The Synoptic Problem, Ancient Media, and the Historical Jesus: A Response

Abstract

The editors of jhjs have pulled together an ideal set of respondents to Q in Matthew: Robert Derrenbacker and Sarah Rollens, fellow alums of the University of Toronto program and representatives of the so-called ‘Toronto School’ of Q scholarship, Rafael Rodríguez, Synoptic source-critical agnostic and fellowtraveler in the world of ancient media, and Mark Goodacre, genial champion of the Farrar-Goulder hypothesis (fgh). I am grateful for the investment of time evident in their responses. While their expressions of appreciation for the work are welcome, naturally what is of most interest are the points they raise in critique. That this is a journal dedicated to historical Jesus research also raises the question of why the editors have seen fit to devote an issue to the Synoptic Problem debate. We will therefore conclude with reflections on the significance of the memory factor in the transmission of the Jesus tradition, as this becomes visible in Synoptic source relations, for historical Jesus enquiry.