synoptic problem

The synoptic problem involves understanding the similarities and differences among the three Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—in the New Testament. These texts share many stories and teachings, often in similar wording, which raises questions about their sources and the order in which they were written. Scholars seek to determine how these Gospels relate, whether they share common sources, whether one was used by others, or if they all drew from earlier traditions. Resolving this helps us better understand the development of early Christian writings and the transmission of Jesus’s stories.