Structured Stories with Eyewitness Control

Structured Stories with Eyewitness Control
Verbal Agreement: Three Examples

By: Erick Nelson
Last Updated: Monday May 24, 2004

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I turn now to three examples of verbal agreement presented by Robert Stein (The Synoptic Problem: An Introduction), which he presumably are the most compelling examples he can find of verbal agreement. Stein opens Part I with the paragraph heading "Agreement in Wording", saying:

"The easiest way of observing the close similarity in the wording of the synoptic Gospels is to underline the agreements that exist between them in parallel passages." (p 29)

And then he offers hand-picked cases for study: presumably those which best reveal what he calls the "obvious similarities in wording that we find in these passages". (I put them in Matt, Mark, Luke order, following his chart.)

1. Suffer the Little Children

Matt 19:13-15
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray.

The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said,

Mark 10:13-16

And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them;
and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them,
Luke 18:15-17

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them;
and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying,

"Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

And he laid his hands on them and went away.
"Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.
"Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

(Case 3: Key Phrases) The upper portion is a particularly poor example of word-to-word correspondence between the synoptics. Besides the trivial similarities ("and", "the", "but", etc.), the identical words are key words, due to the content of the story itself: Children were brought to him so that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.

(Case 2: Quotable Quotes) The bottom portion contains some of the most famous sayings in the whole Bible. I could quote these myself, even when I was a child.

And further: Note, even within this obvious theme, the writers frequently differ in small ways for no discernable reason.

Matthew

the passive "were brought"

adds "and pray"

"lay his hands" on them (not "touch them")

the disciples rebukes "the people"

Mark

when Jesus saw it he was indignant

Luke

"even infants" (not "children)

when the disciples "saw it"

Jesus "called them to him"

That is a lot of difference for such a small passage.

2. Sadducees and the Resurrection

Matt 22:23-33
The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection;

and they ask him a question, saying "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies, having no children, his brother must marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.'

Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother. So too the second and the third, down to the seventh.

After them all, the woman died.

In the resurrection, therefore, to which of the seven will she be wife? For they all had her."
Mark 12:18-27

And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection;

and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the wife, and raise up children for his brother.

There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no children; and the second took her, and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; and the seven left no children.

Last of all the woman also died.

In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife."
Luke 20:27-40

There came to him some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection;
and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother.

Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children; and the second and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died.

Afterward the woman also died.

In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife."

But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God.

For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God,

'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living."

And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
Jesus said to them, "Is not this why you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God?

For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him,

'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong."
And Jesus said to them,

"The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord

the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him"

And some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

(Case 2: Quotable Quotes) In the bottom portion we see a couple of pithy statements - not as high-profile as the earlier example. The most memorable is "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; not the God of the dead, but of the living." It is a classic defense of the resurrection.

If these verbal identities were due to Matthew's and Luke's direct copying from Mark, we would expect to see the majority of words to be the same - especially in an example put forward specifically to show the high incidence of verbal identity!

(Case 1a: Content) But look at the top portion. In this case, I decided to mark - in red - the phrases that were different. Even giving the benefit of the doubt to similarity (I didn't require all three accounts to be the same), the narrative is swimming in red. They all tell essentially the same story, and they all use many of the same words, but they are words demanded by the content of the story: Sadducees, Moses, seven brothers who die and leave their wives to each other. When the woman dies, whose wife is she? But the way the story is phrased is simply different. This could well indicate, from its form, that all three were drawing upon a common story, but never that they copied each other!

3. Signs of the End

Matt 24:4-8
And Jesus answered them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name saying, 'I am the Christ.' and they will lead many astray.

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
Mark 13:5-8

And Jesus began to say to them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying 'I am he!'and they will lead many astray.

And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is not yet.
Luke 21:8-11

And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them.

And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once."

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places;
all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines;
this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.
Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven."

This example is by far the best of the three, and the only one that tempts me to think that these authors might have copied each other. I generously highlighted in blue even when some of the words (e.g. "alarmed" vs. "terrified") were actually different. I would first note that it is almost totally quoted material. I had pointed out earlier that quotes tended to contain more identical verbiage than the "set-up" phrases accompanying them. And that, to me, indicates not that such passages are directly dependent upon each other, but that they rely on a common source (whether oral or written). So, let's take a different approach, and red-highlight the words that are different.

Matt 24:4-8
And Jesus answered them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name saying, 'I am the Christ.' and they will lead many astray.

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet.
Mark 13:5-8

And Jesus began to say to them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray.

And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is not yet.
Luke 21:8-11

And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them.

And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once."

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places;
all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines;
this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.
Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven."

The differences:

Jesus: answered them, began to say to them, "he" said

Luke passive: are not led astray

Matthew: the Christ

Luke: do not go after them, etc.

Matt: "see that you are" not alarmed

Luke: tumults, don't be "terrified"; "first" take place; will not be at once

Matthew: famines

"Various places" is placed variously!

Matthew: "all" this

Luke: pestilences, terrors and great signs

Conclusion

Now if this has been an example I had selected in order to highlight differences, perhaps you might say "Well, sometimes they phrase things differently. Matthew is emphasizing 'Christ', Luke adds comments, ..." etc. But note this. This one example is the best of the three - and the three are the best examples of verbal agreement that Stein chooses!

I believe I have squarely faced the best arguments for Direct Literary Dependence, and the foremost evidence - and have found them wanting. I just don't see it. I do not see how anyone could look at all these examples and conclude that one of the gospel writers was copying from any of the others!

Matt 19:13-15 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said,	Mark 10:13-16 And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them,	Luke 18:15-17 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying,

"Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." And he laid his hands on them and went away.	"Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.	"Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

Matt 22:23-33 The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection; and they ask him a question, saying "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies, having no children, his brother must marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.' Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother. So too the second and the third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, to which of the seven will she be wife? For they all had her."	Mark 12:18-27 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the wife, and raise up children for his brother. There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no children; and the second took her, and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; and the seven left no children. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife."	Luke 20:27-40 There came to him some Sadducees, those who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the wife and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and died without children; and the second and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife."

But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living." And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.	Jesus said to them, "Is not this why you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong."	And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are accounted worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die any more, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him" And some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

Matt 24:4-8 And Jesus answered them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name saying, 'I am the Christ.' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet.	Mark 13:5-8 And Jesus began to say to them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying 'I am he!'and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is not yet.	Luke 21:8-11 And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once."

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places; all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.	For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines; this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.	Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven."

Matt 24:4-8 And Jesus answered them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name saying, 'I am the Christ.' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet.	Mark 13:5-8 And Jesus began to say to them, "Take heed that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name, saying 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is not yet.	Luke 21:8-11 And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once."

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places; all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.	For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places, there will be famines; this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs.	Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven."