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{{Short description|Theory on origin of synoptic gospels}}
The Augustinian hypothesis holds that Matthew was written first, then Mark, then Luke, and each Evangelist depended on those who preceded him. This position is in the closest agreement with the church father testimony to the gospels origins.
{{Infobox synoptic hypothesis
| name = Augustinian hypothesis
| image = Synoptic Augustinian Theory Mt-Mk en.svg
| caption =
| other_name = Augustinian Proposal
| order = Matt <br/ > Mark <br/ > Luke
| additional_sources = Preaching of [[Saint Peter|Peter]]
| Matthew =
| Mark = Matt, preaching of Peter
| Luke = Matt, Mark
| originator =
| originating_work =
| origination_date =
| proponents = [[Augustine of Hippo]]
| opponents =
}}
{{Augustine}}


The '''Augustinian hypothesis''' (sometimes referred to as the '''Augustinian Proposal''') is a solution to the [[synoptic problem]], which concerns the origin of the [[Gospels]] of the [[New Testament]]. The hypothesis holds that [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] was written first, by [[Matthew the Evangelist]] (see the [[Gospel According to the Hebrews]] and the [[Jewish-Christian Gospels]]). [[Mark the Evangelist]] wrote the [[Gospel of Mark]] second and used Matthew and the preaching of Peter as sources. [[Luke the Evangelist]] wrote the [[Gospel of Luke]] and was aware of the two Gospels that preceded him. Unlike some competing hypotheses, this hypothesis does not rely on, nor does it argue for, the existence of any document that is not explicitly mentioned in historical testimony. Instead, the hypothesis draws primarily upon historical testimony, rather than [[textual criticism]], as the central line of evidence. The foundation of evidence for the hypothesis is the writings of the [[Church Fathers]]: historical sources dating back to as early as the first half of the 2nd century, which have been held as authoritative by most [[Christians]] for nearly two millennia. Adherents to the Augustinian hypothesis view it as a simple, coherent solution to the synoptic problem.
Scholars consider the two strongest defenders of the Augustinian Hypothesis in the twentieth century to be B.C. Butler and [[John Wenham]].


The Augustinian hypothesis addresses certain fundamental points of contention surrounding the [[synoptic problem]], such as how reliable the [[Early Christianity|early Christian]] tradition is, which gospel was written first, whether there were other unknown sources behind the gospels, to what extent, if any, the gospels were [[Redaction|redacted]], and to what extent the gospels were altered between the time they were originally written and the time the first surviving manuscripts appear. These and other matters are raised and alternate resolutions proposed by proponents of competing hypotheses, such as the [[Two-source hypothesis]], its related [[Q document|Q hypothesis]], the [[Farrer hypothesis]], and others.
B. C. Butler wrote ''The Originality of St. Matthew: A Critique of the Two-Document Hypothesis''.


The main two areas of contention within the Augustinian community are whether Matthew was originally written in [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] using [[Hebrew alphabet|Hebrew script]] (see [[Aramaic primacy]]), or if the Greek text is the original, and whether it was Mark or Luke who wrote second. A modified version of the Augustinian hypothesis, known as the [[Griesbach hypothesis]], agrees that Matthew wrote first and that Mark depended on Matthew, and does not dispute that the original text was in Hebrew thereafter translated into Greek, but argues that Mark also depended on Luke and therefore that Luke’s gospel precedes Mark's. Because of the similarity on primary points of contention, this hypothesis is also treated as a possible amendment to the Augustinian hypothesis.
John Wenham wrote ''Redating Matthew, Mark & Luke: A Fresh Assault on the Synoptic Problem'' which some scholars find has persuasive arguments for the Augustinian view and believe is based on sound [[historiography]]. [http://www.tektonics.org/books/wenham03.html#Review][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wenham] Wenham wrote regarding the book of Matthew: "The [Church] fathers are almost unanimous in asserting that Matthew the tax-collector was the author, writing first, for Hebrews in the Hebrew language: [[Papias]] (c. 60-130), [[Irenaeus]] (c. 130-200), [[Pantaenus]] (died c. 190), [[Origen]] (c. 185-254), [[Eusebius]] (c. 260-340), [[Epiphanius]] (c. 315-403), [[Cyril of Jerusalem]] (c. 315-86) and others write in this vein. The Medieval Hebrew gospel of Matthew in Even Bohan could be a corrupted version of the original. Though unrivaled, the tradition has been discounted on various grounds, particularly on the supposed unreliability of Papias, from whom some would derive the whole tradition." (John Wenham, Redating Matthew, Mark & Luke (1991), p. 116).


==Origin==
Historian [[David Hackett Fischer]] considers historical immediacy to be one of the key determinants of historicity and the church father Papias is a very early source in regards to testimony that the Matthew wrote his gospel first. Papias wrote the following:
[[Image:Michael Pacher St. Augustine Freeing A Prisoner.jpg|thumb|left|''St. Augustine Freeing A Prisoner'', by Michael Pacher (1482)]]
The hypothesis takes its name from [[Augustine of Hippo]], an early 5th century bishop and church father, who wrote: "Now, those four evangelists whose names have gained the most remarkable circulation over the whole world, and whose number has been fixed as four, ...are believed to have written in the order which follows: first Matthew, then Mark, thirdly Luke, lastly John." And: "Of these four, it is true, only Matthew is reckoned to have written in the Hebrew language; the others in Greek. And however they may appear to have kept each of them a certain order of narration proper to himself, this certainly is not to be taken as if each individual writer chose to write in ignorance of what his predecessor had done..."<ref name="Aug c2">St. Augustine, ''The Harmony of the Gospels'', Book 1 chapter 2 paragraph 4. from [http://www.hypotyposeis.org/synoptic-problem/2004/10/external-evidence-augustine.html hypothesis.com]</ref>


