It’s called the “Synoptic Problem”, the perceived contradiction of various events in the four gospels. Typically this perceived contradiction is chronological. However, novice readers fail to understand the nuances of ancient writers and their works. In the ancient Near East, historical events were often grouped by themes or geography and not necessarily presented in chronological order. Thus, although the stories in the gospels match, they differ in order. Below is a proposed chronological outline of events in the New Testament gospels as they likely occurred. However, please note that this is only a proposed ordering of events – most events in the New Testament are not given specific dates/times in the scriptures and thus the table presented below is theoretical only.
| Date | Description of Event | Matthew | Mark | Luke | John |
| Prologue to the gospel | 01.01-4 | 1.1-18 | |||
| 6 BC | Birth of John the Baptist foretold | 01.05-25 | |||
| 5 BC | Mary visits Elizabeth | 01.26-56 | |||
| 5 BC | The birth of Jesus; the shepherds | 1.18-25 | 02.01-20 | ||
| 4 BC | Circumcision of Jesus | 02.21-40 | |||
| 4 BC | Wise men visit | 2.1-12 | |||
| Herod slays babies of Bethlehem |
2.13-23 | ||||
| 4 BC | Death of Herod, return from Egypt | ||||
| AD 9 | Jesus at twelve years of age | 02.41-52 | |||
| AD 29 | John the Baptist begins his ministry | 3.1-12 | 1.1-8 | 03.01-18 | 1.19-34 |
| AD 29 | The baptism of Jesus | 3.13-17 | 1.9-11 | 03.21-22 | |
| The genealogy of Jesus | 1.1-17 | 03.23-38 | |||
| AD 29 | The temptation of Jesus | 4.1-11 | 1.12-13 | 04.01-13 | |
| Jesus’s first recorded miracle (water made wine) | 2.1-12 | ||||
| AD 30 | First Passover of Jesus’ Ministry | ||||
| AD 30 | Jesus cleanses the temple | 2.13-25 | |||
| Nicodemus visits Jesus | 3.1-21 | ||||
| Jesus baptizes | 3.22-4.3 | ||||
| Jesus converses with the woman of Samaria | 4.4-42 | ||||
| Jesus arrives in Galilee and begins his ministry | 4.12-17 | 1.14-15 | 04.14-15 | 4.43-45 | |
| Jesus’ first rejection at Nazareth | 04.16-30 | ||||
| Jesus in the synagogue at Capernaum | 7.28-29 | 1.21-28 | 04.31-37 | 7.46 | |
| Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law | 8.14-17 | 1.29-34 | 04.38-41 | ||
| Jesus departs from Capernaum | 1.35-38 | 04.42-43 | |||
| Jesus journey in Galilee | 4.23-25 | 1.39 | 4.44 | ||
| First disciples called | 4.18-22 | 1.16-20 | 05.01-11 | 1.35-41 | |
| Leper healed | 8.1-4 | 1.40-45 | 05.12-16 | ||
| Jesus heals a paralyzed man | 9.1-8 | 2.1-12 | 05.17-26 | 5.8-9 | |
| Levi (Matthew) is called | 9.9-13 | 2.13-17 | 05.27-32 | ||
| The question about fasting | 9.14-17 | 2.18-22 | 05.33-39 | ||
| AD 31 | Jesus heals man at Bethesda | 5.1-47 | |||
| Two blind men healed | 9.27-31 | ||||
| Plucking grain on the sabbath | 12.1-8 | 2.23-28 | 06.01-5 | 5.1 | |
| The healing of the man with a withered hand | 12.9-14 | 3.1-6 | 06.06-11 | ||
| The call of the twelve | 10.1-4 | 3.13-19 | 06.12-16 | 1.42 | |
| Jesus heals the multitudes | 12.15-21 | 3.7-12 | 06.17-19 | ||
| Sermon on the Mount | 5.1-2 | 6.2 | |||
| The Beatitudes | 5.3-12 | 06.20-23 | |||
