Was the Gospel of John Written From Memory? — Mark Goodacre
Mark Goodacre
63.54
15 May 2026
24 May 2026
Did John actually read Mark's Gospel — or did he have it memorized word for word?
In this episode I sit down with Mark Goodacre — Professor of New Testament at Duke University — to explore one of the most debated questions in biblical scholarship: how well did the author of the Fourth Gospel actually know the Synoptics?
What we cover:
Did John have physical copies of Matthew, Mark, and Luke?
Could John have memorized Mark's Gospel almost entirely from memory?
How C.H. Dodd's mid-20th century theory shaped — and misled — a generation of scholars
The emerging consensus that John was far more literarily connected to the Synoptics than previously believed
Barabbas — historical figure or literary invention?
Aramaic terms in the Gospels and what they reveal about Jesus's actual speech
Paul's knowledge of the historical Jesus
Women in the resurrection accounts and what that tells us about early Christianity
00:00
Exploring the Fourth Synoptic Gospel
04:46
Historical Context and Reception of John's Gospel
09:31
Understanding John's Knowledge of the Synoptics
14:05
The Author and Audience of the Gospel of John
18:11
Comparative Analysis of Josephus and Luke
22:41
The Birth Narratives in Luke and Matthew
29:27
Crafting Unique Narratives: Luke's Approach
36:30
The Historical Figure of Barabbas
41:15
Aramaic Terms in the Gospels
45:05
The Influence of Paul on the Gospels
50:28
Paul's Knowledge of the Historical Jesus
56:06
Women in the Resurrection Accounts
59:33
The Preservation of Mark's Gospel
This conversation will change the way you read the Gospel of John.
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📖 Mark Goodacre's blog: https://ntweblog.blogspot.com/