Mark was famously dubbed by Augustine as "pedissequus et breviator Matthaei", the attendant and abbreviator of Matthew,<ref name="Aug c2" /> in direct contrast to the view most commonly held in academia today, that [[Marcan priority|Mark's gospel was the earliest]]. Augustine also discussed the commonalities between the Synoptic Gospels, including the identical language found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Augustine was not the first to articulate this view, as [[Irenaeus]] and [[Origen]], among others, shared this ordering. However, Augustine is the earliest extant author to give a detailed scholarly textual analysis of the three texts' interdependence, and to articulate a theory for the express purpose of explaining this fact.
I will not hesitate to add also for you to my interpretations what I formerly learned with care from the Presbyters and have carefully stored in memory, giving assurance of its truth. For I did not take pleasure as the many do in those who speak much, but in those who teach what is true, nor in those who relate foreign precepts, but in those who relate the precepts which were given by the Lord to the faith and came down from the Truth itself. And also if any follower of the Presbyters happened to come, I would inquire for the sayings of the Presbyters, what Andrew said, or what Peter said, or what Philip or what Thomas or James or what John or Matthew or any other of the Lord's disciples, and for the things which other of the Lord's disciples, and for the things which Aristion and the Presbyter John, the disciples of the Lord, were saying. For I considered that I should not get so much advantage from matter in books as from the voice which yet lives and remains." ([[Eusebius]] (III, xxix).


==Ancient tradition==
According to [[Irenaeus]], Papias was "a hearer of John and a companion of [[Polycarp]] , a man of primitive times," who wrote a volume in "five books" (Against Heresies 5.33.4; quoted by Eusebius Hist. Eccl. 3.39.1). Polycarp is considered to not tolerate any deviation from the traditions of Christianity and he often asked his readers to turn back to the faith delivered to Christians from the beginning. [http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/jul1973/v30-2-criticscorner2.htm] In Ephesus, Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John, who appointed him to be Bishop of Smyrna. [http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/early-christians.htm]
[[Image:The Evangelist Matthew Inspired by an Angel.jpg|thumb|left|''The Evangelist Matthew Inspired by an Angel'', by Rembrandt (1661)]]
The Church Fathers who wrote about the order and authorship of the canonical gospels all supported some basic ideas of the Augustinian hypothesis. The fathers whose writings survive and who wrote about authorship are almost unanimous in agreement that Matthew the apostle was the author, wrote first, and did so for the Hebrews in their language.<ref>John Wenham, ''Redating Matthew, Mark, and Luke'', (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1991) p116.</ref> A number of sources in antiquity asserted that Mark wrote his Gospel after Matthew based on the preaching of Peter. Various elements of this tradition are found in the writings of [[Irenaeus]],<ref>Irenaeus, "Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, also himself handed on to us in writing what was preached by Peter." ''[[On the Detection and Overthrow of the So-Called Gnosis|Against Heresies]]'', 3.1</ref> [[Origen]],<ref>Origen, "As to the four Gospels, which alone are indisputable in the Church of God under heaven, I learned from tradition that the first to have been written was that of Matthew," cited in: Eusebius, ''[[Church History (Eusebius)|Ecclesiastical History]]'', 6.25</ref> [[Eusebius]],<ref>Eusebius, "So brightly shone the light of the true religion on the minds of Peter’s hearers that, not satisfied with a single hearing or with the oral teaching of the divine message, they resorted to appeals of every kind to induce Mark (whose Gospel we have), as he was a follower of Peter, to leave them in writing a summary of the instruction they had received by word of mouth, nor did they let him go until they had persuaded him, and thus became responsible for the writing of what is known as the Gospel according to Mark. It is said that, on learning by revelation of the spirit what had happened, the apostle [Peter] was delighted at their enthusiasm and authorized the reading of the book in the churches." ''History of the Church''</ref> and others.


The text of the Gospel itself circulated with a title "According to Matthew", a tradition indisputably acknowledged before the close of the 2nd century.<ref>Donald Guthrie, ''New Testament Introduction'' (Leicester: Apollos, 1961) p43.</ref> In addition, the title "According to Matthew" is found in the earliest manuscripts.<ref>Nestle-Aland. ''[[Novum Testamentum Graece]]''. 27th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Druck: 1996. p.1</ref> A number of scholars have argued that the title must be dated no later than 125.<ref>e.g. J.H. Ropes, ''The Synoptic Gospels'' (1934) p103; N.B. Stonehouse, ''Origins of the Synoptic Gospels'' (1963) p16; et al.</ref> Many contemporary scholars, however, believe it was originally anonymous.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ehrman |first=Bart D. |author-link=Bart D. Ehrman |title=The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings |year=2003 |edition=3rd |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0-19-515462-2 |page=49}}</ref>
Dr. [[John Robinson (1919-1983)|John Robinson]], the prominent liberal theologian surprised the academic community with scholarship that advocated views which are complimentary to the Augustine view which are compatible with a early dating of the gospels. Although Robinson was liberal theologian, he did challenge the work of his liberal academic colleagues. Specifically, Dr. Robinson examined the New Testament's reliability because he believed that very little original research had been completed in this field in the period between 1900 and the mid 1970's. After he concluded his research he wrote in his work ''Redating the New Testament'' that past scholarship was based on a "tyranny of unexamined assumptions" and an "almost willful blindness." Robinson concluded that New Testament was written before 64 A.D. Robinson concluded that there is no compelling evidence and little evidence of any kind that anything in the New Testament reflects knowledge of the Temple's destruction which occured in 70 A.D. C. H. Dodd in a frank letter to Robinson wrote: "I should agree with you that much of the late dating is quite arbitrary, even wanton, the offspring not of any argument that can be presented, but rather of the critic's prejudice that, if he appears to assent to the traditional position of the early church, he will be thought no better than a stick-in-the-mud." [http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/14452.htm] Other subsequent works (including Wenham's cited earlier) called for redating of some or all of the gospels were written as well by such scholars as Claude Tresmontant, Gunther Zuntz, [[Carsten Peter Thiede]], Dr. Eta Linneman, Harold Riley, Bernard Orchard, as well as others scholars. [http://www.totustuus.com/dating.htm]. Dr. Eta Linnemann, who studied under the liberal scholars [[Rudolf Bultmann]] and Ernst Fuchs, rejects the [[Q document]] hypothesis and denies there is a [[Synoptic problem]] (ideas associated with a late dating of the [[Synoptic gospels]]). [http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/q_linnemann.pdf][http://www.totustuus.com/dating.htm]


