Evaluation of the Two-Source Theory“Matthew and Luke used Mark and Q to write their gospels.”

Mark Q

Matt Luke

Evaluation of the Two-Source Theory“Matthew and Luke used Mark and Q to write their gospels.”

Mark Q

Matt Luke

Problems with the two-source theory

Evaluation of the Two-Source Theory“Matthew and Luke used Mark and Q to write their gospels.”

Mark Q

Matt Luke

Problems with the two-source theory1. What happened to Q?

Evaluation of the Two-Source Theory“Matthew and Luke used Mark and Q to write their gospels.”

Mark Q

Matt Luke

Problems with the two-source theory1. What happened to Q?2. Q is supposed to be early, but it is not Messianically Jewish

A. No concern with prophecyB. No concern with LawC. No concern for Pharisees and SadduceesD. Little Aramaic

Evaluation of the Two-Source Theory“Matthew and Luke used Mark and Q to write their gospels.”

Mark Q

Matt Luke

Problems with the two-source theory1. What happened to Q?2. Q is supposed to be early, but it is not Palestinian

A. No concern with prophecyB. No concern with LawC. No concern for Pharisees and SadduceesD. Little Aramaic

3. External evidence

Evaluation of the Two-Source Theory“Matthew and Luke used Mark and Q to write their gospels.”

Mark Q

Matt Luke

External evidence tells us that Matthew was

written firstin Hebrew

by the Apostle MatthewOrigen (c. 200) says so and other later fathers agree

Evaluation of the Two-Source Theory“Matthew and Luke used Mark and Q to write their gospels.”

Mark Q

Matt Luke

External evidence tells us that Matthew was

written firstin Hebrew

by the Apostle MatthewOrigen (c. 200) says so and other later fathers agree

but we know Matthew was not written in Hebrew because when it quotes the OT it uses the LXX

External evidenceMatthew was

written firstin Hebrew

by the Apostle Matthew

Should we throw out all the external evidence?

External evidenceMatthew was

written firstin Hebrew

by the Apostle Matthew

Should we throw out all the external evidence?But if Matthew didn’t write this gospel how did his name get attached to it?Papias (c. 120) “Matthew wrote the logia in Hebrew and everyone translated them as he thought best.”What are the alternatives?

Experience with Jesus

Matt Luke JohnMark

Sources Peter

ProblemsToo many differences: Lord’s prayer (69 & 143), Beatitudes (65)Too many similarities: Isaiah quote (24)

Traditional view

Mark Q

Matt Luke

Experience with Jesus

Peter

Problems: What about the external evidence?What about Q?

Two-source theory

Logia

Experience with Jesus

Matthean priority

Logia

Experience with Jesus

Peter

Matthean priority

Logia

Experience with Jesus

Peter

Mark

Matthean priority

Logia

Experience with Jesus

Peter

Mark

Matt

Matthean priority

Logia

Experience with Jesus

Peter

Mark

Matt Luke

Sources

Matthean priority

Logia

Experience with Jesus

Peter

Mark

Matt Luke

Sources

John

Matthean priority

1.Matthew writes the logia in Aramaic2.Peter preaches in Rome using the logia.3.Peter elaborates on the logia (adding details, making it more vivid and

colloquial)4.Mark writes down Peter’s preaching5.Someone writes a gospel using the logia and Mark6.Luke uses Mark, the logia, and other sources7.John writes his gospel from memory as a supplement to the Synoptics

Matthean priority

Logia

Experience with Jesus

Peter

Mark

Matt Luke

Sources

John

Matthean priority