The Problem with the Gospels

[Eilonnwy]

Thanks for the post. I have not had a chance to analyze it carefully but did have one question. You appear to assume Markian priority as the correct view. However, in the wiki cite it also says that Matthean priority was the prevalent view for 1700 years or so. Are you merely taking as current thinking and, therefore, dismiss the possibility of Matthean priority? (Just wondering and I have no idea whether or not it would actually affect anything else you wrote.)

I recognize the controversy over Markan Priority, however I think the evidence strongly supports Markan priority, and yes it is the currently established historical view. I would also add, that just because the religious thinking that Matthew wrote the first Gospel is not evidence in any way that Matthean priority is true. (That's argumentum ad populum.) Besides, it was argued for many centuries that Moses wrote the Pentateuch, but we know that's just demonstrably false. So past established religious canon on the subject does not mean anything, the evidence does.