The earliest surviving references to the gospel tradition are quoted by Eusebius (lived c. 263–339 CE), and different but related traditions appear in the works of [[Papias of Hierapolis|Papias]] (wrote during the first half of 2nd century CE) and the works of [[Clement of Alexandria|Clement]]. A third ancient source, [[Irenaeus]], also provides further information about the traditions, especially that of Papias, and possibly adds a third related tradition to the sources. These related traditions generally agree on the primary points of contention within the Augustinian hypothesis, though not without discrepancies. Rather than seen as a refutation to the hypothesis, instead these discrepancies are often cited in defense of the hypothesis<ref>e.g. see this article on [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09674b.htm The Gospel of Mark]</ref> because they counter the argument that the entire tradition is merely a repetition of Papias's original assertion (therefore, if he were wrong, the great many historical sources supporting the theory would be inconsequential). Instead, slight disagreement is actually in favor of multiple, near identical traditions.
Dr. Robinson also concluded that Matthew's Gospel was written as early as A.D. 40, the book of James was penned by a brother of the Jesus Christ within twenty years of Jesus’ death, that Paul authored all the books that bear his name, and that John, the apostle, wrote the fourth Gospel. Dr. Robinson believed the result of his investigations argued for the rewriting of many theologies of the New Testament.[http://www.christiancourier.com/archives/historicityJesus.htm] [http://www.grantjeffrey.com/article/article7.htm].


===Papias===
[[John MacArthur]] in his work ''The MacArthur Study Bible'' which was very well received by conservative Christian scholars argues a number of lines of evidence advocating the Augustinian hypothesis in his introduction to the Gospel of Mark.
According to [[Irenaeus]], Papias was "a hearer of John and a companion of [[Polycarp]], a man of primitive times," who wrote a volume in "five books."<ref>Against Heresies 5.33.4; quoted by Eusebius, ''Historia Ecclesiastica'' 3.39.1.</ref> The benefit of historical immediacy, as argued by [[David Hackett Fischer|D. H. Fischer]] is one of the key determinants of historicity, and the church father Papias is a very early source in regard to testimony that the Matthew wrote his gospel first. Papias wrote that: "Matthew compiled the sayings in the Hebrew language, and everyone translated them as well he could."<ref>cited in: Eusebius, ''History of the Church'', 3.39.15.</ref> (The 'Hebrew language' referred to by Papias has often been interpreted as Aramaic.)


It has been argued, because Papias does not cite an authority for his assertions concerning Matthew but does concerning Mark, that Matthew was already fully accepted at the time of his writings.<ref>for this and a full discussion of other arguments, see R.P. Martin, ''New Testament Foundations'' vol. 1 (1975) pp238-240.</ref>
==Other views==
As mentioned earlier, the Augustinian hypothesis holds that Matthew was written first, then Mark, then Luke, and each Evangelist depended on those who preceded him. However, there are other views and many scholars reject the historical testimony of the early church father [[Papias]] and other lines of evidence that the Augustian hypothesis scholars advance (see: [[Synoptic problem|Other views regarding which Gospel was written first]]).


==External Links==
===Clement===
Eusebius also recorded an important tradition from Clement of Alexandria (died c. 213):
Pro Augustinian hypothesis:
{{Quote|text=In the same volumes Clement has found room for a tradition of the primitive authorities of the Church regarding the order of the gospels. It is this. He used to say that the earliest gospels were those containing the genealogies [Matthew, Luke], while Mark's originated as follows: When, at Rome, Peter had openly preached the word and by the Spirit had proclaimed the gospel, the large audience urged Mark, who had followed him for a long time and remembered what had been said, to write it all down. This he did, making his gospel available to all who wanted it. When Peter heard about this, he made no objection and gave no special encouragement. Last of all, aware that the physical facts had been recorded in the gospels, encouraged by his pupils and irresistibly moved by the Spirit, John wrote a spiritual gospel.<ref>Eusebius on Clement, ''History of the Church''. 6.14.1.</ref>}}


This source claims multiple authorities of antiquity, not merely Papias; this is taken as evidence against the view that the testimony of the Fathers is based solely upon the witness of Papias. Furthermore the tradition of Clement concurs with the significant point of contention: Matthean priority. However, Clement conflicts with the Augustinian hypothesis concerning the order of Mark and Luke. The [[Griesbach hypothesis]] attempts to resolve the difficulty concerning this secondary point of contention by stating Luke wrote before Mark.
*[http://www.christian-thinktank.com/litdep2.html Evaluation of the Theory of Literary Dependence]


===Irenaeus===
{{further|Aramaic primacy}}

Irenaeus, who was familiar with the work of Papias and who knew [[Polycarp]] and possibly even [[John the Apostle|the apostle John]], wrote: "Now Matthew published also a book of the Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching the gospel in Rome and founding the Church."<ref>Irenaeus, ''Against Heresies'', cited also in Eusebius; trans. D. Theron.</ref>

Irenaeus gives here another tradition in accord with Papias, though containing more information. This has been taken as evidence of a third, yet harmonious tradition.<ref>e.g. J. Munck in ''Neotestamentica at Patristica'' (ed. W.C. van Unnik, 1962) p257.</ref> However, Irenaeus places the composition of Mark after Peter's death, while Clement (and others, such as Origen and Eusebius) claimed Peter was alive and approved the work. Nonetheless, because the Augustinian hypothesis does not address whether Peter was alive at the time of the composition of Mark or not, this discrepancy is not a basis for objection to the theory.

