Gospel Sources

The Synoptic Problem is the title given to attempts to determine the relationship between the first three gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The close similarity and identical wording of much of the material is compelling evidence that they used each other's gospels. But who was first? There are three main theories.

Saint Augustine posited that the canonical order suggests that Matthew was first, followed by Mark and then Luke. The Owen-Griesbach Hypothesis accepts the priority of Matthew but proposes that Luke used Matthew and Mark conflated Matthew and Luke. Markan priority is accepted by about 90 percent of scholars. The Farrer Theory suggests that Mark is first, Matthew used Mark, and Luke used Matthew and Mark. Along with the majority of scholars I accept the Two Source-Hypothesis which posits that Mark is first and Matthew and Luke used Mark and Q independently of one another. For arguments for each view see the file on Gospel sources by clicking the download button.