Deck 7: The Synoptic Problem and Its Significance for Interpretation

Question 1

One of the underlying theoretical presuppositions of redaction criticism is that the way an author changes his source material indicates his narrative intent. Is this contention persuasive to you? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Students will have a variety of views. Students who agree with the statement might discuss the difficulty of explaining why an author would change his or her source without a reason. Students who disagree with the premises of redaction criticism might argue that an author's motives cannot be recovered and/or that scholars can never be completely certain about what sources an author used.

Question 2

Describe what scholars refer to as the Synoptic Problem. Do you think there is a problem? How do you think it is best solved?

Answer 2

The Synoptic Problem is the problem of accounting for the similarities and differences between Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The verbatim similarities, narrative order, and types of changes indicate that there was a common source. The Four-Source Hypothesis argues that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a primary source. In addition, Matthew and Luke used a source that scholars refer to as Q (a designation for material Matthew and Luke have in common that Mark does not have). Matthew added some stories from other sources unavailable to Luke, designated M, and similarly, Luke included stories unique to his Gospel, designated L. Together these sources account for the similarities and differences between the Synoptic Gospels.

Question 3

Discuss the four sources many scholars believe lie behind the Synoptic Gospels. How are they related? What is their character (oral or written)?

Answer 3

Mark was used by Matthew and Luke and contains parables, miracles, and a Passion narrative. Q, also used by Matthew and Luke, appears to have been primarily a sayings source, but it did contain at least two narratives: the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness and the healing of the centurion's slave. Q was most likely a written Gospel, though it is no longer extant. M and L are designations for narratives and sayings unique to Matthew and Luke, respectively. Scholars cannot determine whether M/L was one or several sources, written or oral. They are, then, simply descriptions of sources unique to these Gospels.

Question 4

What is the Four-Source Hypothesis? Is Markan priority necessarily connected with this theory? If so, why? If not, what other plausible theories for the Synoptic Problem might work in light of Markan priority?

Question 5

Redaction criticism can be used to compare any two ancient texts.

Question 6

Markan priority depends on the Four-Source Hypothesis.

Question 7

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke most likely used the Gospel of Mark as a source.

Question 8

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke present their narrative in the same sequence for the stories they share with Mark.

Question 9

The Gospel of Mark is written in better, more polished Greek than the Gospel of Matthew.

Question 10

A redactor is:

A) A historian who studies texts
B) An editor
C) A type of Gospel
D) A cosmic figure

Question 11

Redaction criticism is:

A) A study of how an author changes his source
B) A study of the end of times
C) A criticism of historical constructions of Jesus
D) A critical inquiry into the nature of miracles

Question 12

In addition to Mark, both Matthew and Luke used:

A) M
B) L
C) John
D) Q

Question 13

The argument of "sequence of the narrative" suggests:

A) Matthew and Luke follow Mark's sequence of stories.
B) Matthew and Mark follow Luke's sequence of stories.
C) Luke and Mark follow Matthew's sequence of stories.
D) Matthew and Luke follow Q's sequence of stories.

Question 14

Matthew and Luke:

A) Sometimes change Mark to change theological emphases
B) Sometimes change Mark because Mark was not an eyewitness
C) Sometimes change Mark in order to summarize the text for ancient readers
D) Never change Mark

Question 15

Most scholars believe that Q contained mostly:

A) Jesus' birth narrative
B) Jesus' sayings
C) Jesus' death narrative
D) Stories of Jesus' resurrection appearances

Question 16

Two narratives that Q probably did contain are:

A) Jesus' birth and genealogy
B) Jesus' genealogy and temptation
C) Jesus' temptation and the healing of the centurion's servant
D) Jesus' birth and the healing of the centurion's servant

Question 17

Where was Q finally discovered?

A) A cave in Qumran
B) Q is a hypothetical document
C) Near the Dead Sea
D) It was discovered to be an oral tradition passed down by the Essenes.

Question 18

Which Gospel is Q most likely similar to?

A) John
B) Mark
C) Mary
D) Thomas

Question 19

Who assembled all the miracle stories dispersed throughout Mark into one large collection?

A) Matthew
B) Luke
C) John
D) Thomas

Question 20

If genre criticism uncovers the same points uncovered by redaction criticism, then why use the redactional approach?

A) To compare the two texts in an attempt to find any differences in the points made
B) Editorial activity provides more empirical evidence for the aim of the text.
C) To show that the Gospels stand up to any method of scrutiny
D) As a means of interpretation

Question 21

The "Four-Source Hypothesis" relies on the idea that:

A) Mark was written first.
B) Q was written first.
C) There were four distinct sources that were employed in the writing of Mark.
D) Jesus' words are difficult to comprehend, and therefore you need multiple sources to explain them

Question 22

Which of the following is least common when the Synoptic Gospels share a story or saying?

A) Matthew and Luke agree against Mark.
B) Matthew and Mark agree against Luke.
C) Mark and Luke agree against Matthew.
D) Matthew, Mark, and Luke all disagree.

Question 23

Which of the following is not from Q material?

A) The preaching of John the Baptist
B) The Beatitudes
C) The Lord's Prayer
D) The Passion

Question 24

Which of the following is a common change to Mark made by both Matthew and Luke?

A) Reshuffling the sequence of the narrative
B) Lengthening a story
C) Altering Mark's wording for better grammar
D) Reducing the amount of dialogue

Question 25

How is Q material distributed in Matthew and Luke?

A) The basic sequence of the material is the same.
B) Q material is almost always located in different places.
C) Luke tends to place Q material in long speeches, while Matthew does not.
D) Q material is found in Mark, not in Matthew or Luke.

Question 26

Most scholars who believe in the existence of Q think _________ more likely preserved its original sequence.

A) Mark
B) Matthew
C) Luke
D) John