In Raymond Brown’s An Introduction to the New Testament, we learn that “Eighty percent of Mark’s [verses] are reproduced in [Matthew] and 65 percent in Luke.”[1] The relationship between Mark, Matthew, and Luke is known as the “Synoptic Problem.” We get the word from Greek. S-Y-N—not S-I-N—means “with” or “together.” “Optic” is from optikos—Greek for “eye.” When you put the three gospels next to each other, you can see that the relationship is written, not oral. How Matthew and Luke use Mark with their other sources allows readers to think about the individual perspective Matthew and Luke bring to their gospels.
Read more