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Introduction
The Synoptic Gospels are Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The Synoptic Problem proposes
that they were written “with the same eye”, and thus with “the same viewpoint.”1 There are five
theories that attend to the Synoptic Problem. Each is unique, but they all tackle the blatant
similarities, including some containing exact verbiage, across these books. All are valid and
scholarly, however only one stands out as the most likely.
The Synoptic Problem focuses on the similarities between the Gospels of Matthew, Mark,
and Luke. Synoptic also means “to see together”. If these authors were on trial, they could
easily be convicted of collusion.2 If they were students in Liberty University’s Master of Divinity
program, their works would be flagged as apparent plagiarism. Although there are shocking
similarities between these Gospels, there are also sizeable differences.
In addition to this, there are key scenes (the Sermon on the Mount is one) where Matthew
and Mark use the same exact language in their writings. Close to what looks like copy/paste
efforts when telling Jesus’ story, it is baffling how across two or three books, very similar or
exact language is put to work when recalling text from the Old Testament. In concert with this,
the authors stitched together pieces from the Old Testament in the same places in their books.3
Summary
Evidence of some similarities across all three books is what is known as the “Triple
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1 Chad Brand. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary: Revised and Expanded. (Nashville,
TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2015) p. 665.
2 Stacy, Dr. Robert Wayne. “The Synoptic Problem”. Video.
3 Stacy, Dr. Robert Wayne. “The Synoptic Problem”. Video.
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Tradition”.4 There are stories that are common across these books. Jesus’ sayings are
surprisingly identical in all three books. More remarkable is that these are even more noticeable
when translating the original Greek text.5 And then there are scenes in each Gospel that are laid
out in close to the same sequence as well.
The Augustine Hypothesis regards the chronological succession of Matthew, Mark, and
Luke. This theory assumes that Matthew was summarized by Mark. It is then offered that Luke
used both other canonical Gospels as references. Essentially, Mark is a sub-set of Matthew, and
Luke had the knowledge and familiarity of the other two books when he wrote his Gospel.
The Griesbach Hypothesis is also known as the Two-Gospel Hypothesis. It proposes that
Matthew was written first, then Luke who used Matthew as a reference. Finally, Mark used both
books to construct his Gospel. Some believe that this is unlikely because Mark might have used
less course language in his writings if he took content directly from the other two authors.6
Standing in contrast to the Griesbach is the Two-Source Hypothesis. This widely
accepted theory proposes that Mark was written first. Then Matthew and Luke each utilized
Mark’s account and a reference called “Q” (Quelle - German for source), which has never been
proven to exist.7 Some scholars believe that “Q” was a collection of Jesus Christ’s teachings and
that it was used by Matthew and Luke for content not found in Mark’s writings. This
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4 Stacy, Dr. Robert Wayne. “The Synoptic Problem”. Video.
5 Stacy, Dr. Robert Wayne. “The Synoptic Problem”. Video.
6 Chad Brand. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary: Revised and Expanded. (Nashville,
TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2015) p. 665.
7 Stacy, Dr. Robert Wayne. “The Synoptic Problem”. Video.
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hypothesis uses this mysterious source as Matthew and Mark’s primary reference for Jesus’
sayings in their Gospels.
The Four-Source Hypothesis works to address the Synoptic Problem by theorizing that
the Gospel of Mark was written possibly first. The second source is “Q”. The third is called the
“M” source, which is material that is unique to the Gospel of Mark in that may have been an oral
account or document that was only a part of Matthew’s own community. The last of this theory
is the “L” source. This is like the “M” source but in relation to Luke (specific to certain parables
and accounts).
Finally, the most likely of theories is the Farrer Hypothesis. The Farrer Hypothesis
denotes that the Gospels of Matthew and Luke were independently written using the Gospel of
Mark (as it was written first). Further, this hypothesis (also known as the Farrer Theory) Mark
relied on the eyewitness accounts that Peter presented to him. This could be why Matthew and
Luke abridged some of Mark’s books when writing their version of events.8 No other document,
“Q”, for example, is required to explain the shared contents in any of these books.
