The Case Against Q: Studies in Markan Priority and the Synoptic ProblemFor over a century Gospel scholarship has accepted a hypothetical document called Q as one of the major sources of the Synoptic Gospels. In recent times, it has even been transformed from a sayings source to a Gospel in its own right. But, says Mark Goodacre in The Case Against Q, the majority acceptance of Q cannot function as an argument for its existence. From time to time dissenting voices have spoken against such widespread acceptance of Q as a Gospel. Scholars have pointed out, for instance, that Luke's knowledge of Matthew and Mark would enable one to dispense with Q. Yet, such voices often have gone unheeded due to the lack of a clear, balanced, and scholarly treatment of the case against Q. So, in The Case Against Q Goodacre offers a careful and detailed critique of the Q hypothesis, examining the most important arguments of Q's proponents. He then offers new arguments and fresh reflections reaffirming Markan Priority as the key to successful Synoptic scholarship. With this book, Goodacre provides a more plausible picture of Synoptic relationships than has previously been available, as he reconstructs Synoptic interrelationships and Christian origins. Mark Goodacre is Lecturer in New Testament in the Department of Theology at the University of Birmingham (England) and the author of The Synoptic Problem: A Way Through the Maze. |
Contents
The Priority of Mark | 19 |
Reasons and Rhetoric | 46 |
Unscrambling the Egg with a Vengeance? | 80 |
Luke Narrative Criticism and the Sermon on the Mount | 105 |
The Synoptic Jesus and the Celluloid Christ | 121 |
How Blessed Are the Poor? SourceCritical Reflections | 133 |
Major and Minor Agreements | 152 |
Narrative Sequence in a Sayings Gospel? | 170 |
Epilogue | 187 |
211 | |
221 | |
Common terms and phrases
appears argument from order assumption Austin Farrer beatitude Biblical Literature Blessed C. M. Tuckett Chapter Christopher Tuckett consensus context disciples discourses Dispensing with Q double tradition material E. P. Sanders Early Christianity elements evangelist evidence example Excavating Q existence of Q Farrer theory feature Fitzmyer Frans Neirynck genre Gospel of Thomas Gospel Q Griesbach hypothesis International Q Project Jesus films JSNTSup kingdom Kloppenborg Verbin knowledge of Matthew Leuven Lukan Luke knew Luke's Gospel Mark Goodacre Mark's Markan Priority Matt Matthew and Luke Matthew's Sermon Michael Goulder minor agreements Mount narrative criticism narrative sequence narrative-critical oral tradition parable parallel pericopae plausible Q hypothesis Q material Q skeptics Q theorists Q theory question reader redaction criticism reworking Sayings Gospel scholars scholarship Society of Biblical source-critical Stanton story Studies Synoptic Gospels Synoptic Problem Testament theme triple tradition two-source theory University Press words αὐτοῦ δὲ εἰς καὶ τὸ