SALT Exercise- The Synoptic Problem

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“SALT” Exercise: The Synoptic Problem Jonathan Gibson NBST515: New Testament Orientation I (C02) October 2023 Content

Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 1 Application ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................... 6 ii

1 Summary The Synoptic Problem is a complex and fascinating puzzle that has intrigued Biblical scholars and theologians for centuries. This problem concerns the similarities and differences between the first three Gospels in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. As Dr. Robert Stacy puts it in the lesson, “Precisely put, the “problem” (more a “puzzle,” really) is that there are not only striking agreements but significant differences among the first three Gospels. Accounting for this phenomenon is the goal of research into the origins of the first three, “synoptic,” Gospels.” 1 These three books of the Bible known as the Synoptic Gospels, share many similar stories, sayings, and sequences of events, leading to the conclusion that they are interrelated in some way. The term “synoptic” is derived from the Greek words “syn,” which means together, and “opsis,” which means seeing, this signifies a shared perspective or viewpoint. The Synoptic Gospels are so named because they present a similar perspective on the life, teachings, and passion of Jesus. More than any other books of the Bible, the Synoptic Gospels share common stories, parables, and teachings, which raises questions about their literary relationship. There are five different interdependence theories used by scholars to try to explain the Synoptic Problem. They are the Augustinina Hypothesis, Griesbach or Two-Gospel Hypothesis, The Two-Source Hypothesis, The Four-Source Hypothesis, and The Farrer Hypothesis. While all of them have merit, the one most used by scholars is The Two-Source Hypothesis. The Two- Source Hypothesis speculates that Mark served as a primary source for both Matthew and Luke. Matthew and Luke, in addition to Mark, independently used the hypothetical “Q” source to 1 Dr. Robert Wayne Stacy, “The Synoptic Problem” (video lecture in NBST 515 at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, October 16-22, 2023).

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2 supplement their Gospels. It is often noted that Mark’s Gospel is shorter and less detailed than both Matthew and Luke, suggesting it was the earliest written. The Synoptic Problem is not merely an academic exercise but has profound implications for our understanding of the New Testament and the development of Christian theology. Understanding the literary relationships between the Synoptic Gospels can help us appreciate the theological emphases of each book. Although The Two-Source Hypothesis is widely accepted, scholars continue to explore alternative solutions and nuances within the problem. Dr. Stacy sums it up like this. While The Two-Source Hypothesis with its tenant of Markan Priority continues to be the theory for explaining the Synoptic Problem best supported by modern scholars, the Farrer Hypothesis is gaining ground because it has in its favor that it too acknowledges the overwhelming case for Markan Priority, but unlike The Two-Source Hypothesis, has the advantage of not requiring a hypothetical source such as “Q.” 2 Nevertheless, this enigma serves as a reminder of the richness and complexity of the Biblical text and the ongoing quest to better comprehend the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in the Synoptic Gospels. The Synoptic Problem invites us to delve deeper into the origins of Christian tradition and explore the profound theological insights embedded in these ancient texts. Application The Farrer Hypothesis is a proposed solution to the Synoptic Problem, which seeks to explain the literary relationship between the three Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The Farrer Hypothesis was explained by Dr. Stacy, “He says that Mark was the first gospel, acknowledging the overwhelming evidence for Markan Priority. Followed by Matthew who used Mark and then Luke who used both Mark and Matthew. Thereby obviating the need for a “Q” document.” 3 The “Q” document is something that has troubled scholars for centuries because 2 Stacy, “The Synoptic,” 16:44. 3 Stacy, “The Synoptic,” 12:53.

3 there is no such evidence for said document. While The Farrer Hypothesis is not the only proposed solution to the Synoptic Problem, I will offer a rationale as to why it is a compelling explanation. The Farrer Hypothesis suggests that Mark was the first Gospel, and this idea is supported by the fact that much of Mark’s content can be found in both Matthew and Luke. This is one of the key strengths of The Farrer Hypothesis, it argues for the priority of Mark. For example, consider the story of the feeding of the 5,000. Mark’s account, Mark 6:30-44, Is shorter than that in Matthew, Matthew 14:13-21, and Luke found in Luke 9:10-17. This suggests that Matthew and Luke elaborated on Mark’s narrative. The Gospel of Mark is generally considered the most concise and straightforward of the Synoptics. Mark’s brevity and simplicity make it plausible that Matthew and Luke, in writing their own Gospels, would have expanded upon Mark’s account. Another example of this is Mark’s account of Jesus healing a leper, it is more concise and straightforward. In contrast, both Matthew and Luke expand upon Mark’s account, adding more details and making it more elaborate. An additional example would be when Jesus calmed the storm, in Mark, it is relatively concise, but both Matthew and Luke provide more details and content. In Luke’s parallel account, he introduces unique elements such as the disciples addressing Jesus as “Master” and the emphasis on their fear. This indicates Luke’s creative expansion on Mark’s narrative. The Farrer Hypothesis, along with its Markan Priority, hypothesizes that Matthew and Luke independently used themselves as a source, known as “L,” material unique to Luke, and “M,” material unique to Matthew, respectively. The Farrer Hypothesis accounts for the unique material found in Matthew and Luke that does not have direct parallels in the other Gospels. While proponents of The Two-Source Hypothesis argue that these differences are due to the

4 hypothetical “Q” document, The Farrer Hypothesis argues that Matthew, “M,” and Luke, “L,” are better explained as independent sources, reflecting the distinctive theological and literary emphases of the respective authors. There is no need for a hypothetical “Q” document, as any shared material between Matthew and Luke not found in Mark can be explained through a combination of oral tradition and other written sources. The simplicity of The Farrer Hypothesis is something that has helped it gain recognition and support from a significant number of scholars over the years, contributing to its credibility as a legitimate solution to the Synoptic Problem. In conclusion, The Farrer Hypothesis offers a simple and elegant solution to the Synoptic Problem, but it has its share of critics and is not the dominant theory in New Testament studies. The Farrer Hypothesis provides a compelling and straightforward solution to the Synoptic Problem by eliminating the need for the hypothetical “Q” document. It proposes that Matthew and Luke both relied on the Gospel of Mark while independently incorporating other source material, “L” and “M,” to account for their shared non-Markan material. The internal consistency of this hypothesis and the support it has received from notable scholars make it a viable and persuasive alternative to the Two-Source Hypothesis which relies on a document that remains undiscovered. The Synoptic Problem continues to be a subject of scholarly debate, and the question of how the Synoptic Gospels are related remains a complex and unresolved issue in Biblical scholarship. The Synoptic Problem stands as a compelling and enduring puzzle within the field of Biblical scholarship. The complex relationship among the three Synoptic Gospels continues to engage scholars and theologians alike. The quest to unravel the origins and interconnections of these texts has generated various theories, each offering unique insights into the composition and

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5 transmission of the Synoptic Gospels. The pursuit of understanding the literary and theological connections among these texts has enriched our appreciation of the diverse perspectives and contexts in which they were written.

6 Bibliography Stacy, Robert Wayne, Dr. “The Synoptic Problem.” Lecture in NBST 515 at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, October 16-22, 2023.

SALT Exercise- The Synoptic Problem

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