There may have been only two authors, but I'm am quite amazed at how many details were put down on paper. It's not perfect, but there is a way to understand those 4 gospels as a work and teaching unto themselves. After all, Jesus was certainly an intelligent and coherent speaker... If you want to get a sense of how it all fits together, this is a really excellent source: http://gospelenigma.com There is a lot more in those gospels that people suspect... and strong hints on the more mysterious aspects on what was actually going on. I am fascinated by those 4 gospels. Very mysterious... but they do make perfect sense.

God did not use the Bible writers as simple "typewriters." Their individual style and personality shine through in their writings. (Compare the poetic beauty of Isaiah's language [3:16] to the rustic, almost crude, style of Amos [4:1].) However, God apparently uses a variety of modes of inspiration. From this theologians have developed a number of theories of inspiration. Intuition: Inspiration is a function of wisdom and insight. The Hebrews were gifted with respect to religious insight. Many other people have Scriptures. (I find this as a very inadequate view of Scripture.) Illumination: The Spirit heightens the normal powers of the Bible writers but does not transmit specific propositions. (Auguste Sabatier, Outlines of A Philosophy of Religion, New York: James Pott, 1916, 90.) (I find this a very inadequate view of Scripture.) Negation: The Spirit prevents the writer from writing anything wrong. (Example: Certain Roman Catholic writers.) (This may be true in a manner of speaking, but it is quite inadequate.) Dynamic theory: A combination of divine and human, wherein the Spirit brings the writer the concepts and the writer supplies the style, personality, etc. (Augustus H. Strong, Systematic Theology, Westwood, NJ: Revell, 1907, 79.) (Yes, but this is too limited. It appears to be a valid description of one of several ways in which God inspires the Scripture.) Verbal: The Spirit selects every word, but does in in concert with the specially selected author so that a dictation theory is avoided. (Example: Many Evangelicals and what the Reformers probably meant when they spoke of dictation: J. I. Packer, Fundamentalism and the Word of God, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1958, 79.) (Again, probably a valid but partial description of how God inspired the Scripture.) Dictation: God used the Bible writers a typewriters. (Example: John R. Rice, Our God-breathed Book - The Bible, Murfreesboro, TN: Sword of the Lord, 1969) (This appears to be a valid description of one of several ways in which God inspires the Scripture.) As you can see, I feel there are a few ways that God spoke through the writers. When it comes to the Gospels, I feel that we were given four for a reason. Each gives a different perspective like witnessess at a car accident. The personalities of the writer should be taken into account as well as the audience. If we combine the Gospels or take some our or elevate one above another then we are missing God's point. If He wanted to give us 1 then He would have given us 1. But He gave us 4. Hope this helps! God bless! (P.S. I don't know that I agree with Mark "downplaying" the miracles. Again you have to look at the purpose of his writing and all of those things. God bless!)