An original Aramaic version of Matthew does not exist in the sense that no copy survives in the original language today. Many proponents of the Augustinian hypothesis hold that the current [[Koine Greek|Greek]] Matthew is a complete translation of the original Aramaic Matthew. This theory has strong support in a number of Church Fathers. Papias, Irenaeus, Origen, Eusebius, [[Epiphanius of Salamis|Epiphanius]] and [[Jerome]] all agree that the original Matthew was written in Hebrew.<ref>For Papias, see Eusebius, ''History of the Church'', 3.39.15. For Irenaeus, see ''Against Heresies'', 3.1. For Origen, see Eusebius, ''History of the Church'', 6.25. For Eusebius and Epiphanisu, see below.</ref> Jerome even claimed to have seen the original Aramaic Matthew in the library of Pamphilus the Martyr.<ref>Jerome, ''On Illustrious Men''</ref> Eusebius wrote in c. 325 that Pantaerus found a copy of the Gospel of Matthew written in Hebrew in India, and that it had been left there by Bartholomew.<ref>Eusebius. ''History of the Church'', 5.10.3.</ref> In c. 376, Epiphanius wrote there was "no doubt" that a sect in Palestine still used the original Hebrew text "just as it was originally written."<ref>Epiphanius. ''Panarion'', 29.9.4.</ref> And, of course, [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustine]] also repeated this tradition. To these authors should be added [[Pantaenus]], [[Athanasius]], [[John Chrysostom]], [[Cyril of Jerusalem]], [[Gregory of Nazianzus]], and others in agreement.

==Augustinian revival==
[[Image:Wenham Redating.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Book cover of John Wenham's ''Redating Matthew, Mark and Luke''.]]

The Augustinian position, and the similar Griesbach hypothesis, has drawn recent interest, especially from [[Christopher Butler (bishop)|B. C. Butler]], [[John Wenham]], W.R. Farmer, and others as an alternative solution to the [[synoptic problem]], and has been employed as a scholarly refutation of [[Marcan priority]], the [[Q document|Q hypothesis]], and the [[two-source hypothesis]].

Butler argued that accepting the priority of Matthew rendered it possible to dispense with the hypothetical Q document altogether, a position he supported by arguments concerning the inadmissibility of appealing to Q as a sound explanation of the cases where Matthew appears to be more original than Mark.

Likewise it has been pointed out that differences between the Synoptic Gospels are as easily explained by differing purposes of the authors than by forced redactions or omissions due to ignorance.<ref>e.g. A. Wikenhauser, ''New Testament Introduction'' (English translation 1958) p. 251</ref> Furthermore, against certain arguments that the “primitiveness” of the ideas within the Gospels is the determining factor in their literary interdependence,<ref>for example, J. Schniewind advanced such an argument in his ''Das Evangelium nach Matthaus'', p. 5.</ref> it is observed that defining "primitiveness" carries obvious difficulties.<ref>Guthrie, p. 173</ref>

Farmer argued that a modification of the Augustinian hypothesis the so called [[Two-gospel hypothesis]], ordering Matthew-Luke-Mark, eliminated all reasons for the existence of Q, a position whose credibility was conceded by W.C. Allen and others.<ref>W.C. Allen ''St. Matthew'' pp. xlvii; see Donald Guthrie, ''New Testament Introduction'' p. 171 n 6.</ref> [[Bernard Orchard]] also developed the [[Two-gospel hypothesis]] and suggested a plausible historic scenario that merged its ideas with the historic evidence that underlines the Augustinian hypothesis.

===Modern position in detail===
Recently, modern scholars accepting some form of the Augustinian hypothesis have attempted to develop a detailed argument explaining the theoretical origin of the gospels. There was a perceived need for this in response to recent competing theories, expressed by [[Bernard Orchard]]: “the two-document hypothesis and the priority of Mark are still only hypotheses, not infallible dogmas, and they have stood secure for so long chiefly because no one has been able to offer any satisfactory alternative."<ref>Bernard Orchard, ''Matthew, Luke & Mark'' (Manchester: Koinonia Press, 1976) vii.</ref> Central to this process is the assumption that the gospel's development should be understood as a reaction to various developing needs of the early church.<ref>Bernard Orchard and Harold Riley, ''The Order of the Synoptics: Why Three Synoptic Gospels? '' (Macon: Mercer University Press, 1987), p. 275</ref>

John Wenham argued that, in the early Jerusalem Church, there would have been an early need for the production of a written record to augment the "atmosphere of spontaneity" within which the apostles, disciples, and eyewitnesses would have given instruction. The reasons for this, he asserted, were: the need for instruction when no qualified teacher was available, the need for consistency and accuracy in what was taught as it spread throughout the first scattered Christian communities, and for the basic need of evangelization.<ref>John Wenham, ''Redating Matthew, Mark, and Luke'' (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1991) p. 200.</ref> Wenham also argued that Matthew was a natural choice since, as a tax collector,<ref>Matthew 10:3</ref> he would have had the requisite literacy, as well as his first hand memories, and perhaps even notes.<ref>John Wenham, ''Redating Matthew, Mark, and Luke'' (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1991) p. 201</ref> Others have observed that persecutions in Palestine, threatening dispersion of the Christians, would have been a motivating factor for a text of the life of Jesus.<ref>[[Cornelius a Lapide]], ''The Great Commentary on the Scriptures'', trans. Thomas W. Mossman, (London: John Hodges, 1893), p. 36.</ref>

The majority Hebrew makeup of the primitive Church has been seen as support of Aramaic primacy.<ref>Kevin Cathcart, Martin McNamara and Michael Maher, eds, ''The Aramaic Bible: the Targums'', vol. 1A, trans. Martin McNamara, (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 1992), 14.</ref> Besides the traditional material (see above), other support for an Aramaic Matthew advanced in recent years includes the theory that the Medieval Hebrew gospel of Matthew in [[Even Bohan]] could be a corrupted version of the original.

