Did the Gospel Writers Use Q? | Mark Goodacre

Did the hypothetical Q source really exist? Or did the Gospel writers know and use each other’s work directly?In this conversation, I sit down with New Testament scholar Mark Goodacre (Duke University), one of the leading critics of the Q hypothesis and a prominent advocate of the Farrer Hypothesis. We explore the Synoptic Problem, the case for and against Q, whether Luke knew Matthew’s Gospel, and why this debate continues to shape New Testament scholarship today.We discuss:The Synoptic Problem and why it mattersWhat Q is supposed to beThe strongest arguments for QWhy Goodacre rejects the Q hypothesisThe Farrer Hypothesis explainedThe relationship between Matthew and LukeDouble tradition material and the evidence for literary dependenceThe role of oral tradition in Gospel compositionWhat this debate means for reconstructing the historical JesusThe current state of New Testament scholarshipWhether you're new to biblical studies or already familiar with the Synoptic Problem, this interview offers an accessible introduction to one of the most important debates in Gospel scholarship.Mark Goodacre is Professor of Religious Studies at Duke University and the author of numerous books, including The Case Against Q and The Fourth Gospel and Matthew.