Posted by Chester Morton / Tuesday 21 March 2017 / No comments
The synoptic problem and it solutions
Introduction
The books of Matthew, Mark and Luke are referred to as the
synoptic gospels. The word “Synoptic” comes from two Greek words, “syn” meaning
together and “opsis’ meaning seen together. Literally therefore, synoptic gospel
refers to the story of the life of Jesus Christ as seen together by the three
gospel writers - Matthew, Mark and Luke.
THE PROBLEM
The synoptic problem refers to the similarities, differences
and peculiarities found in the three gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. It has
been realized that though the three writers are said to have written the story
of the life and work of Jesus from the same point of view, there are certain similarities,
peculiarities and difference that suggest otherwise. These, similarities,
differences and peculiarities are what are referred to as “the synoptic problem.”
There are similarities in arrangement, style, wording and
language when the three books are compared and contrasted. There are also
differences in the order of events; some wordings are the same in similar passages.
There are stories that are found in only two of the gospels and those peculiar
to each of the gospels. There are also some differences in the order of events
as recorded by the writers. There are stories that only Matthew recorded. There
are also stories that only Luke recorded and there are stories that only Mark
recorded. This is the synoptic problem.
SOLUTIONS
Attempts have been made by scholars to find solutions to the
synoptic problems and to satisfactorily solve the problem but most have failed
to fully answer the question.
It was caused by inspiration from God
The reason why there are similarities in the three gospels is
because they were inspired by God to write down the things they wrote down.
Scholars who put forward this argument have been criticized on the ground that
it does not explain the differences that are found in the three gospels.
Oral tradition
This theory acknowledges that there were some oral traditions
in existence before the people started writing. Since the gospel writers relied
on the same oral tradition, there are bound to be similarities in the accounts.
This theory too has been shot down on the grounds that the oral tradition
circulated as distinct episodes and not as on complete story. Also, if they
wrote from the same source, why should there be differences in some of the
accounts.
First documentary hypothesis
The theory of first documentary hypothesis, which was propounded
by St. Augustine, stated that Matthew was the first of the gospels to be
written before the other two copied from his work. This theory was also denounced
because it shows Mark as copying from Matthew when the facts do not show it to
be so. Where Matthew and Mark write about the same issue, Mark’s account sounds
more vivid and detailed. This could not have been the case if Mark was the one
that copied from Matthew.
The theory of a primitive gospel
This theory states that there was a primitive gospel that
circulated in the early church so the gospel writers may just have copied from
that primitive gospel. This has also been disproved by scholars who say there
is no historical trace of the existence of that primitive gospel. Also, it only
explains the similarities; it does not explain the differences.
Two documentary hypothesis
This theory postulates that there were two sources that the
gospel writers used. That is, the Mark and the “Q” Source. According to
Lachmann, who put forward the theory, this explains the similarities in the
gospels and even the matters that are found in both Matthew and Luke. The
reason why this does not completely the solution to the problem is that it does
not explain the stories that can be seen only in Matthew and those that can be
seen only in Luke.
Four documentary hypothesis
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| A diagram of the solution to the Synoptic problem |
This theory, which was propounded by B.H. Streeter, states
that Mark was the first gospel to be written and Luke and Matthew copied from
him. The theory continues that apart from using Mark as their source, both
Matthew and Luke also used a common source which can be termed the “Q” source. Finally,
there were some stories that were peculiar to Matthew so the theory states that
Matthew got those stories from the “M” source and for the stories peculiar to
Luke, he must have gotten the materials for those stories from the “L” source.
The theory of four documentary hypothesis is the only one of
all the theories that has been able to explain the similarities, differences and
the peculiarities found in the three synoptic gospels.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. a. What is the synoptic problem?
b. How has the
synoptic problem been solved over the years?
