The word 'gospel' derives its origin from the Greek word 'evangelion' and can be translated as 'good news'. The four gospels are part of the New Testament and mainly tell about the Nativity, the work of Christi, his crucifixion and his resurrection. Whereas the gospel of John stands out with its narrative, the other three, Mark, Matthew and Luke, mainly coincide in the structure and array of their gospels. Therefore they are known as the Synoptic gospels. Often they are replicated side by side, which makes it easier to compare them to each other. But all four gospels superficially concentrate on the life and doing of Jesus, connected to his death and resurrection.
This paper is going to concentrate on the synoptic gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke to compare them with each other regarding not only structure and chronological order, but also regarding their content and illustrate the differences and consonances. Every analysis of a gospel starts with a main overview about the complete gospel, including the structure, the author, the recipient and the time when the gospel was written. The content review concentrates on the most important parts of the Passion narrative.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Constitution of the Synoptic Gospels with Emphasis On the Passion Narrative
- 2.1. The Gospel According to St. Mark
- 2.1.1. An Introduction to the Gospel of St. Mark with Emphasis on Structure and Outline
- 2.1.2 An Analysis of Chosen Passages of the Passion Narrative in the Gospel of St. Mark
- 2.1.3 An Abstract about the Gospel of St. Mark
- 2.2 The Gospel According to St. Matthew
- 2.2.1 An Introduction to the Gospel of St. Matthew with Emphasis on the Structure and Outline
- 2.2.2 An Analysis of Chosen Passages of the Passion Narrative in the Gospel of St. Matthew
- 2.2.3 An Abstract about the Gospel of St. Matthew
- 2.3 The Gospel According to St. Luke
- 2.3.1 An Introduction to the Gospel of St. Luke with Emphasis on the Structure and Outline
- 2.3.2 An Analysis of Chosen Passages of the Passion Narrative in the Gospel of St. Luke
- 2.3.3 An Abstract about the Gospel of St. Luke
- 2.1. The Gospel According to St. Mark
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this paper is to compare the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke) according to the King James Bible, focusing on their respective Passion Narratives. The analysis aims to highlight similarities and differences in structure, content, and narrative approach across these three accounts.
- Comparative Analysis of Synoptic Gospels
- Structure and Narrative Techniques in Gospel Writing
- The Passion Narrative Across Different Gospel Accounts
- Theological Interpretations within the Passion Narrative
- Historical and Literary Context of the Gospels
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter defines the term "gospel" and introduces the Synoptic Gospels—Mark, Matthew, and Luke—highlighting their structural similarities. It establishes the paper's focus on comparing these three gospels, excluding the Gospel of John due to its unique characteristics. The chapter then discusses the prevalent "Two-Source Hypothesis" (Zwei-Quellen-Theorie), suggesting that the Gospel of Mark predates the others and served as a source for both Matthew and Luke, supplemented by a hypothetical second source ("Q") and unique materials for each. The chapter concludes by outlining the approach to analyzing each gospel: beginning with an overview of its structure, author, audience, and time of writing, followed by a detailed examination of the Passion Narrative and a concluding comparative analysis.
2. The Constitution of the Synoptic Gospels with Emphasis on the Passion Narrative: This section lays the groundwork for a comparative analysis of the Synoptic Gospels' Passion Narratives. While the provided text only details the beginning of the analysis of Mark's Gospel, the overall intent is clear: to thoroughly examine each gospel's structure, authorship, and audience before diving into specific passages of the Passion Narrative. The detailed analysis of the structure and outline of Mark's gospel would likely be followed by similar analyses of Matthew and Luke, leading to a final comparison that highlights the similarities and differences in their accounts of Jesus' final days.
Keywords
Synoptic Gospels, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Luke, Passion Narrative, Two-Source Hypothesis, Biblical Comparison, Literary Analysis, New Testament, Historical Jesus.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on a comparative analysis of the Passion Narratives in the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke). It examines the similarities and differences in structure, content, and narrative approach across these three accounts, using the King James Bible as the source text.
Which Gospels are included in the analysis?
The analysis specifically includes the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke. The Gospel of John is excluded due to its distinct characteristics.
What is the Two-Source Hypothesis and its relevance to this study?
The Two-Source Hypothesis (Zwei-Quellen-Theorie) is a scholarly theory suggesting that the Gospel of Mark was written first and served as a source for both Matthew and Luke. A hypothetical second source, often referred to as "Q," and unique materials for each gospel also contributed to their final forms. This hypothesis is relevant because it frames the understanding of the relationships between the three Synoptic Gospels.
What is the structure of the analysis for each Gospel?
The analysis of each Gospel (Mark, Matthew, and Luke) follows a structured approach: It begins with an overview of the gospel's structure, author, intended audience, and approximate time of writing. This is followed by a detailed examination of the Passion Narrative within that Gospel. Finally, a comparative analysis across the three Gospels highlights similarities and differences.
What key themes are explored in the paper?
Key themes include a comparative analysis of the Synoptic Gospels, the structure and narrative techniques used in Gospel writing, the presentation of the Passion Narrative across different accounts, theological interpretations within the Passion Narrative, and the historical and literary context of the Gospels.
What are the main objectives of this academic work?
The main objective is to compare the Synoptic Gospels' Passion Narratives to highlight similarities and differences in structure, content, and narrative approach. This involves analyzing the structure and outlining of each Gospel, comparing chosen passages from their Passion Narratives, and providing an abstract summarizing the key findings for each.
What key words are associated with this research?
Key words include: Synoptic Gospels, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Luke, Passion Narrative, Two-Source Hypothesis, Biblical Comparison, Literary Analysis, New Testament, and Historical Jesus.
What is included in the "Table of Contents"?
The Table of Contents provides a detailed outline of the paper, starting with an introduction and moving on to a section dedicated to the Synoptic Gospels, broken down further by individual gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke). Each gospel's section includes subsections focusing on an introduction, an analysis of chosen passages from the Passion Narrative, and an abstract.
What information is given in the Chapter Summaries?
The chapter summaries provide concise overviews of the content of each chapter. The introduction chapter defines the term "gospel" and introduces the Synoptic Gospels, highlighting their structural similarities and explaining the focus of the paper. The second chapter summary details the plan for a comparative analysis of the Synoptic Gospels' Passion Narratives, outlining the approach taken for each gospel and its final comparative analysis.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2014, A Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels according to the King James Bible, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/356672