Bernard Orchard identified the above period as a "first phase" of the development of the Gospels, distinguished from the subsequent phase by the events of the year 42:

:A savage persecution of the Church, begun by Herod Agrippa I in AD 42, was the signal for the dispersion of the apostles now possessing in the Gospel of Matthew the necessary tool to support and confirm their preaching, while at the same time preserving their theological unity. The first phase was completed, and the second phase of the Church's expansion was about to begin with the mission of Paul.<ref>Bernard Orchard, in [http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1994/9403fea1.asp This Article] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630080953/http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1994/9403fea1.asp |date=June 30, 2006 }}</ref>

Central to Orchard's characterization of this new second phase is the distinction between a primarily Hebrew orientation and a primarily Greek orientation, focusing not only on the Jewish converts to Christianity, but to the gentile converts as well. This, he argues, resulted in three key events: the translation of the original Matthew into Greek, the production of the Gospel of Mark within the context of Peter's preaching to Greek speaking converts in Rome, and Luke's authorship of his Gospel under the instruction of Paul. Cited in support of this are the comments of Clement,<ref>Clement, cited in: Eusebius, History of the Church, 3.39.15.</ref> Irenaeus,<ref>Irenaeus, cited in: Eusebius, History of the Church, 5.8.2</ref> and others who state that the Gospel of Mark was written by Mark, a follower of the apostle Peter,<ref>1 Pet. 5:12–13</ref> based on his speeches. Orchard countered the claim that the Gospel of Mark must have been written first, since it contains less information than Matthew and Luke, by positing that Peter elected not to speak on certain subjects, such as the birth and resurrection narratives, since he had not been a direct witness of those events.

The notion that Peter employed Matthew in his preaching was supported by B.C. Butler, but not by John Wenham, who instead explained the similar structure by arguing simply that Mark used both his recollection of his instruction from the Gospel of Matthew and his memory of the preaching of Peter to pen his own synthesis.<ref>Wenham p. 208</ref>

The association of the Gospel of Luke with [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul the apostle]], which is witnessed by tradition, has led some to argue that Luke was with Paul during his imprisonment in Rome, or to at least place the date of composition prior to 70 and the fall of Jerusalem.<ref>c.f. Harnack, ''The Date of Acts and the Synoptic Gospels'' (1911) p. 90; J.A.T. Robinson, ''Redating the New Testament'' pp. 86–92; et al.</ref> The author of Luke also wrote in his prologue that he employed various sources in composing his work.<ref>Luke 1:1–5</ref> Wenham argued that an excess of such material, along with the constraints of scroll length, was one cause of his noticeable omission of material found in Matthew and Mark.<ref>Wenham, p. 209.</ref>

An unusual modern scholar who supported the notion that the Synoptic Gospels were of an early date, specifically before 70, was [[John Robinson (1919-1983)|John Robinson]]. Though generally considered a liberal theologian, his views in respect to the development of the Gospels were consistent with the Augustinian hypothesis. He wrote in his work ''Redating the New Testament'' that past scholarship was based on a "tyranny of unexamined assumptions" and an "almost wilful blindness," concluding that New Testament was written before 64, and that there is no compelling evidence and little evidence of any kind that anything in the New Testament reflects knowledge of the Temple's destruction. Furthermore, in relation to the four gospels, according to [[Norman Geisler]]:

:"Robinson places Matthew at 40 to after 60, Mark at about 45 to 60, Luke at before 57 to after 60, and John at from 40 to after 65."<ref>[http://www.bethinking.org/resource.php?ID=233 bethinking.org | Resource: The Dating of the New Testament<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Bible}}
* [[Farrer hypothesis]]
* [[Four-document hypothesis]]
* [[Gospel harmony]]
* [[Griesbach hypothesis]]
* [[Hebrew Gospel hypothesis]]
* [[Two-source hypothesis]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.christian-thinktank.com/litdep2.html Evaluation of the Theory of Literary Dependence]
*[http://answers.org/bible/missing_q.html The Mysterious Case of the Missing Q] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802114226/http://answers.org/bible/missing_q.html |date=2002-08-02 }}
*[http://www.hypotyposeis.org/synoptic-problem/ Synoptic Problem Website]


{{Gospel of Matthew}}
Arguments against competing hypothesis to the Augustinian view:
{{Synoptic problem|state=expanded}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Augustinian Hypothesis}}
*[http://answers.org/bible/missing_q.html The Mysterious Case of the Missing Q]
[[Category:Synoptic problem]]
[[Category:Hypotheses]]
[[Category:Biblical criticism]]
[[Category:Christian terminology]]

Latest revision as of 21:23, 18 March 2024

Augustinian hypothesis
Augustinian Proposal
Theory Information
OrderMatt
Mark
Luke
Additional SourcesPreaching of Peter
Gospels' Sources
MarkMatt, preaching of Peter
LukeMatt, Mark
Theory History
ProponentsAugustine of Hippo

The Augustinian hypothesis (sometimes referred to as the Augustinian Proposal) is a solution to the synoptic problem, which concerns the origin of the Gospels of the New Testament. The hypothesis holds that Matthew was written first, by Matthew the Evangelist (see the Gospel According to the Hebrews and the Jewish-Christian Gospels). Mark the Evangelist wrote the Gospel of Mark second and used Matthew and the preaching of Peter as sources. Luke the Evangelist wrote the Gospel of Luke and was aware of the two Gospels that preceded him. Unlike some competing hypotheses, this hypothesis does not rely on, nor does it argue for, the existence of any document that is not explicitly mentioned in historical testimony. Instead, the hypothesis draws primarily upon historical testimony, rather than textual criticism, as the central line of evidence. The foundation of evidence for the hypothesis is the writings of the Church Fathers: historical sources dating back to as early as the first half of the 2nd century, which have been held as authoritative by most Christians for nearly two millennia. Adherents to the Augustinian hypothesis view it as a simple, coherent solution to the synoptic problem.

