NTL 120/1/2 EXAM
SUMMARY
Graham Smith
, SECTION A: SYNOPTIC PROBLEM (15 MARKS)
1. EXPLAIN THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM, AND LIST ONE SIMILARITY AND ONE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS. (3) / WHAT IS THE ‘SYNOPTIC PROBLEM’? (1) /
ELABORATE ON THE NATURE OF THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM BY PROVIDING 1 SIMILARITY
AND 1 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS. (2) / WHAT IS MEANT BY THE
GREEK PHRASES ‘SYN’ AND ‘OPTHE’ IN RELATION TO THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM? (1)
The Synoptic problem/puzzle asks why Matthew, Mark, and Luke are so similar. The designations Synoptic
gospels and Synoptic problem dates back to the work of Griesbach Synopsis Evangeliorum Matthaei, Marci et
Lucae (The synopsis of Matthew, Mark and Luke; 1776).The origin of the designation Synoptic gospels’, derived
from Greek word syn (with or together) and opthe (see), the ‘seeing together’ or comparative study of Matthew,
Mark and Luke, and the term Synoptic problem (how can we explain the similarities and difference between the
three Synoptic gospels?)
Similarities:
Matthew, Mark, and Luke agree in content. For example, all three gospels account that: After the ministry of
John the Baptist, Jesus is baptised and tempted in the wilderness (desert) and then his public ministry begins,
centred mainly in Galilee. The record of Jesus’ last days in the city and of his passion and death is very similar
in all three gospels; The sequence of events during the Galilean ministry is also largely the same.
The three Gospels also agree in some areas in structure/composition; for example: Mk 1:40-44//Mt 8:1-4//Lk
5:12-14 present the same narrative with a similar structure centred around how Jesus cleanses a leper.
Differences:
There are narratives that are in Matthew and Luke that are not in Mark, for example, Jesus’ condemnation of
the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 3 and Luke 3 do not appear in Mark.
There are differences in how the three gospels convey certain narratives, like Jesus’ baptism in the three
gospels is not explained in exactly the same manner.
1 © Copyright reserved Graham Smith ©
SUMMARY
Graham Smith
, SECTION A: SYNOPTIC PROBLEM (15 MARKS)
1. EXPLAIN THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM, AND LIST ONE SIMILARITY AND ONE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS. (3) / WHAT IS THE ‘SYNOPTIC PROBLEM’? (1) /
ELABORATE ON THE NATURE OF THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM BY PROVIDING 1 SIMILARITY
AND 1 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS. (2) / WHAT IS MEANT BY THE
GREEK PHRASES ‘SYN’ AND ‘OPTHE’ IN RELATION TO THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM? (1)
The Synoptic problem/puzzle asks why Matthew, Mark, and Luke are so similar. The designations Synoptic
gospels and Synoptic problem dates back to the work of Griesbach Synopsis Evangeliorum Matthaei, Marci et
Lucae (The synopsis of Matthew, Mark and Luke; 1776).The origin of the designation Synoptic gospels’, derived
from Greek word syn (with or together) and opthe (see), the ‘seeing together’ or comparative study of Matthew,
Mark and Luke, and the term Synoptic problem (how can we explain the similarities and difference between the
three Synoptic gospels?)
Similarities:
Matthew, Mark, and Luke agree in content. For example, all three gospels account that: After the ministry of
John the Baptist, Jesus is baptised and tempted in the wilderness (desert) and then his public ministry begins,
centred mainly in Galilee. The record of Jesus’ last days in the city and of his passion and death is very similar
in all three gospels; The sequence of events during the Galilean ministry is also largely the same.
The three Gospels also agree in some areas in structure/composition; for example: Mk 1:40-44//Mt 8:1-4//Lk
5:12-14 present the same narrative with a similar structure centred around how Jesus cleanses a leper.
Differences:
There are narratives that are in Matthew and Luke that are not in Mark, for example, Jesus’ condemnation of
the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 3 and Luke 3 do not appear in Mark.
There are differences in how the three gospels convey certain narratives, like Jesus’ baptism in the three
gospels is not explained in exactly the same manner.
1 © Copyright reserved Graham Smith ©
