Synoptic Problem
The synoptic problem is the name under which it brings together all the studies concerning the drafting of the three Synoptic Gospels ( Gospel of Matthew Gospel of Mark and Gospel of Luke Considering the numerous similarities and differences between the three texts, is to determine what is their relationship prior to and on what sources or traditions, shared or not, they are supported.
With the quest for the historical Jesus , the synoptic problem is the one who seduced the most exegetes. The most likely explanation is that the gospels that have survived were never written to be united under the same roof.
From the ancient times , the issue of differences between these three texts draws attention. For Augustine , they were due to the write viable are currently listed by a group of universities. They were developed to describe the order and composition of the Gospels.
These theories can be grouped into several groups.
Summary |
Theories purporting to solve the synoptic problem should be able to explain how the three synoptic gospels were written. In particular, they should explain:
- the triple tradition is to say, the passages identical or nearly identical between the three texts;
- the double tradition is to say, the passages common to Matthew and Luke, but absent in Mk;
- semitisms the text of Mc
- convergences minor, that is to say identical proposals exist only in Matthew and Luke, in the passages belonging to the triple tradition.
- Scheduling identical stories between gospels.
The triple tradition
The triple tradition can be explained by the priority of one of the Gospels used by the other two.
The double tradition
The double tradition can be explained by the use of two Gospels as the source of the third text.
The model derivation of a common model
Hypothesis of a primitive gospel
This hypothesis, originally issued in the eighteenth century by GE Lessing , postulates that the three Gospels were written by an abbreviation of a Greek translation of a proto-gospel in Hebrew , the " Q source ". This idea comes from Origen reporting the remarks of Papias.
What hypothesis explains
- Major similarities
- the order of stories
What the hypothesis does not explain
- why some passages were cut
- the semitisms Mc adjusted identically in Matthew and Luke, and then introduced by Mc
Other weaknesses
- this proto-gospel has not been found
For Lessing, the proto-gospel, also known as Ur-Gospel, and sometimes abbreviated URG is one of the texts sometimes mentioned by ancient writers, the gospel of the Hebrews or the Gospel of the Nazarene.
To explain the abbreviations MC, it is sometimes assumed that he had no Urg but an abridged version.
Hypothesis fragments
Assumption of the oral tradition
JCL Gieseler (1792-1854) and JG Herder emphasized the role of memory and oral transmission. This method allows flexibility in the compositions.
In the twentieth century, Jeremias, Black and Gaechter continued to show how the oral transmission was important in the process of composition of the Gospels.
These arguments, however, remained marginal in the critical exegesis because the call to "oral tradition" vague and little known does not apply at first scientifically proved theories.
The contribution of Marcel Jousse
That's all the work and merit of the father Marcel Jousse , a Jesuit who finally allowed to upgrade the strength of those arguments. In the West, "oral tradition" is equated with "phone Arab," then quickly eliminated as unreliable. However, Marcel Jousse, professor of anthropology at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes and the Sorbonne, dedicated his life to demonstrate how the oral traditions of an anthropological perspective. Then, as a Christian, he took a close interest in the ethnology of the Palestinian people in the first century. In his thesis "Anthropology of Gesture," it demonstrates the performance and reliability of oral traditions and how they work with writing. He finds in the Gospels undeniable traces of orality (text rhythmic, balanced, structured in a pedagogical text, mnemonics ...)
After the war, such research has been pursued by researchers such as Cardinal Eugene Tisserant , Jean Danielou , or B. Gerhardsson. Today, the work of Pierre Perrier (researcher at the Academy of Science and Technology French) continue this research and seek to reconstruct the primitive oral teaching of the apostles (which he calls "evangelical necklaces", where each " text unit "is considered a" pearl ").
Note: Proponents of oral transmission therefore reject a hypothetical single dependence of a supposed original Gospel. This explains why these theories are not in work "genealogical" generation of the gospels to explain the synoptic problem. The interest of this thesis a linguistic point of view is the renewal that follows for the study of Aramaic (the language in which Jesus preached) and to the ancient manuscripts Syriac (Peshitta).
Genealogical Models
The model of using
In this model, one of the Gospels is the first, second and third reusing reusing the previous two.
With three gospels, there are six cases: all were seriously defended. However those of Augustine, Griesbach, partly for historical reasons, and that of Farrer, designed in response to the dominant theory of the two sources have been more successful than the other three.
The hypothesis of Augustine of Hippo
The Gospels are arranged in the editions of the New Testament in the order by writing said Augustine The Griesbach hypothesis
Griesbach modifies the hypothesis of Augustine of Hippo : Matthew would be the first gospel that Luke would have been inspired while Mark would have used Luke and Matthew. This hypothesis was designed in 1764 and formulated in 1783. It was taken by many scholars until William Reuben Farmer 1964. Later variants give priority to Luke .
The hypothesis Farrer
It was conceived and formulated in 1934 by Austin Marsden Farrer in 1955. His most brilliant defender today is Dr. Mark S. Goodacre at Birmingham. His site Case Against Q gives the latest developments. It is also a portal to all sites of exegesis of the New Testament. In the case of Farrer, Mark is the oldest Gospel, Matthew and Luke used it inspires Mark and Matthew
The hypothesis of Wilke
It is a variant of the Farrer hypothesis, above. It is developed by Christian Gottlieb Wilke ( 1838 ), and supported by Bruno Bauer ( 1841 ). It outlines the priority of Mark, the material of the Double Tradition is the result of a copy of Matthew on Luke.
Nowadays, it is supported by Ronald V. Huggins ( 1992 ).
The hypothesis Busching
Busching Anton (1766) supports an alternative hypothesis that Griesbach, Marc compiles the texts of Matthew and Luke, with a priority of Luke.
The hypothesis of Lockton
It is supported by W. Lockton (1922). As Busching hypothesis, it gives priority to Luke, but Matthew feeds Luke and Mark.
The model of two sources
Mark was the source of the writings of Matthew and Luke who used also a source attached. It was designed in 1838 by Christian Hermann Weisse. It assumes the priority of Mark and the existence of a source Q which can identify the body of material included in Matthew and Luke but we have not yet found such a source so far. The current stage is that of John S. Kloppenborg Verbina (2000) A more advanced theory of two sources , presented in English its development from its inception until today. The two-source hypothesis is retained by Raymond E. Brown.
References
- In De consensu Evangelistarum In 400 , he says: "So, the four evangelists, well known around the world (and perhaps they are four because the world has four parts (...) have written in this order: first Matthew, then Mark, Luke third, and last John "
- Synoptic Enumeration
- Synoptic Problem
- evolution hypothesis Farrer
Notes
Related article
Bibliography
- P. Benoit, ME. Boismard , synopsis of the four Gospels in French with Parallel Apocrypha and the Fathers, Volume I, Texts, Editions du Cerf , Paris, 1965
- ME. Boismard, P. Benoit, A. Lamouille and P. Sandevoir, synopsis of the four Gospels in French, Vol. II, Commentary, Editions du Cerf, Paris, 1972.
- ME. Boismard, A. Lamouille and G. Rochas Synopsis of the four Gospels in French, Vol. III, The Gospel of John, Editions du Cerf, Paris, 1977.
- Raymond E. Brown, What is known of the New Testament, Bayard
- Hans Conzelmann and Andreas Lindemann, Guide for the Study of New Testament, Labor et Fides
Loading ...