“Q” HYPOTHETICAL GOSPEL EXAMINED
A. Ralph Johnson
“Q” is a hypothetical source document which it is claimed that Matthew and Luke drew upon for information not found in Mark.
The basis for this begins with the claim of the priority of Mark—the speculation that Matthew and Luke relied upon Mark for much of their material. The early church fathers (Augustine, Jerome, Eusebius, Origen and Irenaeus) believed that Matthew was written first. In 1786 Gottlob Storr advanced the view that Mark was written first. In 1835 Karl Lachmann compared the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) and noted that while Matthew often agreed with Mark against Luke in the order of passages and Luke agreed frequently with Mark against Matthew, Matthew and Luke rarely agreed with each other against Mark. From this he suggested that Mark best preserved the order of Jesus's ministry, followed by others who further refined the theory. Mark’s account is more condensed, not containing many things found in Matthew and Luke. It is thought more likely that Matthew and Luke would have added material from other sources (as with the birth of Jesus, though different in those two Gospels), rather than that Mark would have omitted much of the important material found in Matthew and Luke.
If Matthew and Luke drew from Mark then one must account for where Matthew and Luke got their material not found in Mark. It is not satisfactory to simply attribute all of this to personal observation or divine revelation. Matthew and Luke were not present at the birth of Jesus, and Luke accounts for his information as having been researched from others.
Luke 1:1-4 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2 even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.
The hypothetical source document is called “Q” (German for Quelle, “Source”). Exactness in wording in some passages (Matt. 6:24 = Luke 16:13; Matt. 7:7-8 = Luke 11:9-10) and Luke suggests that such a source must have been written.
However, there are serious problems.
1. The “Q” document has never been found.
“Thus Q is a hypothetical document: no copy of it has ever been found. It is therefore possible to deny that it existed and some scholars do not accept the Q hypothesis.” --Marcus Borg in The Lost Gospel Q
2. If the ancient view that Matthew was prior, and Luke drew information from it and Mark, “Q” disappears.
3. There is much disagreement between scholars on what was supposedly contained in “Q.”
4. The various books written in favor of the existence of “Q” are inconsistent and violate their own premise, including things from Mark or things only found in Matthew or Luke.
5. In many cases the quotations and incidents are so different as to have possibly been from the actual occurrence rather than quoting from each other.
6. The most glaring problem of the “Q” hypothesis is exclusion of things contained in all three gospels—especially the crucifixion narrative. Such a claim is utterly arbitrary and flies in the face of the obvious fact that one cannot know that what is in all three Gospels was not in “Q.” Nay, the importance of the crucifixion is of such central focus of Jesus’ Life that the overwhelming probability is that it would have been included. It was prophesied in the Old Testament. It is also included in the Gospel of John. It was included in other writings of the New Testament. And, it was cited in Jewish, Roman and Christian literature subsequent to the event. That does not prove there was no “Q” source but it certainly indicates the overwhelming probability that if there was a “Q” document it included those things which all three include—especially the crucifixion.
The obvious arbitrary bias of these “scholars” casts great doubt on their reliability. They mostly reject the inspired nature and accuracy of the scriptural accounts while eagerly embracing the most questionable speculations and sources such as “The Gospel of Thomas” as being prior to Matthew and Luke and accurately representing earliest Christian thought. That document, is a list of quotations, mostly from the Synoptic Gospels, from later Gnostic sources.
NOTATIONS AND HIGHLIGHTING
Yellow in Matthew and Luke indicates parallel words between them.
Yellow in Mark indicates words found in Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Underlining indicates words in Matthew or Luke, found in Mark but not in the other gospel.
“B” = Marcus Borg
“K” = Kummel
“M” = Burton L. Mack
“V” = Robert E Van Voorst, “Jesus Outside the New Testament
< > = “Scholarly conjecture where textual material is no longer extant.
[ ] = Translator’s Note
{~Ralph Johnson notes}
Matthew
/ Mark / LukeM-1:
These are the teachings of Jesus./ M-2 [ The Q2 addition of the John material erased the original introduction to Jesus and his teachings. See K-7]
/
M-3 The appearance of John
John appeared in the countryside along the Jordan river.>B-1; Mt. 3:1-3
Matthew 3:1-3
1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, 2 Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. / {~Inconsistent. Included in Mark.}
Mark 1:
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way.
3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight; / B-1 Luke 3:2b-4
Luke 3:2-4
2 in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins;
4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.
B-2 Mt 3:5-6
{Matthew 3:5-6
5 Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan;
6 and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. / B-2 Luke 3:7-11
7 Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him,
K: Mt 3:7-12
1 Baptist's Preaching
B-2: Matthew 3:7-10
M-3: Matthew 3:7-10
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, {he said to them: "You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire} / {~Note: Q is NOT just sayings of Jesus without a historical narrative. Here we see historical information. When they do omit it, the historical information may often be found in all three synoptics.} / 1 Baptist's Preaching
K: Luke 3:7-9
B-2 Luke 3:7-9
M-3:Luke 3:7-9
{you offspring of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. }
{~Inconsistent. Only found in Luke} / B-2 Luke 3:10-11
10 And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do?
11 And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise.
{~Inconsistent. Only found in Luke} / B-3: Luke 3:12-14
12 And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do? 13 And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse (any one) wrongfully; and be content with your wages.
ASV
B-4: Mat 3:11-12
K: Mat 3:11-12
M-5: Mat 3:11-12
11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
NIV / {~! Inconsistent. Mark contains similar material.}
Mark 1
7 And he preached, saying, There cometh after me he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
8 I baptized you in water; But he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit. / B-4: Luke 3:16-17
K: Luke 3:16-17
M-5: Luke 3:16-17
16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17 whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
ASV
{~! They differ with each other on what should be included and even include material found only in one gospel} / K: Luke 3:18-20
18 With many other exhortations therefore preached he good tidings unto the people;
19 but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done,
20 added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.
ASV
B-5: Matthew 3:13, 16-17
K: Matthew 3:13-17
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
{B: Omits Matthew 3:14-15
14 But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer (it) now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him.}
16 And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; 17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. / {~! Inconsistent. Mark contains similar material.}
Mark 1:9-11
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan.
10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him: 11 And a voice came out of the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.
[note: Borg: “Today I have become your father.” / B-5: Luke 3:21b-22
K: Luke 3:21-22
21 Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son: in thee I am well pleased.
Genealogy inserted here
B-6: Matthew 4:1-4
M-6: Matthew 4:1-4
1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
K: Matthew 4:2-11
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4 Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" / {~! Inconsistent. Mark contains similar material.}
Mark 1:12-13
12 And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth into the wilderness.
13a And he was in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan; / B-6: Luke 4:1-4
M-6: Luke 4:1-4
1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led in the Spirit in the wilderness
K: Luke 4:2-13
2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
4 Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man does not live on bread alone."
B-8: Matthew 4:8-11
M-6: Matthew 4:8-11
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" / B-8: Luke 4:5-8
M-6: Luke 4:5-8
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
8 Jesus answered, "It is written: `Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"
B-7: Matthew 4:5-7
M-6: Matthew 4:5-7
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: