Class Notes on the Critical Study of the Gospels

(Originally written January 6, 2006 in Notebook 20)

The Critical Study of the Gospels
- Where do scholars begin?

First Question: What are our primary sources and how reliable are they?

Source Criticism

Matthew - Eyewitnesses
Mark - records Peter's eyewitness
Luke - a non-eyewitness who did research of eyewitnesses

The Synoptic Problem

Why are there so many differences in the Gospels?

Two source Hypothesis (Marcan Priority)

Q-Source (written 50 AD) served as a source for Matthew & Luke
Mark (written 65 AD) served as a source for Matthew & Luke

The Griesbach Hypothesis (Matthean Priority)

Matthew was written before Luke, both were written before Mark.
There is no need for a Q-Source

4-Source Hypothesis (Marcan Priority)

M (AD 60-65)
MK (AD 65)
Q (AD 50)
L (AD 60)

There was also a porto-luke

5 Sources for the sayings of Jesus:
1) Gospel of Mark
- written in primitive Greek
- least sophisticated regarding context
- forms basis for other two Synoptic Gospels

2) "Q" Source
- sayings common to Matthew and Luke
- Questionable if this was ever a written source
- Could have found fixed form in oral tradition

3) "M" Source (material unique to Matthew)

4) "L" Source (material unique to Luke)

5) The Gospel of John

- Jesus (A.D. 29-33)
- Oral transmission of tradition (AD 30-100)
- Luke (AD 62)
- Theophilus (Gentile believer AD 62)

Form Criticism asks: How are the words of Jesus passed on by word of mouth before they were written?

I've never been this bored before
Never looked at the clock more
Never tallied up the score
Never thought this could be such a bore