The comparison between the synoptic Gospel and the Gospel of John is something that has been challenging for many scholars. However, many scholars have performed this task and have even expounded on what they feel are the reasons behind the similarities as well as the differences. The whole assumption while making a comparison between synoptic Gospel and Gospel of John has been on the idea that the Gospel of John was written after the synoptic Gospel. While differences exist between the Gospel of John and synoptic Gospel, there are many other similarities. Others scholars have even argued that John’s Gospel complements the synoptic gospels.
Differences between John and Synoptic Gospel
Several differences exist between the book of John and the synoptic books. The first difference is one of the many items that have been omitted by John but re found in the synoptic gospel books. The most important elements such as the temptations of Jesus, the transfiguration and the Lord’s Supper are found in the synoptic books but not mentioned in the gospel of John. Also, the synoptic books mention scenarios such as Jesus casting out the demons, the sermon on the mountain and the Lord’s Prayer. However, the gospel of John omits such elements. At the same time, parables are used throughout the synoptic books but are missing in the book of John ( Bultmann, 2014 ). Even though many may view John 15:1-8 (the vine and the branches) as a parable, many scholars don’t recognize it as a parable.
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Other than the materials found in the synoptic books that are missing in the gospel of John, there are also other materials that are found in John that are missing in the synoptic gospel. The description of the early Galilean ministry of Jesus that is found in John 2-4 is missing in the synoptic gospel. John also mentions the prior visit of Jesus to Jerusalem, which is not mentioned in the synoptic books. The seventh sign miracle and the resurrection of Lazarus that is found in John 11 are not mentioned in the synoptic gospel. In John 13-17, there is the description of the extended farewell discourse, a section that does not appear anywhere in the synoptic gospel ( Meier, 2016 ).
The differences between John and the synoptic books also arise in the different lengths of Jesus’ public ministry. In the gospel of John, the public ministry of Jesus went through a period that goes up to at least three to four years. During this period, Jesus moved to on very many occasions from Galilee to Jerusalem. This is different from what is reported in the synoptic books which make a description of only one major final journey of Jesus to Jerusalem and which takes place within just one year. There is also a difference in the way each of these gospel books presents their narrations about Jesus. John begins his description of Jesus with an affirmation of preexistence. He begins his book with eternity which identifies that Jesus existed even before his birth (“In the beginning the Word already was…”. This is unlike in the synoptic books which begin with the mentioning of the birth of Jesus.
Other differences also emerge between the synoptic books and the gospel of John. In the literary point of view, the synoptic books are presented from a third person point of view, with the events described as if the author reported what he saw. As a result, the synoptic books are described as a descriptive in nature. In the gospel of John, the author clearly separates himself from the events being described, and even if he uses a third person, the events are described as if they happened later and not at the moment of description ( Anderson , 2010). The book of John can be described as reflective. The synoptic gospel has more emphasis on the kingdom of God, which appears in many verses. In John, however, this is missing as John emphasizes the eternal life that comes after death.
In the gospel of John, Jesus starts his ministry in Judea at the same time John the Baptist started his ministry. This is different from what is reported in the synoptic books which state that Jesus started his ministry at the time of the call of the disciples which takes place after John the Baptist was imprisoned. Also, there is a difference in timing of the cleansing of the temple. In the synoptic gospel, cleansing occurs during the ministry of Jesus, which is different from John’s perspectives where cleansing occurs at the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus ( Green, Brown& Perrin , 2013). John mentioned about the cleansing of the temple at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus o show emphasis on its importance in understanding the ministry of Jesus.
Similarities between Synoptic Gospel and the Gospel of John
Several similarities exist between the gospel of John and the synoptic gospel. Both of these books identify the anointing of the spirit of Jesus as recorded in Mark 1: 10 and in John 1: 32. Both of these books also mention the differences between the baptism of Jesus and that of John the Baptist as recorded in John 1: 23 and in Mark 1: 7. In many occasions, both the books mention the life and the ministry of Jesus as he preached the gospel from one region to another ( Gardner, 2011 ). The events that occurred during the public ministry of Jesus are also mentioned in both the books. For example, the feeding of the 5000 people by Jesus is mention both in John 6: 1-15 and in Mark 6: 34-44. Also, events such as Jesus walking on water are mentioned by both the books in John 6: 16-21 and in Mark 6: 45-54. The teachings of Jesus are also recorded in both the gospel books. They both focus on the core teachings of Jesus that involve the call for all human to repent, the new covenant and the nature of the kingdom of God. The journey of Jesus throughout his ministry is also covered in both the gospel of John and the synoptic gospel. This covers the journey of Jesus and his disciples as he moved from one point to another preaching the gospel.
Conclusion
When taking a comparison between the synoptic gospel and the gospel of John, it comes out clearly that John omitted many items which are found in the synoptic gospel. John focuses on the ministry of Jesus in places like Judea, Samaria, and Galilee while the synoptic, on the other hand, focus on the ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem and to the North. Many accounts such as the use of parables, the transfiguration as well as Lord’s supper are all reported in the synoptic gospel but missing in the gospel of John. Furthermore, major themes and concepts such as the kingdom of God are also omitted by John who instead decides to focus on the eternal life. Despite the differences, however, these books have many similarities based on the themes and concepts of the life and the ministry of Jesus. Both the books have identified the events that occurred during the public ministry of Jesus as he moved from place to place with his disciples. Therefore. The synoptic gospel and the gospel of John have many similarities as well as many differences.
References
Anderson, P. N. (2010). The Christology of the Fourth Gospel: Its Unity and Disunity in the Light of John 6 (With a New Introduction, Outlines, and Epilogue) . Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Bultmann, R. (2014). The Gospel of John: a commentary (Vol. 1). Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Gardner-Smith, P. (2011). Saint John and the Synoptic Gospels . Cambridge University Press.
Green, J. B., Brown, J. K., & Perrin, N. (Eds.). (2013). Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels . InterVarsity Press.
Meier, J. P. (2016). A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus, Volume V: Probing the Authenticity of the Parables . Yale University Press.