| The Woes | 06.24-26 | ||||
| Loving one’s enemies | 5.43-48 | 06.27-28, 32-36 | |||
| Jesus teaches prayer | 6.1-8 | ||||
| On swearing; on retaliation | 5.33-42 | 06.29-30 | |||
| The Golden Rule | 7.12 | 6.31 | |||
| On judging | 7.1-5 | 06.37-42 | |||
| On profaning the holy | 7.6 | ||||
| The test of a good man | 7.15-20 | 06.43-45 | |||
| Warning against self-deception | 7.21-23 | 06.46; 13.26-27 | |||
| Hearers and doers of the Word | 7.24-27 | 06.47-49 | |||
| Sermon on the Mount ends | 7.28-29 | 7.46 | |||
| Healing the centurion’s servant | 8.5-13 | 07.01-10 | 4.46-54 | ||
| Healing the widow’s son at Naim | 07.11-17 | ||||
| John’s imprisonment (comments on) | 03.19-20 | ||||
| John’s question to Jesus | 11.2-6 | 07.18-23 | |||
| Jesus’ words about John | 11.7-19 | 07.24-35 | |||
| The woman with the ointment | 26.6-13 | 14.3-9 | 07.36-50 | 12.1-8 | |
| The anointing at Bethany | 26.6-13 | 14.3-9 | 07.36-50 | 12.1-11 | |
| The ministering women | 08.01-3 | ||||
| Jesus teaches | 13.1-52 | 4.1-34 | 08.04-18; 10.23-24; 13.18-21 | 12.4 | |
| Jesus’ relatives | 12.46-50 | 3.31-35 | 08.19-21 | 15.14 | |
| The calming of the storm | 8.23-27 | 4.35-51 | 08.22-25 | ||
| The Gadarene demoniac | 8.28-34 | 5.1-20 | 08.26-39 | ||
| Jairus’ daughter healed | 9.18-26 | 5.21-43 | 08.40-56 | ||
| Jesus is rejected at Nazareth | 13.53-58 | 6.1-6 | 08.40-56 | 4.44; 6.42; 7.5, 15 | |
| The sending out of the twelve | 9.35; 10.1-11, 14 | 6.6-13 | 09.01-6 | ||
| The death of John | 14.3-12 | 6.17-29 | |||
| Herod thinks Jesus is John | 14.1-2 | 6.14-16 | 09.07-9 | ||
| The feeding of the 5,000 |
14.13-21 | 6.30-44 | 09.10-17 | 6.1-14 | |
| Jesus walks on water | 14.22-33 | 6.45-52 | 6.15-21 | ||
| Jesus’ discourse on the bread of life | 6.22-71 | ||||
| Healings at Gennesaret | 14.34-36 | 6.53-56 | |||
| What defiles a man | 15.1-20 | 7.1-23 | |||
| The Syrophenician woman | 15.21-28 | 7.24-30 | |||
| Healing of the deaf mute | 15.29-31 | 7.31-37 | |||
| The feeding of the 4,000 | 15.32-39 | 8.1-10 | |||
| Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi | 16.13-23 | 8.27-33 | 09.18-22 | 6.68-69; 20.21-23 | |
| The conditions of discipleship | 16.24-28 | 8.34-9.1 | 09.23-27 | 12.25 | |
| The transfiguration | 17.1-8 | 9.2-8 | 09.28-36 | 1.14 | |
| The coming of Elijah | 17.9-13 | 9.9-13 | |||
| The epileptic boy healed | 17.14-21 | 9.14-29 | 09.37-43a | 14.9 | |
| The second prediction of the Passion | 17.22-23 | 9.30-32 | 09.43b-45 | 7.1 | |
| The temple tax | 17.24-27 | ||||
| The dispute about greatness | 18.1-5 | 9.33-37 | 09.46-48 | 3.3, 5; 12.44-45; 13.20 | |
| The strange exorcist | 9.38-41 | 09.49-50 | |||
| The Samaritan villagers | 09.51-56 | ||||
| The nature of discipleship | 8.18-22 | 09.57-62 | |||
| The nature of discipleship | 8.18-22 | 09.57-62 | |||
| The twelve disciples sent | 9.35-10.6 | 10.01-16 | 1.42; 4.35 | ||
| The sending out of the seventy | 9.35-10.16 | 10.01-16 | 4:35; 5.23 | ||
| Woes on the cities of Galilee | 11.20-24 | 10.13-15 | |||
| End of discourse to disciples | 10.40-11.1 | 10.16 | 5.23; 12.44-45 | ||
