Maybe you have heard the phrase Synoptic Gospels before. The Synoptic Gospels refer to the first three Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The word synoptic comes from the Greek word sunoptikos and is defined as of or forming a general summary or synopsis. When we are talking about the Synoptic Gospels, we are noting that the first three Gospels are written in the form of a general summary of Jesus’ life and ministry. One can note that Matthew, Mark, and Luke all work to share the story of Jesus in chronological order, wanting to tell the story in a historical manner. John’s Gospel is not synoptic.

If a reader has spent any time in all four of the Gospels, it is likely that the reader would feel the difference in John. The author uses distinct content, structure, and style that shifts the focus from telling a historical narrative to creating a theological discourse. John includes several long discourses, conversations that Jesus has only in the fourth Gospel (like Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and Lazarus). Yet John omits key synoptic elements (parables, exorcisms, baptism, and transfiguration). Scholars believe that one reason for the omissions is that John is writing a theological companion to the earlier Gospels, not a replacement.

Grace and Peace,

Daren Hofmann