Well, not quite.
The authors of the synoptic gospels drew upon an established tradition, rather than writing independent eyewitness accounts.
These historical writings were known teachings and happenings in His ministry which was common knowledge among the apostles, later put into writing. Each Gospel offers unique details. Luke for instance, a disciple of the Apostles, includes information which he received from them directly.
And the gospel of "John" tells us more about the discourses gentile Christianity was faced with in the late 1st/early 2nd century than about the early 30s in Judaea/Galilaea.
John's Gospel is truly unique. The style of the Gospel is exactly that of his letters 1,2, and 3 John. Therefore there are 4 documents of the same author, with a distinct style of authorship, written by a man that one would rightly conlclude knew the Lord Jesus not only directly but intimately.
I have 1 John memorized. The style of the writing and the material therein is in perfect harmony with his Gospel account.
Paul, in turn, did not even know Jesus and had no first-hand knowledge of his ministry.
He didn't claim to walk with Jesus in the flesh. He said he received wisdom by revelation, to bring the message of the Hebrew Messiah to the world of the Gentiles (
Eph 3:2-4,
Rom 15:15). Since while Jesus was in the flesh, His ministry was not for the Gentiles (
Mark 7:25-30,
Mat 10:5-6). The wisdom of the Gospel required a man born out of due time (
1 Cor 15:7-9) to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles, since Israel in the flesh had rejected the Messiah in the flesh. Interesting how this man -
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (1 Cor 15:9)
was chosen in this way -
And he said, Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads. (
Acts 9:5)
to bring the Gospel to those not born in National Israel.
He never claimed to know the Lord Jesus in the flesh, but he was given direction, as a prophet, to speak His words to the Gentiles. I find it interesting how a man that hated the church and despised the Lord Jesus, being a Pharisee of the Pharisees, would choose to throw all of his prominent earthly heritage away to die for the sake of the Gospel.
Phil 3:7-9
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which
is from the law, but that which
is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
2 Corinthians 11:22-33
22 Are they Hebrews? So
am I. Are they Israelites? So
am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So
am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ?I speak as a foolI
am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
24 From the Jews five times I received forty
stripes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 in journeys often,
in perils of waters,
in perils of robbers,
in perils of
my own countrymen,
in perils of the Gentiles,
in perils in the city,
in perils in the wilderness,
in perils in the sea,
in perils among false brethren;
27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness
28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn
with indignation?
30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
