Matthean Posteriority : An Exploration of Matthew's Use of Mark and Luke as a Solution to the Synoptic Problem

This book explores the Matthean Posteriority Hypothesis (MPH), a largely neglected solution to the Synoptic Problem which holds that the author of the Gospel of Luke used the Gospel of Mark as a source, and that the author of the Gospel of Matthew used both the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke as sources.

MacEwen begins with a survey of the scholars who have defended various forms of the MPH. Chapter 2 discusses two key lines of evidence which support the MPH. The first line of evidence is textual - demonstrating that Matthew could have known the contents of Luke's Gospel beyond merely the double tradition material. The second line of evidence, involving a study of strings of verbatim agreements in the Gospels, supports the view that Matthew depended directly on Luke. Chapter 3 explores evidence and arguments which can be seen as problematic for the MPH. MacEwen concludes that the MPH has been neither definitely proved nor disproved, and deserves further scholarly scrutiny.

“This revised version of a doctoral dissertation, supervised by D. Bock and accepted by Dallas Theological Seminary in 2010, assembles some of the strongest arguments both for and against the Matthean posteriority hypothesis in order to evaluate it as a solution to the Synoptic problem.” -New Testament Abstracts

“MacEwen’s study accomplishes what it sets out to do, to explore the relatively neglected hypothesis of Matthean posteriority and to compare it with three other major and more commonly discussed Synoptic Problem hypotheses. He is willing to follow the evidence so that the MPH does not always emerge as the strongest option, yet in several instances he argues that it proves particularly persuasive.” -Warren Carter, Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, USA, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly