The "Q" Source
The "Q" source or "Q" document comes from the German word "Quelle" which translates to "source." This source is widely believed and accepted to be the unknown information from which the gospels of Matthew and Luke got their similar information from that is not also derived from the gospel of Mark.
There are two predominate theories that the "Q" source is generally believed to be: either it is an unknown gospel that was likely written before the synoptic gospels and was lost or destroyed; or it was a written book composed of oral tradition the sayings and stories of Jesus. The second option provides scholars with a more realistic reasoning that has the capability of answering all of the unanswered questions such as: where the similar stories come from, and where all of the verbatim quotes come from. |
Specific to Matthew
Perhaps one of the most famous stories in the bible is of Peter walking on water. This story is unique to the gospel of Matthew, only one line from the gospel of Mark is the same; "And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased" (Mark 6: 47). This is a significant story to display the uniqueness of Matthew because the essence of the story is lost in Mark. "He said, 'Come.' So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and began to sink he cried out, 'Lord, save me.'...'Oh man of little faith, why did you doubt?' And when they got into the boat the wind ceased" (Matthew 14: 29-32). Also unique to Matthew is Matthew 16: 18-19, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." |