There are two basic reasons for reading horizontally. To read horizontally means that when studying a passage in one gospel, it is helpful to examine parallels in other gospels. What plotlines are the authors developing? What are the similarities and differences in the outlines?ġ.3. the textbook or a Bible dictionary for the respective outlines and other relevant information)ġ.2. What are the outlines of Matthew, Mark, and Luke at this point? (cf. Reading vertically, from beginning to end, means to think in terms of the historical contexts of Jesus, the author and his circumstances.ġ.1. Furthermore, vertical and horizontal reading allows the reader to understand how the author used the material to introduce and support the major and minor themes. to address the concerns of their respective audiences. Reading of the gospels vertically and horizontally helps to understand how the authors selected, arranged, and adapted the narratives, miracle stories, parables, etc. The proposed strategy seeks to address difficulties encountered in reading and interpreting parallel accounts in the gospels.īecause of the unique nature of the Gospels, the reader/interpreter must do two things – read vertically and horizontally. (2) There are four gospels.” Thus, the need of strategy for reading gospel parallels that takes into account the selection, arrangement, and adaptation of the narratives about Jesus and the teachings of Jesus in the composition of the gospels (How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, 127-48). Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart wrote, “Almost all the difficulties one encounters in interpreting the Gospels stem from two obvious facts: (1) Jesus himself did not write a gospel they came from others, not him.

Gospel parallels