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Synoptic Gospels Facts & Worksheets

The first three books of the New Testament have been referred to as the Synoptic Gospels since the 1780s because of how similar their structure, substance, and terminology are.

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 The New Testament Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—present identical accounts of the life and death of Jesus Christ. The first three books of the New Testament have been referred to as the Synoptic Gospels since the 1780s because of how similar their structure, substance, and terminology are. This allows for an easy side-by-side comparison of the three books contents.

See the fact file below for more information on Synoptic Gospels, or you can download our 28-page Synoptic Gospels worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

WHAT IS SYNOPTIC GOSPEL?

  • The “Gospels” are these three books plus John because they chronicle Jesus‘ life, death, and resurrection—the cornerstone of Christian salvation. The Greek word synoptic means “to see together.” 
  • One of the twelve apostles who Jesus chose to write the Gospel of Matthew was Matthew. Mark, a close friend of the apostle Peter, wrote the Gospel of Mark. The physician Luke, a close friend and fellow traveler of the apostle Paul, is the author of the Gospel of Luke.
  • According to studies, among the three synoptics, Mark was the earliest to be written, somewhere around 70 CE, while Matthew and Luke were likely written in the late 70s or early 80s. 
  • How the various accounts influenced one another can be appreciated by understanding the chronological order in which they were written.
  • There are passages that are nearly identical to or comparable to those contained in Mark’s gospel in Matthew and Luke. Mark was the first gospel to be written; thus, Matthew and Luke drew on Mark as one of their sources when they wrote their own. 
  • There are, however, other parables and proverbs that are unique to Matthew and Luke but not in Mark. This shows that Mark was not using the same source.
  • Although the purpose of each gospel is to record Jesus’ life and convey the gospel message, each author takes a slightly different approach. Each of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John targeted a distinct group of readers in their writing. Each man presented the gospel message from a different vantage point and had a unique perspective.
  • Despite their differences, we are aware that each regarded the significance of their message as paramount. They were aware that they had a great deal of responsibility to accurately document historical events and communicate theological truths to their audience.

BIBLICAL PARALLELS

  • This is an example of the parallels in the three gospels. Take a look at these passages when Jesus interacts with little children:

Matthew 19:13-14 KJV

“Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

Mark 10:13-14 KJV

“And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

Luke 18:15-16 KJV

“And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

The text preceding the quote from Jesus has slightly different wording but basically says the same thing, and the quote itself is identical in all three passages. Matthew adds that individuals believed Jesus should appeal to God for the youngsters. Additionally, the gospels are replete with such passages.

Matthew 3:3 KJV

“For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

Mark 1:2–3 KJV

“As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

Luke 3:4 KJV

“As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

John the Baptist is introduced by Matthew, Mark, and Luke by quoting Isaiah 40:3 from the Septuagint, which says, “Make straight paths for our God.” That phrase is changed to “make straight paths for him” in the same way in all three synoptic gospels.

SYNOPTIC PROBLEM

  • The literary connections between the first three “Synoptic” Gospels are the subject of the Synoptic Problem. Because they can be “seen together” (syn-optic) and displayed in three parallel columns, Matthew, Mark, and Luke are referred to as “Synoptic Gospels.” 
  • Many of the sayings and stories in the three gospels are the same and frequently relate to one another in the same relative order. However, there are also significant variations in the phrasing of specific sayings and stories, the arrangement of certain materials, and the overall scope of each gospel.
  • Specifically, controversies are:
    • Priority: Which gospel was first written? It is necessary for the source to have been written first if one text draws from another.
    • Oral sources: How much of each evangelist’s or literary collaborator’s original written account was based on personal knowledge, eyewitness accounts, liturgy, or other oral traditions?
    • Successive dependence: Did each of the synoptic gospels derive inspiration from its predecessors? If not, the frequent agreements between the three gospels must have come from somewhere else.
    • Lost written sources: Did any of the gospels draw inspiration from a previously written work that has not been preserved?
    • Redaction: When the gospels were compiled into their final form, how and why were their sources expanded, reduced, or rearranged?
    • Translation: Jesus and other people mentioned in the gospels spoke primarily in Aramaic, but the gospels themselves are written in Koine Greek in their oldest form. Who was in charge of translating, and when?

RESPONSE TO THE SYNOPTIC PROBLEM

  • Theories were developed to try to explain the sources of the Synoptic gospels:
    • Markan Theory: For the majority of Christian history, people believed that Mark was a later, shorter version of the same basic message and that Matthew was the first and oldest Gospel. 
    • However, from the middle of the 19th century to the present day, the majority of academics are of the opinion that Mark is the original and earliest Gospel and that Matthew and Luke are merely elaborations of Mark.
    • The two-source theory: a suggested solution to the synoptic problem that says Matthew and Luke’s gospels are similar because they draw from Mark’s gospel and a collection of Jesus’ sayings that scholars call Q.
    • The three-source theory: It says that the Gospels of Matthew and Luke used the Gospel of Mark and a collection of sayings as primary sources, while the Gospel of Luke also used the Gospel of Matthew as a subsidiary source.
  • The four-source theory: Mark, Q, M, and L: The four-source theory asserts that in addition to Q, M (Matthew’s other source) and L (Luke’s other source) are the sources from which the unique material in Luke and Matthew must have originated.
  • Although there is no definite solution to the synoptic problem, the opening lines of Luke’s gospel may be the closest we will ever get to understanding how the synoptic gospels came to be:
    • “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” Luke 1:1–4

Synoptic Gospels Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Synoptic Gospels across 28 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about the Synoptic Gospels. The first three books of the New Testament have been referred to as the Synoptic Gospels since the 1780s because of how similar their structure, substance, and terminology are.

Synoptic Gospels Worksheets
Synoptic Gospels Worksheets
Synoptic Gospels Worksheets

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Synoptic Gospels Facts
  2. The Bible
  3. The Gospel Writers
  4. The Synoptic Authors
  5. Who was Jesus?
  6. Synoptic Story I
  7. Synoptic Story II
  8. Common Idea
  9. Present in the Three
  10. Three Versions: One Event
  11. Synoptic Images

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the synoptic gospels?

The synoptic gospels are the first three books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. They are called “synoptic” because they share a similar structure and content, and present a similar view of the life and teachings of Jesus.

What is the synoptic problem?

The synoptic problem refers to the question of how the three synoptic gospels are related to each other. Specifically, scholars try to explain the similarities and differences between the three gospels, and to determine whether one or more of the authors used another gospel as a source.

What is the two-source hypothesis?

The two-source hypothesis is a solution to the synoptic problem that suggests that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a source, as well as another common source of sayings and teachings of Jesus, which scholars call “Q” (from the German word “Quelle,” meaning “source”). According to this hypothesis, the material unique to Matthew or Luke is either derived from another source, or is their own material.

What is the importance of the synoptic gospels for understanding the life and teachings of Jesus?

The synoptic gospels provide us with the most comprehensive and detailed accounts of the life, teachings, and ministry of Jesus. They cover many of the same events and teachings, but each gospel also has its own unique perspective and emphasis. By studying the synoptic gospels, we can gain a deeper understanding of the historical Jesus and his message.

What are some key themes and teachings found in the synoptic gospels?

Some key themes and teachings found in the synoptic gospels include the coming of the kingdom of God, the importance of repentance and faith, the nature and mission of Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah, the importance of love, forgiveness, and service, and the ultimate victory of God over sin and death.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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