Early Church Fathers and "Q"
score:3
As has been discussed in the comments of the OP, the likelihood that sources or "accounts" (Luke 1:1) which the Gospel writers may have used as references, being documented, is scanty at best. That being said, there exists at least some evidence from one church Father that has been used to promulgate the potential of what could be "Q."
The church father in question is none other than Papias of Hierapolis (roughly 60-130 CE). Although some sources claim Papias' writings survived through the middle ages, they certainly have not made it into the 20th and 21st centuries.1 Thankfully, we have some portions of Papias' writings seemingly quoted verbatim by Eusebius of Caesarea in his "Ecclesiastical History".
Eusebius quoting Papias' writings pertaining to the origins of the Gospel of Matthew:
"Therefore Matthew put the logia in an ordered arrangement in the Hebrew language, but each person interpreted them as best he could." - Eusebius of Caesarea, "Ecclesiastical History" 3.39.14-17
The translation of the word "logia" in the english ("λόγια" in the Greek), is the main point of contention. In non-Christian contexts, the word was traditionally interpreted as "oracles", however 19th century biblical scholarship argued "logia" was better interpreted "sayings." 2 This interpretation has given credence to the notion that Papias is really referring to a "sayings" gospel like that of the the Gospel of Thomas or "Q" that Matthew incorporated into his Gospel.
Although not the strongest of arguments, this case does at least give potential to an ECF's acknowledgement of a source used by Matthew that would've contained content similar to what "Q" is theorized to contain.
Sources:
- Harnack, Adolf (1893). Geschichte der Altchristlichen Litteratur bis Eusebius. 1. p. 69
- Lührmann, Dieter (1995). "Q: Sayings of Jesus or Logia?". In Piper, Ronald Allen. The Gospel Behind the Gospels: Current Studies on Q. pp. 97–116.
More post
- 📝 Why do Catholics put so much faith in the Virgin Mary?
- 📝 Was Jesus perfect his entire life? - Isaiah 7
- 📝 Why were the apostles still going to the temple for prayer and rituals?
- 📝 In the Bible, have "good men" often set their hand against each other?
- 📝 Why do Mathew and Luke present a different order of Satan's temptation of Jesus?
- 📝 What is the difference between Sola Scriptura and the belief in a closed canon?
- 📝 Is the Promise of Regeneration Enunciated in the Old Testament?
- 📝 How, as a spiritual person do you differentiate your Intuition from Holy Spirit's guidance?
- 📝 Is Mary, "Mother of God," the mother of the Son or of the whole Trinity?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for a post-tribulation rapture?
- 📝 Did the Jews think it was immoral to have leprosy?
- 📝 Was Jesus two separate individuals in one body?
- 📝 Did Jesus suffer on the Cross in all possible senses?
- 📝 How would a Reformed theologian distinguish his or her view of atonement?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, which popes have been elected to the papacy without being in priestly orders?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for Universal salvation?
- 📝 1 Corinthians 4:15-16 - does Paul have the right to raise himself higher than others going against Jesus teaching?
- 📝 When interpreting the Genesis Creation LITERALLY, does there EXIST a better cosmological explanation then a geocentric earth?
- 📝 How does leaving a 'gift at the altar' reconcile with reformed views of the need to 'approach the throne of grace' in everything?
- 📝 What does it mean that "many parts which are plain have been taken away"?
- 📝 Did Judas identify Jesus with a kiss because Jesus could change his features?
- 📝 Is God the Son's blood divine and infinite or human and finite (Protestant interpretation)
- 📝 Why did the pope say gender is a property of essence?
- 📝 Hymns that talk to God
- 📝 Scriptural arguments against Prosperity Theology
- 📝 Where is the prophecy of the star that the wise men followed?
- 📝 Is the highway mentioned in Isaiah a literal highway?
- 📝 Why should contraceptives not be cheap and widely available?
- 📝 Can you give example about prophecies that have and haven't been fulfilled?
- 📝 Jesus on how seeds germinate
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Do any Early Church Fathers ever argue that the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Gen. 2:9) is the Law or Torah?
- 📝 Did the early Church fathers see a distinction between Matthias' and Paul's apostleship appointment, considering Paul's peculiar verbiage choice?
- 📝 Early Church Fathers and "Q"
- 📝 What did the early Church Fathers (pre-Nicea A.D. 325) have to say about faith, baptism and if it is the act of baptism that saves?
- 📝 What is the Christological difference between the early Church fathers and the Arians?
- 📝 Did early church fathers understand the doctrine of trinity?
- 📝 Did the early Church Fathers have a complete agreement on how to interpret 1 Peter 3:18-20?
- 📝 Why did so many early church fathers say that sex was a consequence of the Fall?
- 📝 Did any other early church fathers besides Origen teach the pre-existence of souls?
- 📝 Did the church fathers or OT talk about the visible and invisible church?
- 📝 Did adherents of apocatastasis in the early church believe that the devil and his demons would be restored?
- 📝 What did the Early Church Fathers think about pets (animals) going to Heaven upon death?
- 📝 What did the early church fathers (pre-5th c.) teach with regards to the doctrine of baptism as a necessity for salvation?
- 📝 What did the fathers of the early church think of Tertullian?
- 📝 Did any early Church Fathers record the event of the ceasing of spiritual gifts?
- 📝 Do any of the Church Fathers draw a connection between Eve and the Holy Spirit?
- 📝 What did the early church fathers have to say about “eternal security” or “assurance of salvation”
- 📝 Did any other philosophical systems have as much influence on the early Church as Platonism and Stoicism?
- 📝 Are there any major Protestant denominations that meet every day and are together all the time like the early church was?
- 📝 How did the early church fathers refute Adoptionism?
- 📝 Do saints and church fathers generally make the claim that most people go to a hell of everlasting torment?
- 📝 Is there any historical evidence that the early church believed in the doctrine of intercession of saints during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD?
- 📝 Did the apostolic or early church fathers acknowledge Papal infallibility?
- 📝 Death of animals before the fall - what did the early church fathers believe?
- 📝 Did the early church fathers view "monogenes" as "only" or "only-begotten"?
- 📝 Is there any explanation from the early church Fathers as to why there is no record of the Apostles being baptized?
- 📝 How do the early church fathers expound upon the "exaltation of Christ" (Philippians 2:9-11) in light of the immutability of Jesus Christ?
- 📝 Is there any historical evidence of Early Church Christians denying the divinity of Jesus during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD?
- 📝 How do the church fathers reconcile the accounts of Jesus calling Peter and Andrew to be apostles?
- 📝 What was the general opinion of the Early Church Fathers concerning the giants/nephilims?