Mark Goodacre’s NT Pod Episode 104 presents places in the NRSV and NRSVue that translate the same word in the synoptics and John differently, thereby hiding examples of them being the same and in some cases, creating false positives. The transcript of his 15-minute talk is in his directory in DropBox.
That transcript was uploaded to ChatGPT, which summarized it. That summary is below.
Here’s a concise summary of Mark Goodacre’s NT Pod 104: The Synoptic Translation Problem, with the key scripture references where the same Greek word is translated differently:
Goodacre explains that when he committed to using the NRSV (and the updated NRSV) in a recent book, he discovered how often the same Greek word is translated inconsistently across parallel Gospel passages. This inconsistency can hide real literary relationships between Matthew, Mark, Luke, and sometimes John, or create false differences.
Main examples he gives:
- Death of Jesus
Greek: ἀφῆκεν τὸ πνεῦμα (“gave up his spirit”).
Texts: Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:37, Luke 23:46.
Issue: NRSV renders Matthew “breathed his last” (footnote: “gave up his spirit”), matching Mark’s wording and obscuring Matthew’s different Greek, which Luke later develops with “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” - Cutting off the high priest’s slave’s ear
Greek: πατάσσω (pataso) in Matthew 26:51 and Luke 22:50; παίω (paio) in Mark 14:47 and John 18:10.
Issue: NRSV translates all four as “struck,” erasing the distinction between the two verbs. - Anointing of Jesus
Greek: μύρον (myron, “ointment/perfume”).
Texts: Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:36-50, John 12:1-8.
Issue: NRSV uses “ointment” in the Synoptics but “perfume” in John, though the word is identical.
Extra detail: Mark and John both describe it as “very costly perfume of pure nard,” but NRSV weakens the parallel—“very costly ointment of nard” (Mark) vs. “costly perfume of pure nard” (John). - Resurrection message to “my brothers”
Greek: ἀδελφοί (adelphoi).
Texts: Matthew 28:10 and John 20:17.
Issue: NRSVue renders Matthew “brothers and sisters” but John “brothers,” though the Greek is identical.
Goodacre argues that such translation choices hide agreements between the Synoptic Gospels and John, creating “phantom” differences and making it harder for readers without Greek to see true parallels. He suggests that future translations assign one editor to check all Synoptic and Johannine parallels for consistency.
The description on the YouTube page contains:
NT Pod 104, “The Synoptic Translation Problem,” investigates a problem in English translations of the Gospels. The translations frequently mangle the agreements and disagreements between the Synoptic Gospels, and between the Synoptics and John. This podcast attempts to show how pervasive the problem is by drawing attention to conflicting translations in the NRSVUE (the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition), and proposing a way forward for future translations of the New Testament.
Key texts:
- (1) Matt. 27.50 // Mark 15.37 // Luke 23.46; Psalm 31.5
- (2) Matt. 26.51 // Mark 14.47 // Luke 22.50 // John 18.10
- (3) Matt. 26.6-13 // Mark 14.3-9 // Luke 7.36-50 // John 12.1-8
- (4) Matt. 28.10 // John 20.17