| The return of the seventy | 10.17-20 | 12.31 | |||
| Jesus’ thanksgiving to the Father | 11.25-27 | 10.21-22 | 3.35; 7.29; 10.14-15; 17.2 | ||
| Comfort for the heavy laden | 11.28-30 | ||||
| Jesus gratitude to the Father | 11.25-27 | 10.21-22 | 10.15; 17.2 | ||
| The blessedness of the disciples | 13.16-17 | 10.23-24 | |||
| The lawyer’s question | 22.34-40 | 12.28-31 | 10.25-28 | ||
| The great commandment | 22.34-40 | 12.28-34 | 10.25-28 | ||
| The good Samaritan parable | 10.29-37 | ||||
| Mary and Martha | 10.38-42 | 11.1-3 | |||
| The Lord’s Prayer | 6.9-15 | 11.01-4 | |||
| The friend at midnight | 11.05-8 | ||||
| God’s answering of prayer | 7.7-11 | 11.09-13 | |||
| The answer to prayer | 7.7-11 | 11.09-13 | |||
| The healing of a dumb demoniac | 9.32-34 | 3.22-27 | 11.14-23 | ||
| Accusations against Jesus | 12.22-37 | 3.20-30 | 11.14-23 | 7.20; 8.48; 52 | |
| Beelzebub controversy | 9.32-34; 12.22-30 | 11.14-23 | |||
| Return of the evil spirit | 12.43-45 | 11.24-26 | |||
| The blessedness of Jesus’ mother | 11.27-28 | ||||
| Against seeking signs | 12.38-42 | 8.11-12 | 11.29-32 | ||
| The sign for this generation | 12.38-42; 16.1-4 | 8.11-12 | 11.29-32 | ||
| The Pharisees seek a sign | 16.1-4 | 8.11-13 | 11.29-32; 12.54-56 | 6.3 | |
| Concerning light | 5.14-16;6.22-23 | 11.33-36 | |||
| Salt and of light parables | 5.13-16 | 9.5 | 11.33-36; 14.34-35 | ||
| The sound eye | 6.22-23 | 11.34-36 | |||
| Discourse against the Pharisees | 23.1-36 | 12.37-40 | 11.37-12.1 | ||
| A discourse | 16.5-12 | 8.14-21 | 12.01 | ||
| The blind man at Bethsaida | 8.22-26 | 9.1-7 | |||
| Exhortation to fearless confession | 10.19-20, 20-33; 12.32 | 4.22; 8.38 | 12.02-12 | 14.26 | |
| Rich fool parable | 12.13-21 | ||||
| Exhortation to confession | 10.26-33 | 12.2-12 | 14.26 | ||
| On anxiety | 6.25-34 | 12.22-31 | |||
| Cares about earthly things | 6.16-21, 25-34 | 12.22-34 | |||
| On fasting and treasures | 6.16-21 | 12.33-34 | |||
| Watchfulness and faithfulness | 24.43-51 | 13.32-33 | 12.35-46 | 13.4-5 | |
| Watchfulness and faithfulness | 24.42-51 | 12.39-46 | |||
| Ten maidens parable | 25.1-13 | ||||
| The servant’s wages | 12.47-48 | ||||
| Division in households | 10.34-36 | 12.49-56 | |||
| Interpreting present time | 10.34-36; 16.1-4 | 12.49-56 | 12.27 | ||
| On murder | 5.21-26 | 12.57-59 | |||
| On adultery and lust | 5.27-30 | ||||
| Agreement with one’s accuser | 5.25-26 | ||||
| Repentance or destruction | 13.01-9 | ||||
| Healing of the woman with a spirit of infirmity | 13.10-17 | ||||
| Parables of the mustard seed | 13.31-33 | 4.30-32 | 13.18-21 | ||
| Exclusion from the kingdom | 7.13-14; 25.10-12; 7.22-23 | 13.22-30 | |||
| The narrow gate | 7.13-14 | 13.23-24 | |||
| Departure from Galilee | 13.31-33 | ||||
| Lament over Jerusalem | 22.37-39 | 13.34-35 | |||
| Lament over Jerusalem | 23.37-39 | 13.34-35 | |||
| The healing of a man with dropsy | 14.01-6 | ||||
| Teaching on humility | 14.07-14 | ||||
| The parable of the marriage feast (Great Supper) | 22.1-14 | 14.16-24 | |||
| Conditions of discipleship | 10.37-39 | 14.25-33 | 12.25 | ||
