Saturday, October 14, 2023

The Church Fathers Are Clear about Matthean Priority

All too often those who espouse Matthean priority are dismissed as eccentrics, sectarians, fanatics, and those found only among the lower classes of the Christian community. If that were the case, I for one would be happy to be numbered among them. Instead, we should take careful note of what the earliest leaders of the Christian church had to say about the historical origins of the Gospels. There you will find nothing about a "Q" or a "Matthean community" or "special sources M and L." I agree with William Farmer that the fathers' statements about the origins of the New Testament Gospels are clear and unambiguous. I see no sound reason not to take their testimony into consideration.