The Augustinian hypothesis addresses certain fundamental points of contention surrounding the synoptic problem, such as how reliable the early Christian tradition is, which gospel was written first, whether there were other unknown sources behind the gospels, to what extent, if any, the gospels were redacted, and to what extent the gospels were altered between the time they were originally written and the time the first surviving manuscripts appear. These and other matters are raised and alternate resolutions proposed by proponents of competing hypotheses, such as the Two-source hypothesis, its related Q hypothesis, the Farrer hypothesis, and others.

The main two areas of contention within the Augustinian community are whether Matthew was originally written in Aramaic using Hebrew script (see Aramaic primacy), or if the Greek text is the original, and whether it was Mark or Luke who wrote second. A modified version of the Augustinian hypothesis, known as the Griesbach hypothesis, agrees that Matthew wrote first and that Mark depended on Matthew, and does not dispute that the original text was in Hebrew thereafter translated into Greek, but argues that Mark also depended on Luke and therefore that Luke’s gospel precedes Mark's. Because of the similarity on primary points of contention, this hypothesis is also treated as a possible amendment to the Augustinian hypothesis.

Origin[edit]

St. Augustine Freeing A Prisoner, by Michael Pacher (1482)

The hypothesis takes its name from Augustine of Hippo, an early 5th century bishop and church father, who wrote: "Now, those four evangelists whose names have gained the most remarkable circulation over the whole world, and whose number has been fixed as four, ...are believed to have written in the order which follows: first Matthew, then Mark, thirdly Luke, lastly John." And: "Of these four, it is true, only Matthew is reckoned to have written in the Hebrew language; the others in Greek. And however they may appear to have kept each of them a certain order of narration proper to himself, this certainly is not to be taken as if each individual writer chose to write in ignorance of what his predecessor had done..."[1]

Mark was famously dubbed by Augustine as "pedissequus et breviator Matthaei", the attendant and abbreviator of Matthew,[1] in direct contrast to the view most commonly held in academia today, that Mark's gospel was the earliest. Augustine also discussed the commonalities between the Synoptic Gospels, including the identical language found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Augustine was not the first to articulate this view, as Irenaeus and Origen, among others, shared this ordering. However, Augustine is the earliest extant author to give a detailed scholarly textual analysis of the three texts' interdependence, and to articulate a theory for the express purpose of explaining this fact.

Ancient tradition[edit]

The Evangelist Matthew Inspired by an Angel, by Rembrandt (1661)

The Church Fathers who wrote about the order and authorship of the canonical gospels all supported some basic ideas of the Augustinian hypothesis. The fathers whose writings survive and who wrote about authorship are almost unanimous in agreement that Matthew the apostle was the author, wrote first, and did so for the Hebrews in their language.[2] A number of sources in antiquity asserted that Mark wrote his Gospel after Matthew based on the preaching of Peter. Various elements of this tradition are found in the writings of Irenaeus,[3] Origen,[4] Eusebius,[5] and others.

The text of the Gospel itself circulated with a title "According to Matthew", a tradition indisputably acknowledged before the close of the 2nd century.[6] In addition, the title "According to Matthew" is found in the earliest manuscripts.[7] A number of scholars have argued that the title must be dated no later than 125.[8] Many contemporary scholars, however, believe it was originally anonymous.[9]

The earliest surviving references to the gospel tradition are quoted by Eusebius (lived c. 263–339 CE), and different but related traditions appear in the works of Papias (wrote during the first half of 2nd century CE) and the works of Clement. A third ancient source, Irenaeus, also provides further information about the traditions, especially that of Papias, and possibly adds a third related tradition to the sources. These related traditions generally agree on the primary points of contention within the Augustinian hypothesis, though not without discrepancies. Rather than seen as a refutation to the hypothesis, instead these discrepancies are often cited in defense of the hypothesis[10] because they counter the argument that the entire tradition is merely a repetition of Papias's original assertion (therefore, if he were wrong, the great many historical sources supporting the theory would be inconsequential). Instead, slight disagreement is actually in favor of multiple, near identical traditions.

Papias[edit]

According to Irenaeus, Papias was "a hearer of John and a companion of Polycarp, a man of primitive times," who wrote a volume in "five books."[11] The benefit of historical immediacy, as argued by D. H. Fischer is one of the key determinants of historicity, and the church father Papias is a very early source in regard to testimony that the Matthew wrote his gospel first. Papias wrote that: "Matthew compiled the sayings in the Hebrew language, and everyone translated them as well he could."[12] (The 'Hebrew language' referred to by Papias has often been interpreted as Aramaic.)

It has been argued, because Papias does not cite an authority for his assertions concerning Matthew but does concerning Mark, that Matthew was already fully accepted at the time of his writings.[13]

Clement[edit]

Eusebius also recorded an important tradition from Clement of Alexandria (died c. 213):

In the same volumes Clement has found room for a tradition of the primitive authorities of the Church regarding the order of the gospels. It is this. He used to say that the earliest gospels were those containing the genealogies [Matthew, Luke], while Mark's originated as follows: When, at Rome, Peter had openly preached the word and by the Spirit had proclaimed the gospel, the large audience urged Mark, who had followed him for a long time and remembered what had been said, to write it all down. This he did, making his gospel available to all who wanted it. When Peter heard about this, he made no objection and gave no special encouragement. Last of all, aware that the physical facts had been recorded in the gospels, encouraged by his pupils and irresistibly moved by the Spirit, John wrote a spiritual gospel.[14]

This source claims multiple authorities of antiquity, not merely Papias; this is taken as evidence against the view that the testimony of the Fathers is based solely upon the witness of Papias. Furthermore the tradition of Clement concurs with the significant point of contention: Matthean priority. However, Clement conflicts with the Augustinian hypothesis concerning the order of Mark and Luke. The Griesbach hypothesis attempts to resolve the difficulty concerning this secondary point of contention by stating Luke wrote before Mark.

