The claim that there is constant duplication of material
in the
various alleged sources is grossly exaggerated. Some of these so-called duplications are really different
events that
are somewhat similar, but actually no more so than is often the case in
ordinary life. In other cases an
alleged repetition
is merely a summary given at the beginning or end of an account, a helpful
recapitulation, or a literary device to make an account more vivid. Most of these, if examined without
prejudice, can be shown to have a natural purpose in the narrative.