The Synoptic Gospels are Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
They see the ministry of Jesus together.
Synoptic means seen together. Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell the ministry of Jesus in a shared order: baptism, ministry in Galilee, the journey to Jerusalem, the death, and the resurrection. John is a Gospel, but not a Synoptic. He begins before the beginning and arranges signs rather than the shared outline. The three are not copies. Matthew writes for Israel’s Scriptures. Mark moves quickly. Luke investigates in order. They agree because they witnessed the same Lord.
- The shared outline is the reason for the name. A reader can set them side by side.
- John is the fourth Gospel. Leaving him out of this name is not leaving him out of the canon.
- Differences in detail are not a second Jesus. Each writer selects.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Seen together.
John is the fourth Gospel.
- Synoptic means seen together.
- Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the three.
- They share baptism, Galilee, the road to Jerusalem, the cross, and the empty tomb.
- John is a Gospel and not a Synoptic.
- The three select. They do not contradict the one Lord.
- The name is a study word. The books are Scripture.
- The Three – Matthew, Mark, Luke.
- The Word – Seen together.
- The Outline – Galilee to Jerusalem.
- The Fourth – John.
- The Selection – Each writer chooses.
- The Lord – One Jesus.
- Matthew 3:13-17 – “Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.”
- Mark 1:9-11 – “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”
- Luke 3:21-22 – “When Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened.”
- Matthew 4:17 – “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
- Mark 1:14-15 – “Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God.”
- Luke 4:14-15 – “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee… and he taught in their synagogues.”
- Luke 9:51 – “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”
- Matthew 16:21 – “Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things.”
- John 20:30-31 – “Jesus did many other signs… these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ.”
- Luke 1:1-3 – “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative… it seemed good to me also… to write an orderly account.”
Matthew, Mark, and Luke see the ministry together.
John is a Gospel. He is not a Synoptic.
They agree because they witnessed the same Lord.
Synoptic is the study name for the three. It is not a lesser canon.
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