Ep. #3 | David Pallmann | The Earliest Gospel

In this episode, we challenge one of the foundational assumptions of New Testament scholarship: Which Gospel was truly written first? While mainstream academics often point to Mark, our guest makes a compelling, evidence-based case for Matthew as the original Gospel. We Dive into the complexities of the Synoptic problem and discover why the sequence of the Gospels holds real significance—even for those who believe in divine inspiration. We navigate the landscape of competing Synoptic theories, dissect the arguments for Markan priority, and bring to light both external and internal evidence supporting Matthean priority.

David Pallmann’s Channel: https://youtube.com/@faithbecauseofreason8381?si=9QDerFeB5dF6Qklt

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:08 - Greetings

00:06:42 - Introduction

00:09:08 - What is the Synoptic Problem?

00:12:11 - Why Does the Gospel Order Matter?

00:13:26 - Early Church Father Quotations

00:22:17 - Overview of the Major Synoptic Theories

00:32:37 - The case for Markan priority

01:12:46 - The Case for Matthean Priority

02:05:24 - Summary

02:10:30 - Book Recommendations

02:12:54 - The Tide of Biblical Studies

RECOMMENDED BOOKS:

Why Four Gospels? - David Allen Black

https://www.amazon.com/Four-Gospels-David-Alan-Black/dp/1893729877

The Synoptic Problem: Four Views - Stanley Porter and Bryan Dyer (editors)

https://www.amazon.com/Synoptic-Problem-Four-Views-ebook/dp/B01HC1251Q

The Progressive Publication of Matthew - B. Ward Powers

https://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Publication-Matthew-Ward-Powers/dp/0805448489

The Synoptic Problem: A Critical Analysis - William Farmer

https://www.amazon.com/Synoptic-Problem-Critical-Analysis/dp/B0000CMLX3

One Gospel From Two: Mark's Use of Matthew and Luke - David Peabody et al

https://www.amazon.com/One-Gospel-Two-Marks-Matthew/dp/1563383527

The Originality of St. Matthew - B. C. Butler

https://www.amazon.com/Originality-St-Matthew-Two-Document-Hypothesis/dp/0521233038

Matthew, Luke, Mark - Bernard Orchard

https://www.amazon.com/Matthew-Luke-Mark-Griesbach-Solution/dp/0860880095

History and Criticism of the Marcan Hypothesis - Hans Herbert Stoldt

https://www.amazon.com/History-Criticism-Marcan-Hypothesis-Hans-Herbert/dp/0865540020

The Order of the Synoptics: Why Three Synoptic Gospels? - Bernard Orchard and Harold Riley

https://www.amazon.com/Order-Synoptics-Bernard-Orchard/dp/0865542228

Evidence of Conflation in Mark: A Study in the Synoptic Problem - Thomas R. W. Longstaff

https://www.amazon.com/Evidence-Conflation-Synoptic-Problem-Dissertation/dp/0891300864

Mark as Composer - David B. Peabody

https://www.amazon.com/MARK-COMPOSER-New-Gospel-Studies/dp/0865541973

A History of the Synoptic Problem - David Laird Dungan

https://www.amazon.com/History-Synoptic-Problem-Composition-Interpretation/dp/0300140584

New Synoptic Studies - William Farmer (editor)

https://www.amazon.com/New-Synoptic-Studies-Cambridge-Conference/dp/086554087X

The Two-Source Hypothesis: A Critical Appraisal - Arthur Bellinzoni (editor)

https://www.amazon.com/Two-Source-Hypothesis-Critical-Appraisal/dp/0865540969#:~:text=Professor%20Arthur%20Bellinzoni%20has%20collected,literature%20on%20every%20side%20of

A History and Critique of the Origin of the Marcan Hypothesis - Hajo Uden Meijboom

https://www.amazon.com/History-Criticism-Hypothesis-Studies-Testament/dp/0567093107

The Making of Mark - Harold Riley

https://www.amazon.com/MAKING-MARK-Harold-RILEY/dp/0865543593The First Gospel - Harold Riley https://www.amazon.com/FIRST-GOSPEL-Harold-RILEY/dp/0865544093

The Interrelations of the Gospels - David Laird Dungan (editor)

https://www.amazon.com/Interrelations-Gospels-Symposium-Boismard-Theologicarum/dp/9068312618