Application
The Farrer Hypothesis is the most probable theory of the shared content in the Synoptic
Gospels. Order, simplicity, Direct Quotations, and Narrative and Theological Developments are
the factors that support this conclusion. To recognize why the Farrer Hypothesis is the best
explanation, one must first understand the Markan Priority. This leads to the first factor of
“order” when comparing the Synoptic Gospel theories.
A theory in biblical studies proposes that Mark’s Gospel was written before the rest
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8 Stacy, Dr. Robert Wayne. “The Synoptic Problem”. Video.
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of the four Gospels in the New Testament is knowns as the Markan Priority.9 Not only does it
advance the idea that it was written first, but it also argues that it provided a primary source for
the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke. This hypothesis charges that the similarities in
content, structure, and language across the Synoptic Gospels provide a basis for a literary bond
between the three books.
The Markan Priority also puts forward that because it is the shortest and simplest of the
Synoptic Gospels that it was a basis upon which Matthew and Luke established their works. As
such, this means that the authors added, removed, and expounded upon content that was first
written by Mark.10 Essentially, Mark was an outline of sorts for their longer books that allowed
them to incorporate more materials and detail about Jesus’ teachings and his life. There are
scholars, however, that argue that “Q” was possibly a complimentary source to the Markan
Priority.11 But, again, this document has either never existed or is lost. It is important to point out
that the Markan Priority is a theory and not endorsed by all biblical scholars. It is a theory within
a hypothesis, in this case as it supports Farrer, however, the Markan Priority does enjoy
acknowledgment on a large scale.
The Farrer Hypothesis is made simpler than, say, the Two-Source Hypothesis. It does not
require the unfounded “Q” in the equation. This document has not been discovered, nor is there
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9 Abakuks, Andris. The Synoptic Problem: On Matthew's and Luke's Use of Mark. Journal
of the Royal Statistical Society. Series A (Statistics in Society), Volume. 175, Number 4. October
2012.
10 Goodacre, Mark. The Case Against Q: Studies in Markan Priority and the Synoptic
Problem. Novum Testamentum, Volume 46. October 2004.
11 Goodacre, Mark. The Case Against Q: Studies in Markan Priority and the Synoptic
Problem. Novum Testamentum, Volume 46. October 2004.
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proof that it exists(ed), therefore it gives even more credence to the validity of the Farrer
Hypothesis over the others.
The Gospels of Matthew and Luke share the same stories written by Mark. But the
utilization of direct quotations lifted from the Gospel of Mark is further potential proof that his
writings came first in time. It also supports the concept that these men had explicit contact with
the Gospel of Mark.
Finally, it is plausible to trace the progression of theological and narrative perspectives
beginning with Mark. Farrer argues that these are developed through the Gospel of Matthew and
then to the Gospel of Luke. This sequence reveals an enduring growth of early Christian ideas.
Conclusion
The Synoptic Problem does not have an authoritative solution, and scholars remain
divided on the topic. These theories need all be considered valid within their nuanced
arguments, theoretical substance, and limitations. While all the Synoptic Gospels have much in
common, they have a slightly varied approach to revealing the story of Jesus Christ’s life and
ministry. At the same time, they tell the story using very similar organizational themes and some
exact wording. Given this, they each present an exceptional mural of Jesus’ work and the
implications of His disciples’ devotion to the Lord.
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Bibliography
Abakuks, Andris. "The Synoptic Problem: On Matthew's and Luke's Use of Mark.” Journal of
the Royal Statistical Society. Series A (Statistics in Society). Volume 175, Number 4.
October 2012.
Brand, Chad. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary: Revised and Expanded. Nashville, TN: B&H
Publishing Group. 2015.
Goodacre, Mark. "The Case Against Q: Studies in Markan Priority and the Synoptic Problem."
Novum Testamentum, Volume 46. October 2004.
Stacy, Dr. Robert Wayne. “The Synoptic Problem”. Video.
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