Fresh research, advancing further the work of numerous scholars over a great many decades, points convincingly to a new basis for explaining the Synoptic Problem: the Gospel of Matthew was published in stages.
Scholars have long debated the Synoptic Problem--questions about why and how the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke share so much common material, and yet differ in so many ways. Assessing all the primary evidence, and the widely differing scholarly views about the Synoptic Problem, B. Ward Powers draws attention to the evidence pointing to Matthew's Gospel having been published progressively, with identifiable sections of his material then being seen and utilized by Luke. After both of these Gospels had been published in their current form, they together with the preaching of the Apostle Peter were the three sources used by Mark in producing a special-purpose Gospel for preachers and evangelists.
The Progressive Publication of Matthew
fleshes out this proposal, measuring it in detail against other hypotheses. This book also sets out a clarification of the reason and purpose of Mark's Gospel, and a comprehensive explanation of pericope order in all three Synoptics.
Endorsement
"
is a tour de force both in its scope and depth. No serious student of the synoptic Gospels can afford to ignore it."
David Alan Black
Professor of New Testament and Greek, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Author of
Why Four Gospels?