Did the Gospel writers write from their memories of Jesus' ministry?
No. Though the Gospel writers may have remembered much of Christ's earthly ministry, they did not write from those memories. They wrote what the Holy Spirit inspired them to write, not from gathered notes or hearsay. Their writings were as the Holy Spirit moved them, and their personalities shone through.
Les explains that the Gospel writers may have remembered a lot of the things that took place in Christ's earthly ministry, but they did not write from what they remembered. They wrote from what the Holy Spirit inspired them to write. Even though all the writers of Scripture were part and parcel of that point in time, and their personality shines through because of it, what they wrote was not from notes they had gathered, nor from hearsay. It was as the Holy Spirit moved them to write. This aligns with 2 Timothy 3:16, that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and for correction—for someone who gets off course.