Different Synoptic Accounts

[Nazarite]

In my daily reading today I noticed that Matthew 9:18 has a different take on the events from parallel accounts in Mark 5 and Luke 8. Matthew records the ruler saying that "my daughter has just died" (NIV) Other translations are pretty consistent with this and the Greek construction (of which I am definately no expert) seems somewhat consistent with the idea translated "has just died." Mark and Luke record the ruler as having said that his daughter was nearly dead.

The only commentator I have found to address this "discrepancy" is Clark who notes that the Greek construction in Matthew could be understood to convey the idea, "my daughter is so sick she may even now be dead." Other commentators I have checked on today do not even address the "discrepancy."

I'm just curious about your thoughts on the matter. I believe in the inerrancy of Scripture and this is not shaking my faith or anything. I am just curious about how these passages might be best reconciled.

 

[plmarquette]

In my daily reading today I noticed that Matthew 9:18 has a different take on the events from parallel accounts in Mark 5 and Luke 8. Matthew records the ruler saying that "my daughter has just died" (NIV) Other translations are pretty consistent with this and the Greek construction (of which I am definately no expert) seems somewhat consistent with the idea translated "has just died." Mark and Luke record the ruler as having said that his daughter was nearly dead.

The only commentator I have found to address this "discrepancy" is Clark who notes that the Greek construction in Matthew could be understood to convey the idea, "my daughter is so sick she may even now be dead." Other commentators I have checked on today do not even address the "discrepancy."

I'm just curious about your thoughts on the matter. I believe in the inerrancy of Scripture and this is not shaking my faith or anything. I am just curious about how these passages might be best reconciled.

if you were trying to covey a concept to a mother , sister , brother , and father ... would you slant your presentation a bit differently , with each person you speak to ? that you might covey the concept , as accurately as possible , yet your words would be a bit different ...

Matthew is written to the Jews " in order to fulfill the words of the prophets "
Mark is written to the Romans " Jesus , king , ruler , kingdom "
Luke is written to us , gentiles " family , lineage , context "
John is written to all " relationships , Jesus the man "

Some one said that inorder to be considered dead , you had to be in that state for 3 days .. so know you did not faint , swoon , in a coma , paralized ... significance of Jonah / Jesus ...

pick up a commentary on the book you are working in , it will require you to flip from old to new covenant ; gospels to epistles .... but will provide context , words , culture , history [ hermeneutics - bible study rules ]

 

[Nazarite]

I understand your response to say that I should be looking at Matthew's audience and that the construction of his grammar is somewhat different because of that. Marquette, could you explain what you are saying a little more?

 

[RVincent]

It is true that the Gospels were written toward a different purpose. But the answer is simpler than that.

"Discrepancies, so called, are manufactured when similar miracles are regarded as identical. One such example is seen in the case of the two demoniacs of Matt. 8:28 and the one demoniac of Mark 5:1-20.

Another is that of the two storms on the lake of Matt. 8:24 (Mark 4:37-41) and Luke 8:22-25.

Another is that of the lepers of Matt. 8:2 (Mark 1:40) and Luke 5:12. See the notes, and cp. Ap. 152.

Why should not words be repeated at different times and under other circumstances? And as there were many people suffering in various places from similar diseases, why should we not expect to find similar miracles?

Why assume that two miracles, which are apparently alike in general character, are identical, and then talk about the two accounts being contradictory?

There were two females raised from the dead.

The first (Matt. 9:18) was to korasion (a little girl), whose father was probably a civil magistrate (archon).

She died before her father started to see the Lord, and so no messengers were dispatched with the news.

The second (Mark 5:22. Luke 8:41) was to paidion, a girl of about twelve years (see Ap. 108. v), whose father was one of the rulers of the Synagogue (archisunagogos), by name Jairus. She was not dead. No mourning had commenced, but as the Lord approaches news of her death was brought.
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Other antecedents and consequents of time and place and circumstances are all different.