Matthean Posteriority: An Exploration of Matthew's Use of Mark and Luke as a Solution to the Synoptic Problem

Description

This book explores the Matthean Posteriority Hypothesis (MPH), a largely neglected solution to the Synoptic Problem which holds that the author of the Gospel of Luke used the Gospel of Mark as a source, and that the author of the Gospel of Matthew used both the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke as sources. MacEwen begins with a survey of the scholars who have defended various forms of the MPH. Chapter 2 discusses two key lines of evidence which support the MPH. The first line of evidence is textual - demonstrating that Matthew could have known the contents of Luke's Gospel beyond merely the double tradition material. The second line of evidence, involving a study of strings of verbatim agreements in the Gospels, supports the view that Matthew depended directly on Luke. Chapter 3 explores evidence and arguments which can be seen as problematic for the MPH. MacEwen concludes that the MPH has been neither definitely proved nor disproved, and deserves further scholarly scrutiny.

Robert K. MacEwen is a Lecturer of Biblical Studies and Director of the Chinese Theology Department at the East Asia School of Theology, Singapore. He received his PhD in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary, USA.

This revised version of a doctoral dissertation, supervised by D. Bock and accepted by Dallas Theological Seminary in 2010, assembles some of the strongest arguments both for and against the Matthean posteriority hypothesis in order to evaluate it as a solution to the Synoptic problem. * New Testament Abstracts * Robert MacEwen has written what is to date the most cogent book-length defence of the solution to the synoptic problem [the Matthean Posteriority Hypothesis] ... An admirable study. -- Paul Foster, Faculty of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, UK * The Expository Times * MacEwen deserves great praise for his thorough analysis and evaluation of the MPH in comparison to three other synoptic hypotheses ... not simply in abstract and merely subjective terms, but usually against the background of the evangelists' redactional habits known from other parts of their works. * The Biblical Annals * The Matthean Posteriority theory of Synoptic relationships is a hypothesis whose time has come. Robert MacEwen makes a moderate and judicious case, weighing its merits and its weaknesses against its rivals. Astonishingly, this has never been done before. All Gospels scholars must now take this hypothesis as seriously as its rivals. * Richard Bauckham, Professor Emeritus at the University of St Andrews, UK *