Final answer:
Most scholars believe that the Synoptic Gospel of Mark was written first. It served as a blueprint for the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, which share similar content but with additional details and narratives.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most scholars agree that the Synoptic Gospel of Mark was written first among the three Synoptic Gospels. The term 'synoptic' refers to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which are called 'synoptic' because of their similar content, order, and statement structure, allowing them to be 'seen together' and compared easily. Although there was no single set of texts or beliefs at the beginning of Christianity, over time the synoptic gospels became a major source for the life and teachings of Jesus.
The Gospel of Mark is often viewed as the foundation upon which the other synoptic gospels were based, since it is shorter and considered by many to have simpler narrative elements. It was soon followed by Matthew and Luke, which not only contain much of the content found in Mark but also additional teachings and events, suggesting a later composition. While the dating of these texts remains subject to some scholarly debate, the general consensus favors Mark as the earliest of the written Synoptic Gospels