Why are there so many differences between the synoptic Gospels, e.g. the birth narrative?

Answer 1

It was a scandal. They were fugitives. They lived in an nation under the heal of an oppressive empire. They didn't post the details of their private lives on the Internet (gossip), and no one really cared until decades later....

Answer 2

There are differences because they are written by different authors for different audiences. However, they do not contradict each other. An interesting study is to read them when they have been merged together like in the Daily Bible assembled by F. LeGard Smith.

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I hope this helps.

Keep asking, investigating, learning -- SEEK the truth. Grow in knowledge and faith.

Answer 3

0nly two of the synoptics give the birth narrative. They are written from different perspectives, 0ne Jewish, one Gentile, to tell different aspects of the Incarnation.

Answer 4

people remember different things if they were all identical you would say they were coppyed so how ever the are written you will complain. Luke went out and learned about Jesus asked around all who had known him or the history. John was obviusly one of the desciples and mark may have been a young man who was following Jesus.

Answer 5

Because the authors and redactors had different axes to grind, were writing to different audiences, had different resources of oral tradition to draw on, etc.

Answer 6

Different authors... Different perspectives... The differences don't conflict they compliment each other...

Answer 7

To what, particularly, are you referring?