Synoptic Gospel
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM:
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
AND DEFENSE OF MARKAN PRIORITY
A RESEARCH PAPERSUBMITTED TO DR. ROBERT KENDALL
FOR NEW TESTIMENT INTRODUCTION – NBST 525
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE MASTERS OF ARTS PASTORAL COUNSELING DEGREE IN THE LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
BY
EDWIN KRZYZEK (STUDENT # 25767621)
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA
APRIL 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM 1 A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SYNOPTIC RELATIONSHIPS 2
Relationships in Vocabulary 2
Relationships in Structure 3
Relationships in Explanatory Material 3
Relationships in Old Testament Quotation 4 INVESTIGATIVE HISTORY OF SYNOPTIC RELATIONSHIPS 4
The Early Church 4
Modern Church 6 PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM 7
The Augustinian Proposal 8
The Two-Gospel (Griesbach) Theory 8
The Two-Document Hypothesis…………………………………………………………..9
The Four-Document Hypothesis 10 MARKAN PRIORITY: A REASONABLE DEFENSE 11
Synoptic Differences ……………………………………………………………...……. 11
Stylistic Features ……………………………………………………………………….. 12
Reasons for Mark ………………………………………………………………………. 12 CONCLUSION 14 Bibliography 15
ii
INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
When reading the Synoptic Gospels it is immediately apparent that similarities exist. The term synoptic means “presenting or taking the same or common view.” Since the first three books of the New Testament display such a high degree of agreement in the substance and arrangement, we say they are “synoptic.” In fact, the similarities are so significant that it appears that the authors must be referencing and borrowing material. While a substantial number of agreements exist, there are also many disagreements. How the three synoptic Gospels interrelate is what we define as the “Synoptic Problem.”
Interestingly, calling it a “problem” presupposes that there is something to solve. However, the views of
THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM:
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
AND DEFENSE OF MARKAN PRIORITY
A RESEARCH PAPERSUBMITTED TO DR. ROBERT KENDALL
FOR NEW TESTIMENT INTRODUCTION – NBST 525
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE MASTERS OF ARTS PASTORAL COUNSELING DEGREE IN THE LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
BY
EDWIN KRZYZEK (STUDENT # 25767621)
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA
APRIL 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM 1 A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SYNOPTIC RELATIONSHIPS 2
Relationships in Vocabulary 2
Relationships in Structure 3
Relationships in Explanatory Material 3
Relationships in Old Testament Quotation 4 INVESTIGATIVE HISTORY OF SYNOPTIC RELATIONSHIPS 4
The Early Church 4
Modern Church 6 PROPOSED SOLUTIONS TO THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM 7
The Augustinian Proposal 8
The Two-Gospel (Griesbach) Theory 8
The Two-Document Hypothesis…………………………………………………………..9
The Four-Document Hypothesis 10 MARKAN PRIORITY: A REASONABLE DEFENSE 11
Synoptic Differences ……………………………………………………………...……. 11
Stylistic Features ……………………………………………………………………….. 12
Reasons for Mark ………………………………………………………………………. 12 CONCLUSION 14 Bibliography 15
ii
INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
When reading the Synoptic Gospels it is immediately apparent that similarities exist. The term synoptic means “presenting or taking the same or common view.” Since the first three books of the New Testament display such a high degree of agreement in the substance and arrangement, we say they are “synoptic.” In fact, the similarities are so significant that it appears that the authors must be referencing and borrowing material. While a substantial number of agreements exist, there are also many disagreements. How the three synoptic Gospels interrelate is what we define as the “Synoptic Problem.”
Interestingly, calling it a “problem” presupposes that there is something to solve. However, the views of
Bibliography: Black, David Alan and David R. Beck, eds. Rethinking the Synoptic Problem. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001. Dungan, David Laird. A History of the Synoptic Problem: The Canon, the Text, the Composition, and the Interpretation of the Gospels. New York, NY: Doubleday, 1999. Farmer, William R Ingolfsland, Dennis. “Kloppenborg’s Stratification Of Q And Its Significance For Historical Jesus Studies” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society JETS 46:2 (Jun 2003). Köstenberger, Andreas J; Kellum, L. Scott; Quarles, Charles L. The Cradle, The Cross, and The Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament. B & H Academic. Nashville TN, 2009. Lopez, Rene A. “New Testament Theology: The Synoptic Problem In The Gospels” Journal of Dispensational Theology JODT 15:44 (Apr 2011). [ 8 ]. David Laird Dungan, A History of the Synoptic Problem: The Canon, the Text, the Composition, and the Interpretation of the Gospels (New York, NY: Doubleday, 1999), 40-42. [ 17 ]. William R. Farmer, The Synoptic Problem (Dillsboro, NC: Western North Carolina, 1976), 21. [ 32 ]. David Alan Black and David R. Beck, eds., Rethinking the Synoptic Problem (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001), 31.