I began sharing with my readers what is call the Synoptic Problem, namely that the three first Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, have similarities and dissimilarities. The course of the life of Jesus and His activity are presented in a similar fashion. The Baptizer appears; Jesus is baptized by him and enters into the desert of temptation. After this He begins His public life. The greater part of Jesus’ activity centers in Galilee and in the regions boarding it. His journey to Jerusalem and His trial there are told in similar fashion. All three accounts close with His crucifixion and resurrection. The framework is expressed in the chart at the bottom of the page.

There is no attempt by the Synoptists to present a biography of Jesus as such. Nor do them seek to depicted his personality. Their desire is rather to report in popular speech the words and works of Jesus and the impression these made upon those surrounding Him. These Gospels, therefore, consist of separate units of narrative and discourse that appear to be complete in themselves. These units are often in sequence without any temporal or spatial connection. There are also sections in which similar materials are placed together (e.g. Sabbath stories, parables). The Synoptics are also marked by the separate characteristic sayings of Jesus, short discourses and fragments of discourses. A particular penchant for parables is also evident. In much of this they are quite unlike John’s Gospel.

Many passages show a striking agreement in language or wording. Sometimes all three will agree on an Old Testament quote that is different from both the original Hebrew text and the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew). The words of Jesus are often reported in identical Greek. Sometimes all three or at least two of the Synoptics use unusual Greek language constructions or the same comparatively rare Greek words. Occasionally whole sentences or groups of sentences correspond practically word for word.

So there are similarities between the Synoptic Gospels. There are also, however, dissimilarities.