER TEACHING

Each of the four gospels focuses on a different aspect of Jesus because they were written by different people and for different people.

KERYGMA (Basic Proclamation) Matthew Didache (Deeper Teaching)

Mark John

Luke

Mark’s Gospel attempts to ask answer one main question:

•Who was Jesus?

We know this because his gospel reads a lot like a newspaper which just presents the facts.

Matthew and Luke continued asking and answering the question of who Jesus was but they also asked and answered another question:

• Where did Jesus come from?

We know this because these gospels include the birth stories of Jesus.

The community of John’s gospel was very unique. Since they already had the answers to who Jesus was and where he came from they pursued another question:

•Who is Jesus?

We know this because John writes in a highly symbolic language that allows us to understand that Jesus is still present in our lives.

Therefore we get a deeper understanding of how Jesus affects our lives in the present, not 2000 years ago. The gospel of John is written for those who want to know more about their personal relationship with Jesus than just the

historical facts about his life.

SO HOW IS JOHN’S GOSPEL DIFFERENT?

Some stories that are found in John’s gospel and not in the synoptic gospels: Wedding at Cana Samaritan Woman Healing of blind man at the pool Rising of Lazarus from the dead Washing of disciples feet at Last Supper Doubting Thomas

Some stories that are found in the synoptic gospels but not found in John: Birth Stores Baptism of Jesus at the Jordan River Temptation in the desert Transfiguration Parables Excorcisms Agony in the Garden Formal institution of the Eucharist “This is my body,

this is my Blood….”

HOW ELSE IS JOHN’S GOSPEL DIFFERENT?

• John’s gospel is about High Christology – meaning that it focusses on the divinity of Jesus.

• The synoptic gospels are gospels mainly about Low Christology – meaning that they focus on the humanity of Jesus.

SO HOW DOES JOHN’S GOSPEL ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHO JESUS IS?

When Moses, having encountered God in a burning bush asked who God was, God replied:

I am, who I am See this!

Jesus uses this same “family” name to establish his unity with the Father and equality of the two. When Jesus challenges the Pharisees about the punishment for adultery Jesus says to them:

For if you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins.

And just before he leaves the Pharisees he makes the following statement, which ensures his divinity with God the father:

Amen, Amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be I am.”

I AMUnderstood as Divinity Statements, the various “I am” statements in John are as follows:

(John 6:48) I am the bread of life(John 8:12) I am the light of the world(John 10:14) I am the good shepherd(John 11:25) I am the resurrection and the life (John 14:6) I am the way and the truth and the life

John: The Gospel of Light Versus Darkness

Light is one of John’s most dominant themes. It is often times set up against the theme of darkness.

For John darkness can stand for

Despair Evil Absence of Truth

Light on the other hand is the representation of

Hope Goodness TruthAll of which can be found in abundance in Jesus Christ