In the ancient world, writers were often aware that texts could be lost, copied imperfectly, or only partially preserved. Storytelling traditions—especially oral ones—were built around memorable, self-contained units that could survive fragmentation. In that sense, the Gospel writers may have intentionally used a modular, episodic style so that even if some pieces were lost, the essential messages about Jesus would endure.
A few points that support this idea:
Oral culture habits:
In largely oral societies, information was preserved through repetition, rhythm,
and memorable “chunks” rather than long continuous narratives. Short stories,
parables, and miracle accounts are easier to remember and retell accurately.
Durable teaching style:
Fables, proverbs, and other moral tales often survive because they are concise,
memorable, and repeatable. The Gospels have a similar quality—each episode or
teaching can stand alone and convey its lesson independently.
Flexibility in transmission:
If the texts or oral accounts were broken up, moved around, or partially lost,
each story still communicates something essential about Jesus. Even isolated
stories could be used in teaching, worship, or reflection.
Intentional literary strategy:
The Gospel writers likely knew that they were contributing to a body of work
meant to last. Episodic structure reduces reliance on a linear narrative, making
it easier for pieces to survive independently while still pointing toward the
larger theological picture.
In other words, the Gospels may have been written with the same wisdom that fable or proverb collections show: short, meaningful, self-contained stories have the best chance of surviving through time.
Theologically central events like the crucifixion and resurrection would have been at great risk of loss precisely because they’re complex and longer. Nothing about them was written with preserving them in mind. No gospel ever appeared where the crucifixion was written like one of Aesop's fables to preserve it. The gospels seem to have anticipated being broken up - and surely if the Jews and Romans opposed Jesus as they say, the crucifixion story could have been burnt.