A SZINOPTIKUS EVANGÉLIUMOK
THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS

Summary/Abstract: According to some scholars, the synoptic problem perhaps remains an eternal enigma, but this does not affect the gospels’ interpretation. The fact is that modern research of the Scriptures raises more and more questions which cannot be answered at once. Today, even the ‘two-document’ hypothesis is regarded as antiquated. It is probable that the gospels were formed in parallel and they exercised mutual influence. The earliest versions were in circulation and thus played an important role in the formation of the other ones. The priority of Mark is verified by the following arguments: Mark’s material mostly appears in Matthew and Luke, the last two evangelists often omit Mark’s material, but even the omissions differ from each other; Matthew and Luke follow Mark in order; Mark seems to be more precise when he presents Jesus’ humanity, and he speaks more openly about the disciples’ lack of comprehension; Mark’s style seems to allude to the account of an eyewitness. Matthew and Luke differ in their genealogy but their materials correspond with each other from the point where Mark starts his gospel. After examining the language of Mark’s gospel, the congruence of content, wording and structure with Matthew’s and Luke’s gospel, on the basis of the above-mentioned arguments, we conclude that Mark’s priority is most likely. In connection with this, it has to be said that the ‘two-document’ hypothesis is probably the answer to the synoptic problem, adding to it that the process of permeation and borrowing was much more flexible in the formation time of the gospels, than it was thought earlier.

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