Irenaeus[edit]

Irenaeus, who was familiar with the work of Papias and who knew Polycarp and possibly even the apostle John, wrote: "Now Matthew published also a book of the Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching the gospel in Rome and founding the Church."[15]

Irenaeus gives here another tradition in accord with Papias, though containing more information. This has been taken as evidence of a third, yet harmonious tradition.[16] However, Irenaeus places the composition of Mark after Peter's death, while Clement (and others, such as Origen and Eusebius) claimed Peter was alive and approved the work. Nonetheless, because the Augustinian hypothesis does not address whether Peter was alive at the time of the composition of Mark or not, this discrepancy is not a basis for objection to the theory.

An original Aramaic version of Matthew does not exist in the sense that no copy survives in the original language today. Many proponents of the Augustinian hypothesis hold that the current Greek Matthew is a complete translation of the original Aramaic Matthew. This theory has strong support in a number of Church Fathers. Papias, Irenaeus, Origen, Eusebius, Epiphanius and Jerome all agree that the original Matthew was written in Hebrew.[17] Jerome even claimed to have seen the original Aramaic Matthew in the library of Pamphilus the Martyr.[18] Eusebius wrote in c. 325 that Pantaerus found a copy of the Gospel of Matthew written in Hebrew in India, and that it had been left there by Bartholomew.[19] In c. 376, Epiphanius wrote there was "no doubt" that a sect in Palestine still used the original Hebrew text "just as it was originally written."[20] And, of course, Augustine also repeated this tradition. To these authors should be added Pantaenus, Athanasius, John Chrysostom, Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory of Nazianzus, and others in agreement.

Augustinian revival[edit]

Book cover of John Wenham's Redating Matthew, Mark and Luke.

The Augustinian position, and the similar Griesbach hypothesis, has drawn recent interest, especially from B. C. Butler, John Wenham, W.R. Farmer, and others as an alternative solution to the synoptic problem, and has been employed as a scholarly refutation of Marcan priority, the Q hypothesis, and the two-source hypothesis.

Butler argued that accepting the priority of Matthew rendered it possible to dispense with the hypothetical Q document altogether, a position he supported by arguments concerning the inadmissibility of appealing to Q as a sound explanation of the cases where Matthew appears to be more original than Mark.

Likewise it has been pointed out that differences between the Synoptic Gospels are as easily explained by differing purposes of the authors than by forced redactions or omissions due to ignorance.[21] Furthermore, against certain arguments that the “primitiveness” of the ideas within the Gospels is the determining factor in their literary interdependence,[22] it is observed that defining "primitiveness" carries obvious difficulties.[23]

Farmer argued that a modification of the Augustinian hypothesis the so called Two-gospel hypothesis, ordering Matthew-Luke-Mark, eliminated all reasons for the existence of Q, a position whose credibility was conceded by W.C. Allen and others.[24] Bernard Orchard also developed the Two-gospel hypothesis and suggested a plausible historic scenario that merged its ideas with the historic evidence that underlines the Augustinian hypothesis.

Modern position in detail[edit]

Recently, modern scholars accepting some form of the Augustinian hypothesis have attempted to develop a detailed argument explaining the theoretical origin of the gospels. There was a perceived need for this in response to recent competing theories, expressed by Bernard Orchard: “the two-document hypothesis and the priority of Mark are still only hypotheses, not infallible dogmas, and they have stood secure for so long chiefly because no one has been able to offer any satisfactory alternative."[25] Central to this process is the assumption that the gospel's development should be understood as a reaction to various developing needs of the early church.[26]

John Wenham argued that, in the early Jerusalem Church, there would have been an early need for the production of a written record to augment the "atmosphere of spontaneity" within which the apostles, disciples, and eyewitnesses would have given instruction. The reasons for this, he asserted, were: the need for instruction when no qualified teacher was available, the need for consistency and accuracy in what was taught as it spread throughout the first scattered Christian communities, and for the basic need of evangelization.[27] Wenham also argued that Matthew was a natural choice since, as a tax collector,[28] he would have had the requisite literacy, as well as his first hand memories, and perhaps even notes.[29] Others have observed that persecutions in Palestine, threatening dispersion of the Christians, would have been a motivating factor for a text of the life of Jesus.[30]

The majority Hebrew makeup of the primitive Church has been seen as support of Aramaic primacy.[31] Besides the traditional material (see above), other support for an Aramaic Matthew advanced in recent years includes the theory that the Medieval Hebrew gospel of Matthew in Even Bohan could be a corrupted version of the original.

Bernard Orchard identified the above period as a "first phase" of the development of the Gospels, distinguished from the subsequent phase by the events of the year 42:

A savage persecution of the Church, begun by Herod Agrippa I in AD 42, was the signal for the dispersion of the apostles now possessing in the Gospel of Matthew the necessary tool to support and confirm their preaching, while at the same time preserving their theological unity. The first phase was completed, and the second phase of the Church's expansion was about to begin with the mission of Paul.[32]

Central to Orchard's characterization of this new second phase is the distinction between a primarily Hebrew orientation and a primarily Greek orientation, focusing not only on the Jewish converts to Christianity, but to the gentile converts as well. This, he argues, resulted in three key events: the translation of the original Matthew into Greek, the production of the Gospel of Mark within the context of Peter's preaching to Greek speaking converts in Rome, and Luke's authorship of his Gospel under the instruction of Paul. Cited in support of this are the comments of Clement,[33] Irenaeus,[34] and others who state that the Gospel of Mark was written by Mark, a follower of the apostle Peter,[35] based on his speeches. Orchard countered the claim that the Gospel of Mark must have been written first, since it contains less information than Matthew and Luke, by positing that Peter elected not to speak on certain subjects, such as the birth and resurrection narratives, since he had not been a direct witness of those events.

