Question 1

One of the underlying theoretical presuppositions of redaction criticism is that the way an author changes his source material indicates his narrative intent. Is this contention persuasive to you? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

Students will have a variety of views. Students who agree with the statement might discuss the difficulty of explaining why an author would change his or her source without a reason. Students who disagree with the premises of redaction criticism might argue that an author's motives cannot be recovered and/or that scholars can never be completely certain about what sources an author used.

Question 2

Describe what scholars refer to as the Synoptic Problem. Do you think there is a problem? How do you think it is best solved?

Accepted Answer

The Synoptic Problem is the problem of accounting for the similarities and differences between Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The verbatim similarities, narrative order, and types of changes indicate that there was a common source. The Four-Source Hypothesis argues that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a primary source. In addition, Matthew and Luke used a source that scholars refer to as Q (a designation for material Matthew and Luke have in common that Mark does not have). Matthew added some stories from other sources unavailable to Luke, designated M, and similarly, Luke included stories unique to his Gospel, designated L. Together these sources account for the similarities and differences between the Synoptic Gospels.

Question 3

Discuss the four sources many scholars believe lie behind the Synoptic Gospels. How are they related? What is their character (oral or written)?

Accepted Answer

Mark was used by Matthew and Luke and contains parables, miracles, and a Passion narrative. Q, also used by Matthew and Luke, appears to have been primarily a sayings source, but it did contain at least two narratives: the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness and the healing of the centurion's slave. Q was most likely a written Gospel, though it is no longer extant. M and L are designations for narratives and sayings unique to Matthew and Luke, respectively. Scholars cannot determine whether M/L was one or several sources, written or oral. They are, then, simply descriptions of sources unique to these Gospels.

Question 4

What is the Four-Source Hypothesis? Is Markan priority necessarily connected with this theory? If so, why? If not, what other plausible theories for the Synoptic Problem might work in light of Markan priority?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the Four-Source Hypothesis? Is Markan...

Question 5

Redaction criticism can be used to compare any two ancient texts.

Accepted Answer

Redaction criticism is a method used to analyze how the author or editor of a text has selected, adapted, and arranged their sources to convey a particular message or theology. Therefore, it can only be used to compare different versions or editions of the same text, rather than comparing completely different texts.

Question 6

Markan priority depends on the Four-Source Hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

Markan priority is the theory that the Gospel of Mark was the first-written of the three Synoptic Gospels and was used as a source by Matthew and Luke, independently of the Four-Source Hypothesis, which further suggests Matthew and Luke also had access to the Q source and their own unique sources, M and L, respectively.

Question 7

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke most likely used the Gospel of Mark as a source.

Accepted Answer

This theory of the synoptic Gospels, known as the Two-Source Hypothesis, suggests that both Matthew and Luke used Mark as well as another source (known as "Q") for their writings.

Question 8

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke present their narrative in the same sequence for the stories they share with Mark.

Accepted Answer

Both Matthew and Luke use Mark as a source for many of their narrative components and present these stories in the same order as Mark. This is known as the "Markan priority."

Question 9

The Gospel of Mark is written in better, more polished Greek than the Gospel of Matthew.

Accepted Answer

The Gospel of Mark is generally considered to be written in a more terse and less polished Greek than the Gospel of Matthew, which often smooths out the rougher language of Mark in its parallel passages.

Question 10

A redactor is:

Accepted Answer

A redactor is an editor who is responsible for selecting, arranging, and editing written material for publication.

Question 11

Redaction criticism is:

Accepted Answer

Redaction criticism is a method of biblical study that examines how the authors of the biblical texts have shaped and edited their material to express their theological viewpoints, essentially studying the changes an author makes to their sources.

Question 12

In addition to Mark, both Matthew and Luke used:

Accepted Answer

Matthew and Luke both used a hypothetical source known as Q (short for Quelle in German), which contained sayings and teachings of Jesus that were not found in Mark's gospel.

Question 13

The argument of "sequence of the narrative" suggests:

Accepted Answer

The argument of "sequence of the narrative" suggests that Matthew and Luke follow Mark's sequence of stories. This is known as the "Two-Source Hypothesis," which posits that both Matthew and Luke used Mark as a source for their gospels, and incorporated it into their own unique material. Therefore, their sequence of stories would follow Mark's.

Question 14

Matthew and Luke:

Accepted Answer

Matthew and Luke sometimes change Mark to emphasize different theological points or to suit the needs of their specific audience. For example, Matthew tends to emphasize Jesus' fulfillment of Jewish prophecy and his authority as a teacher, while Luke emphasizes Jesus' compassion for the marginalized and his call to social justice.

Question 15

Most scholars believe that Q contained mostly:

Accepted Answer

Most scholars believe that Q contained mostly Jesus' sayings, which were used by both Matthew and Luke in their gospels. The birth, death and resurrection narratives are unique to each gospel writer and were not found in Q.

Question 16

Two narratives that Q probably did contain are:

Accepted Answer

Q is believed to be a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, without any narrative elements like birth or temptation stories. Therefore, options A and B can be ruled out. Option D also includes a narrative element (Jesus' birth) which is not likely to be included in Q. Option C includes two sayings of Jesus that are commonly accepted as part of Q - the temptation of Jesus and the healing of the centurion's servant.

Question 17

Where was Q finally discovered?

Accepted Answer

Q, or the Q source, is a hypothetical written collection of Jesus' sayings that scholars believe was used, along with the Gospel of Mark, as a source for the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. It has not been physically discovered; its existence is inferred from textual analysis.

Question 18

Which Gospel is Q most likely similar to?

Accepted Answer

Q is believed to be a hypothetical source that scholars posit as a common source for Matthew and Luke, which means it is not a gospel in itself. However, some scholars argue that the Gospel of Thomas may also have drawn from Q as a source, which would make it the most similar in content.

Question 19

Who assembled all the miracle stories dispersed throughout Mark into one large collection?

Accepted Answer

Scholars believe that Matthew assembled the miracle stories dispersed throughout Mark into one large collection in his gospel.

Question 20

If genre criticism uncovers the same points uncovered by redaction criticism, then why use the redactional approach?

Accepted Answer

Redaction criticism focuses on how editors have shaped and arranged sources, providing empirical evidence about the intentions and aims behind the text's composition.

Quiz 7: The Synoptic Problem and Its Significance for Interpretation