Synoptic problem

The Synoptic problem refers to the literary relationship between the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. These three Gospels are called "Synoptic" because they share similar narratives, structures, and wording, allowing for easy comparison. The Gospel of John, however, presents a different perspective and arrangement.1

The extensive parallels between Matthew, Mark, and Luke raise questions about how they were written and their sources. The dominant theory, known as the two-source hypothesis, suggests that Matthew and Luke both used the Gospel of Mark as a primary source, along with another hypothetical source called "Q". Q is believed to be a collection of sayings attributed to Jesus that is not found in Mark. While no physical copy of Q has been found, scholars use textual analysis to reconstruct its potential content. This theory helps explain the similarities and differences found in the Synoptic Gospels.234