The Use of Textual Theories to Explain Agreements of Matthew and Luke Against Mark

Abstract

The view that textual corruption is the right explanation for some of the agreements of Matthew and Luke against Mark is sound, but a great deal of detailed work remains to be done. This is partly because in a stylistic approach to the text this problem cannot be separated from the wider task of establishing the original texts of the gospels; in the process of examining the agreements many other readings are questioned incidentally. The task is immense because each agreement must be considered on its own merits, and complex because often more than one explanation is possible. The attempts of Glasson and Brown to discover for the use by Matthew and Luke of a different text of Mark are not satisfactory. An eclectic approach such as Turner pioneered is likely to show that the right explanation for the agreements is still independent stylistic improvement and textual corruption. Keywords: Brown; Glasson; gospels; Luke; Mark; Matthew; textual corruption; Turner