Documentary hypothesis in new testament gospel debate pdf
The Documentary Hypothesis is a theory in biblical scholarship that proposes that the New Testament Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) were not written by a single author, but rather are a compilation of earlier written sources. Here is a PDF document that summarizes the Documentary Hypothesis in the context of the New Testament Gospel debate:
The Documentary Hypothesis: A Summary
Introduction
The Documentary Hypothesis is a theory that attempts to explain the composition of the New Testament Gospels. It proposes that the Gospels were not written by a single author, but rather are a compilation of earlier written sources. This theory has been widely debated among biblical scholars and has significant implications for our understanding of the Gospels.
The Theory
The Documentary Hypothesis suggests that the Gospels were composed from a combination of three main sources:
- Mark: The earliest of the three sources, Mark is thought to have been written around 68-70 CE. It is considered to be the most primitive of the three sources and is often referred to as the "source" or "Q" (from the German word "Quelle," meaning "source").
- Q: Q is a hypothetical source that is thought to have been written around 50-60 CE. It is believed to have been a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus that were not included in Mark.
- M: M is a hypothetical source that is thought to have been written around 80-90 CE. It is believed to have been a collection of material that was unique to Matthew and Luke, but not found in Mark.
The Composition of the Gospels
According to the Documentary Hypothesis, the Gospels were composed by combining these three sources in different ways. For example:
- Matthew and Luke used Mark as a source and added material from Q and M to create their own unique Gospels.
- John's Gospel is thought to have been written independently of the other three Gospels and does not rely heavily on the other sources.
Implications of the Documentary Hypothesis
The Documentary Hypothesis has significant implications for our understanding of the Gospels. For example:
- It suggests that the Gospels were not written by eyewitnesses, but rather were composed by later authors who drew on earlier sources.
- It implies that the Gospels are not a single, unified narrative, but rather a compilation of different sources and traditions.
- It raises questions about the historical accuracy of the Gospels and the reliability of the accounts of Jesus' life and teachings.
Criticisms of the Documentary Hypothesis
While the Documentary Hypothesis has been widely accepted by many biblical scholars, it has also been subject to criticism and debate. Some of the criticisms include:
- The theory relies heavily on hypothetical sources and is difficult to test or verify.
- The theory assumes that the Gospels were composed in a linear, sequential manner, which may not be the case.
- The theory does not account for the unique characteristics and themes of each Gospel.
Conclusion
The Documentary Hypothesis is a complex and debated theory that attempts to explain the composition of the New Testament Gospels. While it has significant implications for our understanding of the Gospels, it is not without its criticisms and limitations. Ultimately, the Documentary Hypothesis remains one of the most widely accepted theories in biblical scholarship, but it is not the only theory and continues to be the subject of ongoing debate and discussion.
References
- Bultmann, R. (1963). The History of the Synoptic Tradition. Oxford University Press.
- Funk, R. W. (1966). The Five Gospels: The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus. HarperSanFrancisco.
- Meier, J. P. (1994). A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus. Doubleday.
- Sanders, E. P. (1993). The Historical Figure of Jesus. Penguin Books.
Note: This is a summary document and is not intended to be a comprehensive or exhaustive treatment of the Documentary Hypothesis.