Why are Matthew, Mark, and Luke so similar?!

Hi HT, because they aren't "duplicates" There is actually quite a bit in each Gospel that is unique. And I believe all four Gospels approach the same "Subject", Jesus Christ, from four different POV's (as "King" in St. Matthew, as a "Servant" in St. Mark, as the "Man" in St. Luke, and as "God" in St. John).

Are you just beginning to read through the Bible for the first time? If so, you may find it more interesting to skip back and forth between the Gospels and the Epistles rather than reading the NT straight through (though straight through isn't bad either ). And if you've not read the Gospel of John yet, that's where I'd recommend you go next

Yours in Christ,
David

St_Worm2 said:

Hi HT, because they aren't "duplicates" There is actually quite a bit in each Gospel that is unique. And I believe all four Gospels approach the same "Subject", Jesus Christ, from four different POV's (as "King" in St. Matthew, as a "Servant" in St. Mark, as the "Man" in St. Luke, and as "God" in St. John).

Are you just beginning to read through the Bible for the first time? If so, you may find it more interesting to skip back and forth between the Gospels and the Epistles rather than reading the NT straight through (though straight through isn't bad either ). And if you've not read the Gospel of John yet, that's where I'd recommend you go next

Yours in Christ,
David

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Agreed. Just a thought though to add to it, that truth was based upon two or three witnesses. Still, Christ as King, Servant, human, and God as David put it is the truth to hold on to.

Deu 17:6 Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.

Deu 19:15 "One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.

Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'

2Co 13:1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established."

1Ti 5:19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.

Heb 10:28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.

1Jn 5:8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

hansthompson said:

Hi. Not sure if someone has already posted something like this, if so PLEASE link. Anyways, I am just getting started on my Christian journey and was wondering why the heck Matthew, Mark and Luke are so similar? And why would I have to read all 3 if they are duplicates? Thanks!

God bless you.

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They are not necessarily exact duplicates. But they are all eye witness accounts of Jesus' ministry. So for them to be truthful, they must be similar. For the writings to be similar only further proves the authenticity and validity of the Bible.

Also each gospel has a specific target audience.

It's considered very likely that the authors of Matthew and Luke both had copies of Mark when they wrote, and integrated much of his material into their accounts. What is interesting is the way they do this differently - and the other material they each use - to make different emphases and each show us a subtly different side of Jesus.

Hi hans,

God bless you and welcome to the new life of a believer!

The gospels are all similar because they are the written account of pretty much the same events during the same time, but as seen through different eyes. So, when Jesus spoke or performed a miracle, then all of the written accounts are going to speak about those things. However, as has been previously mentioned, this gives some credence to the understanding that the accounts are true.

If three people see the same thing and describe it in similar fashion, then we are likely to believe that the account is true. Now, there may be some slight nuances that one speaks of more importantly than another, but the general understanding of the event happening is believed because of the similarity of the accounts.

As has also been mentioned, God has established how we, as believers, are to determine truth about some event. There must be the testimony of two or more witnesses. So, naturally, God meets His own test. He has provided three eyewitnesses and one that is an account based on the testimony of eyewitnesses. All pretty much in agreement with one another.

Yes, some wrote about an event that another didn't and I think this only natural in true eyewitness testimony covering such a long period of time and so many different events. If you take two people who knew someone and ask them to right a biography on that person that they both knew, then you'll likely get different events recorded in the accounts that made a different impact on the writers.

So, there seems to be enough similarity in the gospel accounts for us to have confidence that the events spoken of are true. But, also enough differences for us to be similarly convinced that the accounts were not contrived or copied.

That's my understanding and once again, welcome to the family of God.

God bless you.
In Christ, Ted