What is the Q Gospel hypothesis?

The Q Gospel hypothesis, often referred to as the Q source or "lost source," is a central theory in biblical studies used to explain the literary relationship between the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke.12

The Two-Source Hypothesis

Most scholars agree that the authors of Matthew and Luke used the Gospel According to Mark as a primary narrative framework. However, Matthew and Luke also share a significant amount of material—primarily logia (sayings of Jesus)—that does not appear in Mark.132

To account for this shared content, scholars hypothesize the existence of a second, non-extant Greek-language document known as Q (from the German Quelle, meaning "source").13

Key Characteristics

• Nature of the Source: Q is considered a hypothetical proto-Gospel that likely circulated between 65 and 95 CE.1
• Four-Document Hypothesis: When combined with the unique material found only in Matthew (M) or only in Luke (L), this framework is known as the four-document hypothesis, popularized by B.H. Streeter.3
• Textual Evidence: The theory is supported by verbatim agreement between Matthew and Luke in passages absent from Mark, though the authors often adapted this material to fit their specific theological needs.3