Overview of the hypothesis Two-source hypothesis

the 2sh explains features of triple tradition proposing both matthew , luke used mark source. mark appears more primitive : diction , grammar less literary matthew , luke, language more prone redundancy , obscurity, christology less supernatural, , makes more frequent use of aramaic. more sophisticated versions of mark s pericopes in matthew , luke must either result of 2 cleaning mark, if first gospel, or of mark dumbing down matthew and/or luke, if later. critics regard first explanation more likely. on more specific level, marcan priority seems indicated due instances matthew , luke apparently omit explanatory material mark, matthew adds own theological emphases mark s stories, , in uneven distribution of mark s stylistic features in matthew.

the existence of q

the 2sh explains double tradition postulating existence of lost sayings of jesus document known q, german quelle, source . this, rather markan priority, forms distinctive feature of 2sh against rival theories. existence of q follows conclusion that, luke , matthew independent of mark in double tradition, connection between them must explained joint independent use of missing source or sources. (that used q independently of each other follows fact differ quite in use of source).