The Jimmy Akin Podcast #057 What Is the Synoptic Problem? (Three Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke) - Jimmy Akin
Oct 28, 2025
Dive into the intriguing world of the Synoptic Problem, where Gospels Matthew, Mark, and Luke share uncanny similarities. Explore the hypothesis of whether these similarities stem from independent compositions or oral traditions. Uncover bold theories about lost documents and how one Gospel could influence the others. Delve into the lively debate over which Gospel came first, with insights from historical contexts and scholarly models. Discover why this question captivates researchers and believers alike, making it a fascinating topic of discussion!
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Synoptic Gospels Defined
- Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell Jesus' story in very similar ways and often use the same words.
- This close overlap is why they are called the Synoptic Gospels, meaning 'seeing together'.
Common Source Over Independence
- Independent composition by eyewitness memory seems unlikely given the high degree of verbatim agreement.
- The similarities strongly suggest a common source rather than random oral coincidence.
Oral Gospel Hypothesis
- Some scholars propose an oral 'gospel' that was memorized and shared in fixed order.
- Most scholars reject this because word-for-word agreement points to a written source.
