The Synoptic Problem and solutions based on Marcan priority

¶ … Synoptic Problem:

The Gospel mainly consists of the first four New Testament books in the bible but it's only the first three that are considered to have synoptic problem i.e. Matthew, Mark and Luke. These books literally relate the story of Jesus in similar ways including the order of material, the stories told, sayings of Jesus, and using the same words in similar accounts resulting in the fact that they are referred to as the Synoptic Gospel. The difference now comes in the Gospel of John where the story of Jesus is shown in different format; events are viewed differently and with its own unique language and approach. Due to the different view and description of events, the book of John is not included in the Synoptic problem. Generally, a principle of only scripture had to be practiced as the cornerstone of reformation and practice of church and it should be allowed to stand in judgment of all individual actions, doctrines, and customs.

Notably, the synoptic problem is not really a problem in the actual sense based on the definition of a problem. The concept simply means a way of describing questions and potential explanations about the literary associations regarding the first three Gospels in the New Testament. Therefore, the synoptic problem is the way in which serious students of the Gospels try to understand the origins and interrelationships of the first three New Testament Gospels that describes the similarities and differences between them. While there are differences in these books in various areas, some more demonstrated than others. As a result, concerns about the differences emerge precisely because of the seemingly close parallels between the books (Bratcher par, 8).

There are sections in the synoptic gospel that are strange or are recorded in only one gospel and they do not have parallel to the other Gospels. This can be best illustrated in the story of the birth of Jesus in Matthew whereby the visit of Magi and the flights to Egypt are omitted, in Luke the events leading to the birth of Jesus, activities of Mary and parents of John, the visit of the shepherds, speeches of Anna and Simeon are included among others while Mark doesn't feature anything close to the birth of Jesus. In the gospel of Mark, we see how the words that Jesus said on the cross are recorded in Aramaic and the difference is seen in Matthew where the words are recorded in Hebrew though the meaning still remains. The other synoptic problem is seen when a name is added or removed for example how Matthew is referred to as Levi in both Mark and Luke.

For one to able to understand the relationship and the flow in the Synoptic gospel, one of the things that should be taken into account is that if the gospel of Mark was placed before Matthew and Luke, it could have been difficult to understand it because of the grammatical, historical and geographical errors seen in it. This has helped Matthew and Luke to rectify the mistake. The material used in Matthew and Luke is a unique on in the sense that if Mark was after Matthew, then Luke would rearrange the materials used in Matthew and not Mark.