The notion that Peter employed Matthew in his preaching was supported by B.C. Butler, but not by John Wenham, who instead explained the similar structure by arguing simply that Mark used both his recollection of his instruction from the Gospel of Matthew and his memory of the preaching of Peter to pen his own synthesis.[36]

The association of the Gospel of Luke with Paul the apostle, which is witnessed by tradition, has led some to argue that Luke was with Paul during his imprisonment in Rome, or to at least place the date of composition prior to 70 and the fall of Jerusalem.[37] The author of Luke also wrote in his prologue that he employed various sources in composing his work.[38] Wenham argued that an excess of such material, along with the constraints of scroll length, was one cause of his noticeable omission of material found in Matthew and Mark.[39]

An unusual modern scholar who supported the notion that the Synoptic Gospels were of an early date, specifically before 70, was John Robinson. Though generally considered a liberal theologian, his views in respect to the development of the Gospels were consistent with the Augustinian hypothesis. He wrote in his work Redating the New Testament that past scholarship was based on a "tyranny of unexamined assumptions" and an "almost wilful blindness," concluding that New Testament was written before 64, and that there is no compelling evidence and little evidence of any kind that anything in the New Testament reflects knowledge of the Temple's destruction. Furthermore, in relation to the four gospels, according to Norman Geisler:

"Robinson places Matthew at 40 to after 60, Mark at about 45 to 60, Luke at before 57 to after 60, and John at from 40 to after 65."[40]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b St. Augustine, The Harmony of the Gospels, Book 1 chapter 2 paragraph 4. from hypothesis.com
  2. ^ John Wenham, Redating Matthew, Mark, and Luke, (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1991) p116.
  3. ^ Irenaeus, "Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, also himself handed on to us in writing what was preached by Peter." Against Heresies, 3.1
  4. ^ Origen, "As to the four Gospels, which alone are indisputable in the Church of God under heaven, I learned from tradition that the first to have been written was that of Matthew," cited in: Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 6.25
  5. ^ Eusebius, "So brightly shone the light of the true religion on the minds of Peter’s hearers that, not satisfied with a single hearing or with the oral teaching of the divine message, they resorted to appeals of every kind to induce Mark (whose Gospel we have), as he was a follower of Peter, to leave them in writing a summary of the instruction they had received by word of mouth, nor did they let him go until they had persuaded him, and thus became responsible for the writing of what is known as the Gospel according to Mark. It is said that, on learning by revelation of the spirit what had happened, the apostle [Peter] was delighted at their enthusiasm and authorized the reading of the book in the churches." History of the Church
  6. ^ Donald Guthrie, New Testament Introduction (Leicester: Apollos, 1961) p43.
  7. ^ Nestle-Aland. Novum Testamentum Graece. 27th ed. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Druck: 1996. p.1
  8. ^ e.g. J.H. Ropes, The Synoptic Gospels (1934) p103; N.B. Stonehouse, Origins of the Synoptic Gospels (1963) p16; et al.
  9. ^ Ehrman, Bart D. (2003). The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 49. ISBN 0-19-515462-2.
  10. ^ e.g. see this article on The Gospel of Mark
  11. ^ Against Heresies 5.33.4; quoted by Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica 3.39.1.
  12. ^ cited in: Eusebius, History of the Church, 3.39.15.
  13. ^ for this and a full discussion of other arguments, see R.P. Martin, New Testament Foundations vol. 1 (1975) pp238-240.
  14. ^ Eusebius on Clement, History of the Church. 6.14.1.
  15. ^ Irenaeus, Against Heresies, cited also in Eusebius; trans. D. Theron.
  16. ^ e.g. J. Munck in Neotestamentica at Patristica (ed. W.C. van Unnik, 1962) p257.
  17. ^ For Papias, see Eusebius, History of the Church, 3.39.15. For Irenaeus, see Against Heresies, 3.1. For Origen, see Eusebius, History of the Church, 6.25. For Eusebius and Epiphanisu, see below.
  18. ^ Jerome, On Illustrious Men
  19. ^ Eusebius. History of the Church, 5.10.3.
  20. ^ Epiphanius. Panarion, 29.9.4.
  21. ^ e.g. A. Wikenhauser, New Testament Introduction (English translation 1958) p. 251
  22. ^ for example, J. Schniewind advanced such an argument in his Das Evangelium nach Matthaus, p. 5.
  23. ^ Guthrie, p. 173
  24. ^ W.C. Allen St. Matthew pp. xlvii; see Donald Guthrie, New Testament Introduction p. 171 n 6.
  25. ^ Bernard Orchard, Matthew, Luke & Mark (Manchester: Koinonia Press, 1976) vii.
  26. ^ Bernard Orchard and Harold Riley, The Order of the Synoptics: Why Three Synoptic Gospels? (Macon: Mercer University Press, 1987), p. 275
  27. ^ John Wenham, Redating Matthew, Mark, and Luke (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1991) p. 200.
  28. ^ Matthew 10:3
  29. ^ John Wenham, Redating Matthew, Mark, and Luke (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1991) p. 201
  30. ^ Cornelius a Lapide, The Great Commentary on the Scriptures, trans. Thomas W. Mossman, (London: John Hodges, 1893), p. 36.
  31. ^ Kevin Cathcart, Martin McNamara and Michael Maher, eds, The Aramaic Bible: the Targums, vol. 1A, trans. Martin McNamara, (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 1992), 14.
  32. ^ Bernard Orchard, in This Article Archived June 30, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  33. ^ Clement, cited in: Eusebius, History of the Church, 3.39.15.
  34. ^ Irenaeus, cited in: Eusebius, History of the Church, 5.8.2
  35. ^ 1 Pet. 5:12–13
  36. ^ Wenham p. 208
  37. ^ c.f. Harnack, The Date of Acts and the Synoptic Gospels (1911) p. 90; J.A.T. Robinson, Redating the New Testament pp. 86–92; et al.
  38. ^ Luke 1:1–5
  39. ^ Wenham, p. 209.
  40. ^ bethinking.org | Resource: The Dating of the New Testament

External links[edit]