The Synoptic Problem Part 2: A Critique of Markan Priority

In this video, I critically assess the major arguments which have been cited to support the theory of Markan priority both in the past and in the present. I conclude that all of them fail for a variety of reasons. The aim is to show that the case for Markan priority has been vastly overstated and oversold. This, of course, is no proof that the Gospel of Matthew was written first or that the Gospel of Mark was written third. We shall explore the external and internal evidence for these conclusions in two future videos. The only conclusion that I reach here is that there is no justification to be had for the theory of Markan priority despite the confidence with which it is widely held. However, it is my hope that this video serves to clear away some of the bias against the the Patristics, and motivates us to take what they have to say about the Synoptic Gospels seriously.

Sources:

Christology and the Synoptic Problem: An Argument for Markan Priority - Peter M. Head

A History of the Synoptic Problem - David L. Dungan

The Progressive Publication of Matthew - B. Ward Powers

The Originality of St. Matthew - B. C. Butler

ICC Matthew 1-7: Volume 1 - W. D. Davies and Dale Allison

God’s Equal - Sigurd Grindheim

The Holman Apologetics Commentary on the Bible - Jeremy Royal Howard (ed)

The Case for Jesus - Brant Pitre

The Two-Source Hypothesis: A Critical Appraisal - Arthur J. Bellinzoni (ed)

The Case Against Q - Mark Goodacre

One Gospel From Two: Mark’s Use of Matthew and Luke - David Peabody, Lamar Cope, and Allen J. McNicol (eds)

"Fatigue in the Synoptics" New Testament Studies 44 (1998) - Mark Goodacre

The Synoptic Problem: A Way Through the Maze - Mark Goodacre

Mark’s Gospel - Prior or Posterior? - David J. Neville

An Early Reader of Mark and Q - J. Verheyden & G. Van Belle (eds)

The Mirror or the Mask - Lydia McGrew

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