| The cost of discipleship | 10.26-33, 37-39 | 14.25-35 | |||
| Concerning salt | 5.13 | 9.49-50 | 14.34-35 | ||
| The lost sheep | 18.10-14 | 15.01-10 | |||
| The lost sheep and the lost coin | 18.12-14 | 15.01-10 | |||
| The prodigal son | 15.11-32 | ||||
| The unjust steward | 6.24 | 16.01-13 | |||
| On serving two masters | 6.24 | 16.13 | |||
| The hypocrisy of the Pharisees | 16.14-15 | ||||
| On the law | 5.17-20 | 16.16-17 | |||
| About the law and about divorce | 5.17-20, 31-32; 11.12-13 | 16.16-18 | |||
| On divorce | 5.31-32 | 16.18 | |||
| The rich man and Lazarus | 16.19-31 | ||||
| On temptations | 18.6-9 | 9.42-48 | 17.01-2 | ||
| On causing sin | 18.6-9 | 9.42-48 | 17.01-2 | ||
| On reproving one’s brother | 18.15-20 | 17.03 | 20.23 | ||
| On reconciliation | 18.21-22 | 17.03-4 | |||
| Parable of the unmerciful servant | 18.23-35 | ||||
| Jesus goes to Jerusalem at the feast of Tabernacles | 7.1-53 | ||||
| A woman taken in adultery is brought before Jesus |
8.1-11 | ||||
| Jesus declares himself the light of the world | 8.12-59 | ||||
| Jesus heals a blind beggar | 9.1-41 | ||||
| The Good Shephard | 10.1-21 | ||||
| On forgiveness | 18.15, 21-22 | ||||
| On faith | 17.2 | 17.05-6 | |||
| The servant’s wages | 17.07-10 | ||||
| The healing of ten lepers | 17.11-19 | ||||
| On the kingdom of God | 24.23-25 | 13.21-23 | 17.20-21 | ||
| Culmination of the troubles | 24.23-25 | 13.21-23 | 17.20-23 | ||
| The day of the Son of man | 24.26-28, 37-41 | 17.22-37 | |||
| The day of the Son of man | 24.26-28 | 17.23-24, 37 | |||
| The need for watchfulness | 24.37-41 | 17.26-27,34-35 | |||
| The parable of the unjust judge | 18.01-8 | ||||
| Pharisee and the publican parable |
18.09-14 | ||||
| Marriage and divorce | 19.1-12 | 10.1-12 | |||
| Jesus blesses the children | 19.13-15 | 10.13-16 | 18.15-17 | 3.3,5 | |
| The rich young man | 19.16-30 | 10.17-31 | 18.18-30 | ||
| Laborers in the vineyard parable |
20.1-10 | ||||
| The third prediction of the Passion | 20.17-19 | 10.32-34 | 18.31-34 | ||
| The healing of Bartimeus | 20.29-34 | 10.46-52 | 18.35-43 | ||
| Zaccheus | 19.01-10 | ||||
| The parable of the pounds | 25.14-30 | 19.11-27 | |||
| The parable of the talents | 25.14-30 | 19.12-27 | |||
| The last judgement | 25.31-46 | 5.28-29 | |||
| Entry into Jerusalem | 21.1-17 | 11.1-11 | 19.28-46 | 12.21-50; 2.13-15 | |
| Jesus keeps the feast of Dedication at Jerusalem | 10.22-39 | ||||
| Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead | 10.40-11.44 | ||||
| Meeting of the Chief priests and Pharisees | 11.45-53 | ||||
| Jesus at Ephraim | 11.54-57 | ||||
| The cursing of the fig tree | 21.18-19 | 11.12-14 | |||
| The cleansing of the temple | 21.12-13 | 11.15-19 | 19.45-48 | 2.13-17 | |
| The meaning of the withered fig tree | 21.20-22 | 11.20-26 | 14.13-14 | ||
| The question about authority | 21.23-27 | 11.27-33 | 20.01-8 | 2.18 | |
| The parable of the two sons | 21.28-32 | ||||
| The parable of the wicked tenants | 21.33-46 | 12.1-12 | 20.09-19 | ||
| Question on the tribute to Caesar | 22.15-22 | 12.13-17 | 20.20-26 | 3.2 | |
| Question on the resurrection | 22.23-33 | 12.18-27 | 20.27-40 | ||
| About David’s son | 22.41-46 | 12.35-37 | 20.41-44 | ||
| Woes against the Pharisees | 23.1-36 | 12.37-40 | 20.45-47; 11.37-52 | ||
| The widow’s gift | 12.41-44 | 21.01-4 | |||
| Prediction fo the destruction of the temple |
24.1-3 | 13.1-4 | 21.05-7 | ||
| The signs of the parousia | 24.4-8 | 13.5-8 | 21.08-11 | ||
| The fate of the disciples | 10.17-25 | 13.9-13 | 21.12-17 | 13.16; 14.26; 15.20 | |
| The beginning of the troubles | 24.9-14 | 13.9-13 | 21.12-19 | 14.26; 15.21; 16.2 | |
| The desolating sacrilege | 24.15-22 | 13.14-20 | 21.20-24 | ||
| The parousia of the Son of man | 24.29-31 | 13.24-27 | 21.25-28 | ||
| The parable of the fig tree | 24.32-33 | 13.28-29 | 21.29-31 | ||
| The time of the parousia | 24.34-36 | 13.30-32 | 21.32-33 | ||
| Mark’s ending to the discourse | 13.33-37 | ||||
| Luke’s ending to the discourse | 21.34-36 | ||||
| A summary of the days spent in Jerusalem | 21.37-38 | ||||
| The conspiracy against Jesus | 26.1-5 | 14.1-2 | 22.01-2 | 11.47-53 | |
| Preparation for the Passover | 26.17-19 | 14.12-16 | 22.7-13 | ||
| Jesus washes his disciple’s feet | 13.1-20 | ||||
| The traitor | 26.20-25 | 14.17-21 | 22.14, 21.23 | 13.21-30 | |
| Passover | Institution of the Lord’s Supper | 26.26-29 | 14.22-25 | 22.15-20 | |
| Last words | 19.28; 20.25-28 | 10.42-45 | 22.21-38 | 13.4-5, 12-14, 36-38 | |
| Jesus’ farewell discourse | 13.31-17.26 | ||||
| Jesus and the sons of Zebedee | 20.20-28 | 10.35-45 | 22.24-27 | ||
| Betrayal by Judas | 26.14-16 | 14.10-11 | 22.3-6 | 18.2-5 | |
| The way to Gethsemane; Peter’s denial prophesied | 26.30-35 | 14.26-31 | 22.39; 22.31-34 | 18.1; 13.36-38; 16.32 | |
| Jesus in Gethsemane | 26.36-46 | 14.32-42 | 22.40-46 | 18.1; 12.27; 14.3; 18.11 | |
| Jesus taken captive | 26.47-56 | 14.43-52 | 22.47-53 | 18.2-12, 20 | |
| Peter’s denial | 26.57-75 | 14.53-72 | 22.54-71 | 18.13-27 | |
| Jesus delivered to Pilate | 27.1-2 | 15.1 | 23.01 | 18.28-32 | |
| Death of Judas | 27.3-10 | ||||
| Trial before Pilate | 27.11-14 | 15.2-5 | 23.02-5 | 18.33-37; 19.6, 9-10 | |
| Jesus before Herod | 23.06-16 | ||||
| The sentence of death | 27.15-26 | 15.6-15 | 23.17-25 | 18.38-40; 19.4-16 | |
| The mocking by the soldiers | 27.27-31 | 15.16-20 | 19.1-3 | ||
| The Crucifixion | 27.32-44 | 15.21-32 | 23.26-43 | 19.17-24 | |
| Death on the cross and burial of Jesus | 27.45-61 | 15.33-47 | 23.44-56 | 19.24-42 | |
| The guard at the tomb | 27.62-66 | ||||
| The empty tomb | 28.1-10 | 16.1-11 | 24.01-12 | 20.1-18 | |
| Bribing the Roman soldiers | 28.11-15 | ||||
| Jesus appears to the two men | 16.12-13 | 24.13-35 | |||
| Jesus appears in Jerusalem | 24.36-49 | ||||
| Jesus appears to the disciples | 20.19-29 | ||||
| Jesus appears at the sea of Tiberias | 21.1-24 | ||||
| Jesus’ appearance on the mountain in Galilee | 28.16-20 | 16.14-16 | |||
| Signs to accompany believers | 16.17-18 | ||||
| The Ascension | 16.19 | 24.50-53 | |||
| The disciples go out into the world to preach | 16.2 | ||||
| John’s conclusion to the gospel | 20.30-31; 21.25 |