Lecture on the Q Source in Biblical Scholarship

Introduction to the Q Source

• Most Bible scholars believe in a lost ancient document filled with sayings of Jesus, known as Q.
• Q is a hypothetical document believed to predate the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
• It's thought to have been written in Greek and used by Matthew and Luke to write their gospels.
• There is no physical evidence of Q's existence, making it a subject of scholarly debate.

Understanding Key Terms

• Source: In biblical studies, a source is a document or tradition used by gospel authors.
• Source Criticism: The academic field focused on identifying where biblical authors obtained their information.
• Synoptic Gospels: Refers to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, which share a similar perspective on Jesus.

The Synoptic Problem

• Scholars observe that Mark's gospel was likely written first because it is the shortest and has the lowest Christology.
• Mark's gospel serves as a source for Matthew and Luke, with 97% of its content found in these gospels.
• The "Synoptic Problem" refers to the puzzle of explaining the similarities and differences among the synoptic gospels.

The Case for Q

• Matthew and Luke contain material not found in Mark, suggesting another source (i.e., Q).
• The sequence of events in Matthew and Luke differ when not derived from Mark.
• Sayings like the Lord's Prayer appear verbatim in Matthew and Luke but in different contexts, supporting the existence of Q.

The Nature of the Q Document

• Q is believed to be a sayings source, a document listing sayings without narrative context.
• Scholars believe it was written in Koine Greek.
• The Gospel of Thomas, discovered in 1945, provided evidence for the existence of sayings sources, similar to Q.

Evidence Supporting Q

• The consistent verbatim sayings in Matthew and Luke imply a common source.
• The discovery of the Gospel of Thomas supports the genre of sayings sources.
• Critics have been debunked by evidence of similar literary forms existing historically.

Conclusion

• While Q remains hypothetical, substantial evidence supports its potential existence.
• The Gospel of Thomas serves as a key piece of evidence for the sayings source genre.

Bonus Fact

• Q is the least common letter in the English alphabet, appearing once in every 510 letters, and is not found in any U.S. state name.

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Reflective Questions

• Do you believe in the existence of Q?
• What are potential arguments for or against the existence of Q?