In this episode, Spencer and Jack have a discussion about the differences present in the synoptic gospels, provide an explanation as to why they might be there, and talk about how to interpret the gospels as literature.

Music:
“Kid Kodi”
Blue Dot Sessions
http://www.sessions.blue

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Episode # 61 – How To Interpret The Gospels

1. Context
   1. Inside the same Gospel
      1. Allow Gospel texts to stand on their own. Fight the urge to compare or harmonize Gospel accounts. 
      2. Each Gospel writer is trying to do something different with their stories, allow them to do so. 
   2. Markan Priority
      1. How is Mark using the story?
      2. How do Matthew and/or Luke change Mark’s story? What are they trying to do with the story? 
   3. Q
      1. How are Matthew and Luke using their Q source differently? 
   4. Oral Tradition
   5. Audience/Mirror Reading
2. Read the Gospels as Ancient Bio
   1. The Gospels are not modern biographies but ancient ones. 
   2. The purpose of ancient biographies were not primarily to present historical information about a particular individual, but to speak about an individual to cause a response from the audience.
      1. E.g., like the person, hate the person, live like the philosopher, accept the philosophers teaching, etc. 
      2. They are biased!
   3. Ancient writers were allowed to take certain literary liberties.
      1. Don’t try to do too much historical work. You’re not a historical Jesus expert! 

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Be sure to listen to these previous episodes about inspiration and interpretation below: