Four-source hypothesis

E943357

New Testament hypothesis biblical studies theory source criticism theory synoptic problem hypothesis

The Four-source hypothesis is a scholarly theory about the origins of the Synoptic Gospels that proposes Matthew and Luke drew on four distinct sources, including Mark and a lost sayings source called Q.

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All labels observed (3)

Label	Occurrences
Four-document hypothesis	1
Four-source hypothesis canonical	1
four-document hypothesis of the Synoptic Gospels	1

How this entity was disambiguated

This entity first appeared as the object of triple T11712129 — resolving that mention is where its identity was fixed. The disambiguator weighed these candidate entities and picked the highlighted one (or “None”, minting a new entity). This is how homonymy is resolved: the same surface form can point to different entities.

NED1 Entity disambiguation (via context triple) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: Four-source hypothesis
Context triple: [Markan priority hypothesis, oftenCombinedWith, Four-source hypothesis]

A. Augustinian hypothesis
The Augustinian hypothesis is a theory of the Synoptic Gospels’ literary relationship that holds Matthew was written first, Luke used Matthew, and Mark later abridged and drew from both.
B. Griesbach hypothesis
The Griesbach hypothesis is a minority theory of the Synoptic Problem that proposes Matthew was written first, Luke used Matthew, and Mark later condensed both, rejecting the need for a separate Q source.
C. Markan priority hypothesis
The Markan priority hypothesis is the widely supported view in New Testament scholarship that the Gospel of Mark was the first written of the Synoptic Gospels and served as a primary source for Matthew and Luke.
D. History of the Synoptic Tradition
History of the Synoptic Tradition is a seminal work of New Testament scholarship that critically examines the formation and transmission of the Gospel traditions within early Christianity.
E. The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, and Limitations
The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, and Limitations is a scholarly study by Bruce M. Metzger that examines the history, textual significance, and constraints of the earliest translations of the New Testament.
F. None of above. chosen
G. Unsure - the case is ambiguous/there is not enough information to decide.

NED2 Entity disambiguation (via description) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: Four-source hypothesis
Target entity description: The Four-source hypothesis is a scholarly theory about the origins of the Synoptic Gospels that proposes Matthew and Luke drew on four distinct sources, including Mark and a lost sayings source called Q.

A. Augustinian hypothesis
The Augustinian hypothesis is a theory of the Synoptic Gospels’ literary relationship that holds Matthew was written first, Luke used Matthew, and Mark later abridged and drew from both.
B. Griesbach hypothesis
The Griesbach hypothesis is a minority theory of the Synoptic Problem that proposes Matthew was written first, Luke used Matthew, and Mark later condensed both, rejecting the need for a separate Q source.
C. Markan priority hypothesis
The Markan priority hypothesis is the widely supported view in New Testament scholarship that the Gospel of Mark was the first written of the Synoptic Gospels and served as a primary source for Matthew and Luke.
D. History of the Synoptic Tradition
History of the Synoptic Tradition is a seminal work of New Testament scholarship that critically examines the formation and transmission of the Gospel traditions within early Christianity.
E. The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, and Limitations
The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their Origin, Transmission, and Limitations is a scholarly study by Bruce M. Metzger that examines the history, textual significance, and constraints of the earliest translations of the New Testament.
F. None of above. chosen

Statements (49)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	New Testament hypothesis ⓘ biblical studies theory ⓘ source criticism theory ⓘ synoptic problem hypothesis ⓘ
addresses	synoptic problem ⓘ
assumes	Markan priority ⓘ existence of Q ⓘ lost written sources behind Matthew and Luke ⓘ
claims	Luke used L as a unique source ⓘ Luke used Mark as a source ⓘ Luke used Q as a source ⓘ linked to: Q source (hypothetical) Matthew used M as a unique source ⓘ Matthew used Mark as a source ⓘ Matthew used Q as a source ⓘ
classifiesSource	L as special Lukan source ⓘ M as special Matthean source ⓘ Mark as narrative source ⓘ Q as sayings source ⓘ
concerns	Gospel of Luke ⓘ Gospel of Mark ⓘ Gospel of Matthew ⓘ Synoptic Gospels ⓘ
contrastsWith	Augustinian hypothesis ⓘ Farrer hypothesis ⓘ Griesbach hypothesis ⓘ
dateOfFormulation	late 19th century ⓘ
developedFrom	Two-source hypothesis ⓘ linked to: two‑source hypothesis
explains	double tradition material ⓘ special Lukan material ⓘ special Matthean material ⓘ triple tradition material ⓘ
hasComponent	L source ⓘ M source ⓘ Markan source ⓘ linked to: Gospel of Mark Q source ⓘ linked to: Q source (hypothetical)
includesSource	Gospel of Mark ⓘ L source ⓘ M source ⓘ Q source ⓘ linked to: Q source (hypothetical)
involvesConcept	literary dependence ⓘ lost gospel sources ⓘ oral tradition ⓘ redaction ⓘ
proposesNumberOfSources	4 ⓘ
usedInDiscipline	New Testament studies ⓘ linked to: New Testament scholarship historical Jesus research ⓘ
usedInMethod	form criticism ⓘ source criticism ⓘ
usedToExplain	literary relationships among Synoptic Gospels ⓘ

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (3)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Markan priority hypothesis → oftenCombinedWith → Four-source hypothesis ⓘ

Burnett Hillman Streeter → knownFor → Four-document hypothesis ⓘ

linked to: Four-source hypothesis

Burnett Hillman Streeter → theory → four-document hypothesis of the Synoptic Gospels ⓘ