What are the similarities and differences of the crucifixion stories in the four Gospels?

Answer 1

A:In spite of the second-century Christian traditions attributing the gospels to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we do not really know who wrote them, but scholars say that none of the gospels could have been written by an eyewitness to the events portrayed. These facts are important in any comparison of the gospel accounts. Furthermore, scholars have demonstrated that the Gospels of Matthew and Luke were based on the Gospel of Mark. John's Gospel was more loosely based on Luke and, to a lesser extent, Mark. Because there was only one original account of the crucifixion, there will naturally be similarities in the four gospel stories, but there are also differences.

All the gospels have Jesus crucified on Friday - the day after the Passover feast in the synoptic gospels, or the day before the Passover feast in John (John 19:14). The synoptic gospels agree that the sky darkened at the sixth hour (noon), but this is necesarily omitted in John, since the fourth gospel does not have Jesus sent for crucifixion until the sixth hour. The synoptic accounts also agree that the curtain in the Temple was rent from top to bottom at the exact time that Jesus died. All the gospels agree that Joseph of Arimathea asked for the body of Jesus so that he could bury him before nightfall.

In the three synoptic gospels, Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate for trial as soon as it was morning and was crucified at the third hour (9 o'clock), but John says he was sent to be crucified at the sixth hour (12 o'clock).

The synoptic gospels differ as to the attitude of the two thieves crucified with Jesus, while John's Gospel omits this passage altogether. In Mark's Gospel, the original New Testament gospel, the two thieves say nothing - they are just there alongside Jesus. In Matthew's Gospel, the two thieves reviled Jesus, just like the mob that watched on (Matthew 27:44): "The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. " In Luke's Gospel, only one of the malefactors reviled Jesus (Luke 23:39): "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." The other thief repented (Luke 23:40-42): "But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."

In the synoptic gospels, no one of Jesus' acquaintance was at the cross, although Mary and others stood afar off. In John's Gospel, Mary and the 'disciple whom Jesus loved' were at the cross and Jesus told the beloved disciple to look after Mary as if she were his own mother.

After the introductory story in Mark's Gospel, all the subsequent gospels added elaborations of their own. For example, Matthew says that there was an earthquake and the dead rose up out of their graves and walked into Jerusalem, where they were seen by many; John says that the soldiers broke the legs of the other two, to hasten death, but seeing that Jesus was already dead only speared him in the side.

Answer 2

A:There are very significant differences among the synoptic gospels in their stories of the crucifixion of Jesus, but the most important ones are between the synoptics and the Gospel of John.

In the synoptic gospels, the Last Supper was the feast of the Jewish Passover, and Jesus was crucified the next day. For theological reasons, John moves the Passover so that Jesus is crucified on the Day of Preparation - the day before the Passover (John 19:14).

In the synoptic gospels, Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate for trial as soon as it was morning and was crucified at the third hour (9 o'clock), but John says he was sent to be crucified at the sixth hour (12 o'clock).

The synoptic gospels differ as to the attitude of the two thieves crucified with Jesus, while John's Gospel omits this passage altogether. In Mark's Gospel, the original New Testament gospel, the two thieves say nothing - they are just there alongside Jesus. In Matthew's Gospel, the two thieves reviled Jesus, just like the mob that watched on (Matthew 27:44): "The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. " In Luke's Gospel, only one of the malefactors reviled Jesus (Luke 23:39): "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." The other thief repented (Luke 23:40-42): "But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."

In the synoptic gospels, no one of Jesus' acquaintance was at the cross, although Mary and others stood afar off. In John's Gospel, Mary and the 'disciple whom Jesus loved' were at the cross and Jesus told the beloved disciple to look after Mary as if she were his own mother.

After the introductory story in Mark's Gospel, all the subsequent gospels added elaborations of their own. For example, Matthew says that there was an earthquake and the dead rose up out of their graves and walked into Jerusalem, where they were seen by many; John says that the soldiers broke the legs of the other two, to hasten death, but seeing that Jesus was already dead only speared him in the side.