The Three Synopticeers

[RugMatic]

The Three Musketeers are all for one and one for all, , and so are the Synoptics, Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Topic of debate: Did God inspire them to have identical narrations?

Did they write independently of each other, yet under divine providence have verbatim narratives? A paranormal paradox of plenary inspiration!

Or did God inspire them to engage in literary collusion? A paranormal paradox of plenary inspiration!

I'm not concerned with Jesus' dialogue being the same in the synoptics. I mean, bravo! I'd expect them to be precise with Christ's words, but why are their words often exactly the same?

Matthew And Luke Occasionally Have Identical Narration To The Exclusion Of Mark:


Matthew 12:25, knowing their thoughts, he said to them...
Luke 11:17, knowing their thoughts, he said to them...

Matthew 8:25, And they went and woke him...
Luke 8:24, And they went and woke him...

But usually they're more subtle:

Matthew 11:25, At that time Jesus declared, I thank thee Father ...
Luke 10:21, In that same hour ...he said, I thank thee Father ...

Matthew Frequently Has Identical Narration With Mark :

Matthew 13:57, and they took offense at him...
Mark 6:3, and they took offense at him...

Matthew 14:14, As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them...
Mark 6:34, As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them...

Matthew 14:34, and when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
Mark 6:53, and when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

Matthew 17:4, And Peter said to Jesus...
Mark 9:5, And Peter said to Jesus...

Luke Frequently Has Identical Narration With Mark:

Mark 1:42, And immediately the leprosy left him.
Luke 5:13b,... and immediately the leprosy left him.

Mark 3:5, And he looked around...
Luke 6:10, And he looked around...

Mark 5:16, And those who had seen it told...
Luke 8:36, And those who had seen it told...

Mark 12:1, And he began...
Luke 20:9, And he began...

Occasionally There Are Triple-Deckers:

Matthew 14:19, and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke...
Mark 6:41, and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke...
Luke 9:16, and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke...

[1213]

...Did God inspire them to have identical narrations?...

Maybe. In the case of Luke, it can also be that he just had the same source, as he tells he collected testimonies of those who were eyewitnesses. Maybe Mark and Matthew did the same or were one of the witnesses.

Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
Luke 1:1-4

[Clownboat]

Topic of debate: Did God inspire them to have identical narrations?

We don't even know who wrote the said books, much less if there was a god concept behind them being penned by humans.

Perhaps a good place to start would be to wonder if the gods often inspire books? If they do this often, then perhaps there is some merit to claiming that, that is how the gospels came about. From reading the gospels themselves, there is nothing that suggests a God being behind them though. I would expect a God inspired book to be very different then a human inspired book.