Date

7-22-2025

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics (MA)

Chair

Jeff S. Kennedy

Keywords

Synoptic Gospels, Gospel harmonization, Resurrection accounts, Bible contradictions, Christian apologetics, Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Luke, historical Jesus, biblical reliability, New Testament studies, oral tradition, gospel chronology, faith and reason.

Disciplines

Christianity | Practical Theology

Abstract

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, commonly known as the Synoptic Gospels, serve as the primary sources for understanding the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For centuries, Christians have treated these accounts as sacred and authoritative texts that shaped doctrine and devotion. However, despite their theological significance, the Synoptic Gospels present challenges when examined from a historical and literary perspective. One of the most debated issues is the apparent discrepancies in the timing of the crucifixion of Jesus. While the Gospel of Mark states that the crucifixion was at the third hour (9 a.m.), Luke emphasizes a period of darkness from the sixth hour (noon) to the ninth hour (3 p.m.), and John presents a conflicting timeline that places Jesus’s condemnation at the sixth hour (noon). These variations have led scholars, skeptics, and theologians to question the historical reliability of the Gospel accounts and the extent to which theological motives shaped them. Addressing these concerns is critical, as the timing of Jesus’s crucifixion is not a minor detail but a fundamental event in Christian history and belief. If the accounts of the death of Jesus appear inconsistent, it raises broader questions about the trustworthiness of the Gospels as historical documents.

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