THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM
SYNOPTIC GOSPELS
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NON-SYNOPTIC
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Matt 14:19-20
Taking the five loaves and the two fish (ichthus), looking up into heaven he blessed, and breaking, gave to the disciples the loaves, and the disciples to the crowds. And all ate and were satisfied. |
Mark 6:41-42
And taking the five loaves and the two fish (ichthus), looking up into heaven, he blessed and he broke up the bread, and was giving to the disciples in order that they set before them, and the two fish he distributed to all. And all ate and were satisfied. |
Luke 9:16-17
But taking the five loaves and the two fish (ichthus), looking up into heaven, he blessed them and he broke up, and was giving to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they ate and were satisfied. |
John 6:11-12
Thus Jesus took the loaves, and giving thanks, he distributed to the ones reclining; similarly also, whatever they desired from the fish (opsarion). And when they are full, he says to this disciples, "Gather the remaining pieces in order that nothing be lost." |
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair (trichon kamelou), with a leather belt (zonen dermatinen) round his waist [and] he ate locusts (akrides) and wild honey (meli agrion) - Mark 1: 6 and Matthew 3: 4
(Let the reader understand) - Mark 13:14 and Matthew 24: 15
just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses - Luke 1: 2
YES
Christians claim the Gospels are "inspired" texts - they are revelation from God. The Synoptic Problem suggests they have a more straightforward origin: they are copied from a lost Proto-Gospel.
If there was a lost Proto-Gospel, then it was closer to the historical Jesus than the Gospels we now have. That makes the Bible unreliable. It shows that books of the New Testament are ordinary literary texts, products of human error and human judgement.
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NO
The Gospels are still "inspired" even if parts are copied. Luke's Gospel clearly states it has used sources in its prologue. The Synoptic Gospels probably copied from each other or Mark and Luke copied Matthew.
If the New Testament writers were inspired by the Holy Spirit, then you would expect coherence and unity in their writings and this is what you find. There's no evidence for any 'proto-Gospel'; it's more likely the Synoptic Gospels products of are different eyewitnesses.
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