Synoptic gospels - Definition and Overview

The Synoptic Gospels are the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke. These Gospels tell the story of Jesus from a similar point of view, often using the same stories and even the same words. This evidence points to a common source for all three gospels. They were most likely written between 60-70 C.E. The term "synoptic" is derived from a combination of the Greek words συν ("syn" = together) and οψις ("opsis" = seeing) because they can be studied side-by-side on a single page. The fourth Gospel, John, tells the story of Jesus from a radically different point of view and so is not a synoptic Gospel. It relates different stories.