Griesbach Rethought: The Synoptic Problem Reviewed The Griesbach Hypothesis (Two-Gospel Hypothesis) Examined in Light of Ancient Compositional Book Production

Abstract

This paper investigates the Two-Gospel hypothesis from an ancient compositional book-producing practices. Mark is seen as the middle term and most important is the theoretical framework of book production in antiquity through which we need to view the Gospels. The paper investigates common arguments in favor of the Two Document Hypothesis and finds that most arguments are reversible and can favor both Markan priority and Markan posteriority. However, to strengthen Markan posteriority, micro-conflation is required. Mark Goodacre’s fatigue in the Synoptics is treated, which he claims to be the strongest argument in favor of Markan priority. However, if micro-conflation can be proven to work, the Two-Gospel hypothesis can claim that Mark conflated the accounts instead of Matthew and Luke falling back into fatigue. Mark’s omission of the essential double tradition is treated and it is explained that such behavior was not improbable in light of the difficulty manoeuvring scrolls back and forth. The paper continues and discusses how Mark, if last, micro-conflated his two sources in the triple tradition. The paper aims to affirm that micro-conflation was doable due to wax tablets. The conclusion is that Mark’s behavior is defensible on the Two-Gospel hypothesis since Mark omitted important material from Matthew and Luke due to the difficulty affirming the material while at the same time he expanded material in the triple tradition due to the shorter pericopes with are easier accessible than the double tradition