NIV, Faithlife Study Bible | Page 155

THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS AND ACTS

The Gospels of Matthew , Mark , Luke and John have much in common , but because the first three share a particularly strong resemblance , they are called the “ Synoptic Gospels ” ( literally , Gospels with a common vision ). The differences between the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John are as interesting as they are significant . For example , where the Synoptics have numerous parables focusing on the kingdom of God , the Fourth Gospel rarely includes parables , and the term “ kingdom ” is used sparingly ( Jn 3:3,5 ; 18:36 ). Likewise , in the Synoptic Gospels Jesus is declared to be Messiah at Caesarea Philippi in the middle of the narrative ( Mt 16:13 – 16 ; Mk 8:27 – 30 ; Lk 9:18 – 20 ); in John ’ s account , Jesus ’ messiahship is announced at the beginning of the text ( Jn 1:35,49 ).

The considerable overlap ( in terms of plot , wording and substance ) between the Synoptic Gospels suggests that the three texts are related — ​one or more of the evangelists used or was aware of the work of the others . According to the traditional view of the early church fathers , Matthew was the first Gospel written . Mark , who used Matthew as a reference , was written second , and Luke , who used both Matthew and Mark , was written last . Although this view prevailed for centuries , other solutions have been put forward to explain the relation between the Synoptic Gospels .
The most common theory today claims that Mark was the earliest Gospel , composed independently of another early — ​but lost — ​source . Both Mark and this hypothesized “ lost source ” supposedly provided the basis for Matthew and Luke , who worked independently of each other . This view eventually came to be called the “ Two-Source Hypothesis .” The hypothetical lost source is called “ Q ” for “ Quelle ,” the German word for “ source .” A variation of this view argues that Mark was , in fact , the first Gospel , but that there was no “ Q ” — ​Matthew used Mark as a source , and Luke used both Matthew and Mark .
THE GOSPEL OF MARK
If the Gospel of Mark was indeed written first , its likely author was not the most illustrious among the evangelists . According to church tradition , John Mark ( Ac 12:12,25 ; 15:37 ; 2Ti 4:11 ) authored the Gospel , and there is little reason to think otherwise . Church tradition also reports that he worked under the auspices of the apostle Peter . Exactly when the author of Mark ’ s Gospel completed his work is less certain . Depending on a variety of considerations , scholars date this Gospel anywhere between the 40s and the 70s AD . A composition in the mid-60s or just after AD 70 are the most widely accepted options .
Mark ’ s Gospel was most likely written in Rome , though Alexandria and Palestine are also possibilities . A Roman setting is suggested by the various Latinisms in the text and by the author ’ s numerous attempts to translate events into Roman terms ( Mk 12:42 ; 15:16 ). The church fathers Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria affirm the likelihood of Rome as the place of composition . 1
The author of the Gospel of Mark seems to have been particularly interested in issues of theodicy ( the vindication of God and his ways ) — ​more specifically , why the followers of a supposedly risen
1 Irenaeus , Against Heresies , 3.1.1 ; for Clement of Alexandria , see Eusebius , Ecclesiastical History , 6.15.6 – 7 .