Gospel Parallels: A Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels, NRSV

by Burton H. Throckmorton Jr.

A classic since 1949, Gospel Parallels presents Matthew, Mark, and Luke printed side-by-side for easy and enlightening comparative study. Using a parallel arrangement of columns, Gospel Parallels highlights differences and similarities in language and chronology between the first three Gospels. This unique reference tool will benefit anyone interested in examining the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Preachers will find this work useful for creating a complete picture of the life of Christ. Students of the English Bible will use it to come to their own conclusions about the variations in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. And advanced scholars will use the scholarly apparatus to study the textual variations in the earliest known Greek and Latin Manuscripts of the Gospels. This 5th edition features revised and updated textual notes based on the NRSV, enlarged type size, an all-new page design, and an improved system of comparison.

Genres: Reference, Religion, Christianity, Theology, New Testament, Nonfiction, Christian

212 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1949

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Walter Wink's "Introduction to the Christian Scriptures" class at Union Theological Seminary in New York we were assigned the task of going through the four canonical gospels, magic markers in hand, noting the parallels that existed between two or more of the texts in the Revised Standard Version of the bible. A salutory exercise, it will convince you that the mainstream of biblical criticism is correct, that Mark, or something close to Mark, and some sort of lost collection of the sayings of Jesus were at hand when the authors of Luke and Matthew composed their gospels. If you haven't done this for yourself already, then don't get Throckmorton--or at least don't open it.

After you have dealt with "the synoptic problem" on your own, Throckmorton is a godsend as it portrays the results of your work in neat columns with helpful footnotes and reference to the other, very different, gospel, that of John.

When you buy this book be sure to get the edition corresponding to your edition of the RSV, either the older RSV one we used or the New Revised Standard Version. Since it's been decades now that this handy reference and study aid has been out, copies should be readily available in used book stores. I have probably purchased at least three as gifts in the last year.

Other parallel gospels exist, including some that give John a (mostly blank) column. Throckmorton is, however, the most popular, most available and most helpful until you're ready to deal with Greek texts.

[John Hanscom · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most useful references sources there is.

[pjr8888 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides a thorough study of the three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) by allowing the student to view corresponding passages in parallel columns.

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gifted to me by a clergy friend following a Lenten discussion group, this side-by-side comparison of the Matthew, Mark and Luke is primarily a reference book. It’s also apparently a classic go-to source for understanding how the three synoptic Gospels compare and contrast. What I found most interesting was the introductory section, which describes all of the other non-canonical gospels that are also referenced throughout. I knew there were other candidate scriptures, but didn’t realize just how many and how similar, or not, they were. The cross-references also cover John, helping the reader just how distinct that fourth book really is.

[Troy Nevitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the Synoptic gospels of the Bible, with the gospels side-by-side. The biggest complaint is that it doesn't lay flat. That's not a serious complaint.
Potentially one could argue for the translation choice, being NRSV, but I had no problem. A Bible is a Bible and this seemed fairly translated.

[David Szatkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book puts the synoptics together in one place, so you can see how they are similar and different. What is helpful is when you are comparing how MT, MK, or LK use the same (or different) words, texts, etc. This is not a commentary, however, on any particular book or part of the Bible.

[Bradley Somers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study tool for working through the Synoptic Gospels

[Leonardo]

Recomendado en la lecture 10 del curso https://oyc.yale.edu/religious-studie...

[David S. T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up the way I'd always read the bible was to start at the beginning of one book and read to the end of it, after I finished that I'd go to the next and do the same. I never really tried to compare the different stories against ones in the different books. I've done this some on my own, but even then its hard to really look at them because I have to jump back and forth between the stories, this book is really nice because it takes the synoptic gospels (the first three) and places the parallel stories side by side. John was left out because it doesn't have many parallel's to the other gospels, but I wish that some parts such as Jesus's crucifixion were included to so it would be easy to compare John's version with the one presented in the others. This book also has some parallels with other non canonical books such as The Gospel of Thomas in the footnotes which was interesting (although there isn't enough non-canonical comparisons to do any type of study).

While reading these texts in this new way, the most obvious thing I noticed was just how much of exact copies the first three books are. There are many passages which are word for word copies (well at least the translations are). The similarities of these accounts really makes the differences stand out. Some are minor, for example Luke says that the transfiguration took place "about 8" days after the sermon on the mount, while the other two say 6, I can't figure out why this was changed, it seems so minor. Others seem much more significant, one that really stood out to me is the great commandment; in Mark he starts out with "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one", both Luke and Matthew copy everything else from this passage but leave that part of the commandment out (the lord is one). Is there a reason for this? Does it matter, I don't really know. It leaves me wondering why the two books which include the virgin birth left this out? Since neither explicitly has the idea of a trinity, perhaps they were struggling with the nature of Jesus along with the singularity of God or perhaps it was just a coincidence, I don't really know. Reading them side by side also makes the bizarre episode in Matthew where Jesus rides both a donkey and colt at the same time, seem even more weird when you consider that both Mark and Luke only have him riding a colt (something far more feasible).

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful resource, e.g.

The protection and vindication of the righteous poor were part of God's promises throughout the Hebrew texts.1 Blessings to the poor, hungry and persecuted are found in the Gospel of Thomas (Logion 54, 69b, 68) and 2 Clement 13:4.2

Throckmorton, Jr., Burton H. Gospel Parallels: A Comparison of the Synoptic Gospels, New Revised Standard Version. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992.

[Juliette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pain in the butt sometimes, and sometimes took hours to do the underlining like my professor wanted, it was worth it. It made me slow down and think about what I was reading, what I have been reading since I was a child, and even discover something new about each text.

[Mark Stevens, ThD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference book for studying the Bible.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compares Matt, Mark and Luke. Uses the NRSV. Also a little bit of the history of the bible and church fathers in the beginning. Valuable resource to have.

[John]

religion,nonfiction,reference

[BigHeadWalt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful and just what I was looking for in a book that compares the Gospels.
Aligns the parables together to demonstrate the consistancy across the Book.

[TediyraBH]

9780840750327

BS2560.I5 1967