Synoptic

Gospels

Bib 114

SUMMARY OF

SESSIONS 1 & 2

Unit 1 Session 1

• Synoptic defined: Greek meaning “seeing together”. Synoptic

Gospels = “seeing the good news alike or in the same way”

•Worksheet #1 gives you an example of how three different

writers experienced the same event BUT told these events

from their own perspective and with their target reader in mind

• Mark is discussed as “the priority of Mark” = Most scholars

believe Mark was written first and Matthew and Luke used “a

secret source for their writings”…the “Q Source”

An unknown source the material in Matthew and Luke

written as common stories that are not in Mark.

Mark’s gospel was written 1st

M = Only in Mathew L = Only in Luke

Mark + Q + M = book of Matthew

Mark + Q + L = book of Luke

“Q” is…

Principles to Consider

•Remember, they are just theories.

•Whatever theories scholars

advance about how the written texts

developed, they remain merely

theories.

•Do not fear questions.

•Never fear honest inquiry into the

sources, for this study can increase

our appreciation of the Gospel

records.

•Do not miss what is most important.

•If we concentrate too much on source

questions, we allow their focus to

detract from the content—what God

says in and through His Son. Strive to

maintain balance.

•Consider the true Source.

•The Bible in its entirety is God’s

inspired Word, which He has disclosed

to us through the revelation of the Holy

Spirit so that we may honor His

purposes for us (2 Peter 1:21).

Visual 4

Let’s look at Mark:

•John Mark = two names were common during the first century

AD. John was his Jewish name, Mark was his Roman or Greek

name. Commonly called in scripture either John Mark or Mark

•Worksheet Session 1 - #2 Examine Mark’s footprint in the NT

• Mark’s mother was a wealthy widow. Her home is accepted by

scholars as the place the Last Supper was served. Mark could

have been on of the servers at that time. All the disciples knew

him as “Mary’s son”…

•A look at Mark continues:

• Barnabas, Paul’s partner on their first Missionary Journey, was

John Mark’s cousin. Hence, JMark was invited to join their

journey. However, he returned home after a short time… making

Paul reject him from joining them on his 2nd Missionary Journey.

Paul took Silas on his journey and Barnabas took JMark back to

Cyprus (their homeland and the place of JMark’s failure)

•He could have been (most likely was) the young man mentioned

in Luke 22: 7-16 and Mark 14: 51 & 52.

Mark and the Gospel of Mark

• Peter called JMark “my spiritual son” in I Peter 5:13

•Papias (60 –150 ad) was an early Church Father (2nd generation

Christian) stated, “John the Presbyter (Apostle) called Mark the

interpreter/secretary for Peter.”

•JMark wrote the Book of Mark 58ad –65 ad Peter died 64ad

• Meaning = JMark was the recorder of Peter’s words and stories

•JMark was writing to Roman and Gentile readers

• JMark portrayed Jesus as “Christ, the Son of God”, a doer, and a

worker of mighty miracles.