Did the Gospel writers write from their memories of Jesus' ministry or from the Holy Spirit's inspiration?
The Gospel writers did not write from their memories of Christ's earthly ministry, even though they may have remembered many things. They wrote from what the Holy Spirit inspired them to write. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, so their writings were not from hearsay or gathered notes.
Les explains that the Gospel writers may have remembered a lot of what 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 the writers were part of that point in time and their personalities shine through, what they wrote was not from notes they had gathered, nor from hearsay. It was as the Holy Spirit moved them to write. This is consistent with 2 Timothy 3, where all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, and correction.