Matthean Posteriority

This book explores the Matthean Posteriority Hypothesis (MPH), a largely neglected solution to the Synoptic Problem which holds that the author of the Gospel of Luke used the Gospel of Mark as a source, and that the author of the Gospel of Matthew used both the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke as sources. The study begins with a survey of the scholars who have defended various forms of the MPH. Chapter 2 discusses two lines of evidence in support of the MPH. The first line of evidence is textual - demonstrating that Matthew knew the contents of Luke's Gospel beyond merely the double tradition material. The second line of evidence, involving a study of strings of verbatim agreements in the Gospels, supports the view that Matthew depended directly on Luke. This chapter also includes a discussion of Luke's Sondergut parables. Chapter 3 explores evidence and arguments which can be seen as problematic for the MPH. The book concludes that the MPH has been neither definitely proved nor disproved, and deserves further scholarly scrutiny.