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What Are the Synoptic Gospels?
Show notes
Episode Outline:
– Introducing Dr. Mark Goodacre and the Synoptic Gospels
– How Mark Goodacre entered biblical studies
– What “synoptic” means
– Learning to compare the Gospels side by side
– How Synoptic Gospel scholarship has changed
– Why Mark starts with the problem before the solution
– Gospel similarities in Jesus’ arrest scene
– Surprising similarities between John and the Synoptics
– Differences in Matthew and Luke’s birth narratives
– Why the Gospels are not independent reports
– What Mark’s Synoptic Gospels course will cover
Episode Description
The phrase "synoptic gospels" is thrown around a lot in Biblical scholarship, but what does it mean, and why are they important? Are they as similar as people seem to think, and what do non-academics get wrong about them? Today, Megan is joined by Dr. Mark Goodacre, professor of Religious Studies and expert in all things synoptic, to answer these questions and to investigate some of his favorite differences between these fascinating texts.
Also watch these episodes:
Are We Missing a Gospel? Unpacking the Q Source Debate
Are We Missing a Gospel? Unpacking the Q Source Debate
The Gospel Truth: What Are the Gospels of the New Testament?
The Gospel Truth: What Are the Gospels of the New Testament?
– Introducing Dr. Mark Goodacre and the Synoptic Gospels
– How Mark Goodacre entered biblical studies
– What “synoptic” means
– Learning to compare the Gospels side by side
– How Synoptic Gospel scholarship has changed
– Why Mark starts with the problem before the solution
– Gospel similarities in Jesus’ arrest scene
– Surprising similarities between John and the Synoptics
– Differences in Matthew and Luke’s birth narratives
– Why the Gospels are not independent reports
– What Mark’s Synoptic Gospels course will cover
Episode Description
The phrase "synoptic gospels" is thrown around a lot in Biblical scholarship, but what does it mean, and why are they important? Are they as similar as people seem to think, and what do non-academics get wrong about them? Today, Megan is joined by Dr. Mark Goodacre, professor of Religious Studies and expert in all things synoptic, to answer these questions and to investigate some of his favorite differences between these fascinating texts.
Also watch these episodes:
Are We Missing a Gospel? Unpacking the Q Source Debate
Are We Missing a Gospel? Unpacking the Q Source Debate
The Gospel Truth: What Are the Gospels of the New Testament?
The Gospel Truth: What Are the Gospels of the New Testament?
Go deeper on this topic
Online course
Mysteries of the Synoptic Gospels
Underneath the stories in the "Synoptic" Gospels, there are historical puzzles in search of solutions. This course is an investigation of these mysteries.
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Did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Really Write the Gospels?
A free lecture on who actually wrote the Gospels, and how scholars can tell.
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