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The passage of John the Baptist’s question (Matt 11:2-19 par. Luke 7:18-35) is a key text in the double tradition (and, therefore, in “Q”). When it comes to the narrative introduction (Matt 11:2-3 par. Luke 7:18-19), however, reconstructing a common Q text behind the two versions proves difficult, since both Matthew and Luke have reworked the introduction in their respective ways. Recent reconstructions prefer a “minimalist” solution that leaves the setting relatively open, with some narrative gaps. This article attempts to integrate these gaps into a meaningful reading of Q as a narrative. After giving an account of previous work on the reconstruction of this Q passage and discussing its central issues, a narratological approach to Q allows understanding the gaps in this Q passage as indicators of overarching narrative cohesion in Q.
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A. Harnack, Beiträge zur Einleitung in das Neue Testament II: Sprüche und Reden Jesu: Die zweite Quelle des Matthäus und Lukas (Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs’sche Buchhandlung, 1907) 91-92.
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W.C. Allen, “The Book of Sayings Used by the Editor of the First Gospel,” in Oxford Studies in the Synoptic Problem: By Members of the University of Oxford (ed. W. Sanday; Oxford: Clarendon, 1911) 235-286, here 250.
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W. Bussmann, Synoptische Studien, Zweites Heft: Zur Redenquelle (Halle/Saale: Buchhandlung des Waisenhauses, 1929) 138.
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S. Sabugal, “La embajada mesiánica del Bautista IV: La fuente (Q) de Mt y Lc,” Aug 17 (1977) 395-424, here 404 (= Id., La embajada mesiánica de Juan Bautista [Mt 11,2-6 = Lc 7,18-23]: Historia. Exégesis teológica, Hermenéutica [Madrid: Antonio Sabugal, 1980] 123).
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A.P. Polag, Fragmenta Q: Textheft zur Logienquelle (Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag, 1979) 40.
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D.R. Catchpole, The Quest for Q (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1993) 239.
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E. Sevenich-Bax, Israels Konfrontation mit den letzten Boten der Weisheit: Form, Funktion und Interdependenz der Weisheitselemente in der Logienquelle (MThA 21; Altenberge: Oros, 1993) 239.
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H.T. Fleddermann, Q: A Reconstruction and Commentary (Biblical Tools and Studies 1; Leuven – Paris – Dudley, Mass.: Peeters, 2005) 355, 357, 368, 880.
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Cf. R. Gröhl, Die Gesandtschaft Johannes des Täufers an Christus (Mt 11,2-6; Lk 7,18-23) (Teildruck) (Dissertation zur Erlangung der theologischen Doktorwürde der Hochwürdigen katholisch-theologischen Fakultät der Schlesischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität zu Breslau; Breslau: Schlesische Volkszeitung, 1932) 11-12; D. Connolly, “Ad miracula sanationum apud Matthaeum,” vd 45 (1967) 306-325, here 310; P. Hoffmann, Studien zur Theologie der Logienquelle (nta 8; Münster: Aschendorff, 1972) 191-192, 254-255; M.G. Steinhauser, Doppelbildworte in den synoptischen Evangelien: Eine form- und traditionskritische Studie (FzB 44; Würzburg: Echter, 1981) 166; J. Ernst, Johannes der Täufer: Interpretation—Geschichte—Wirkungsgeschichte (bznw 53; Berlin – New York: de Gruyter, 1989) 172; U. Luz, Das Evangelium nach Matthäus: 2. Teilband: Mt 8-17 (ekk 1/2; Zürich – Düsseldorf: Benziger; Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener Verlag, 1990; 3rd ed. 1999) 167; W.D. Davies and D.C. Allison, The Gospel According to Saint Matthew 2: Commentary on Matthew VIII-XVIII (icc; Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1991) 240; F.T. Gench, Wisdom in the Christology of Matthew (Lanham, Md. et al.: University Press of America, 1997) 153-154; similarly J.P. Meier, “John the Baptist in Matthew’s Gospel,” jbl 99 (1980) 383-405, here 392; H. Frankemölle, Matthäus: Kommentar 2 (Düsseldorf: Patmos, 1997) 103 (referring to Matt 5-10).
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Cf. M.J. Suggs, Wisdom, Christology, and Law in Matthew’s Gospel (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1970) 36-37, 56-57; Gardner, “Jesus’ Appraisal,” 78; S. Sabugal, “La embajada mesiánica del Bautista (Mt 11,2-6 = Lc 18-23): Análisis histórico-tradicional I-II,” Aug 13 (1973) 215-278, here 230 (= Id., La embajada mesiánica de Juan Bautista, 37); J.M. Robinson, “Jesus as Sophos and Sophia: Wisdom Tradition in the Gospels,” in Aspects of Wisdom in Judaism and Early Christianity (ed. R.L. Wilken; University of Notre Dame Center for the Study of Judaism and Christianity in Antiquity 1; Notre Dame, Ind. – London: University of Notre Dame Press, 1975) 1-16, here 10 (= Id., The Sayings Gospel Q: Collected Essays [ed. C. Heil and J. Verheyden; BEThL 189; Leuven: University Press – Peeters, 2005] 119-130, here 126); Humphrey, “Relationship of Structure and Christology,” 163, 166; R.A. Edwards, “Matthew’s Use of Q in Chapter Eleven,” in Logia: Les paroles de Jésus–The Sayings of Jesus (Mém. J. Coppens) (ed. J. Delobel; BEThL 59; Leuven: University Press–Peeters, 1982) 257-275, here 266; R.A. Piper, Wisdom in the Q Tradition: The Aphoristic Teaching of Jesus (sntsms 61; Cambridge: University Press, 1989) 168; D.A. Carson, “Matthew 11:19b/Luke 7:35: A Test Case for the Bearing of Q Christology on the Synoptic Problem,” in Jesus of Nazareth: Lord and Christ: Essays on the Historical Jesus and New Testament Christology (fs I.H. Marshall) (ed. J.B. Green and M. Turner; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans; Carlisle: Paternoster, 1994) 128-146, here 134; G. Häfner, Der verheißene Vorläufer: Redaktionskritische Untersuchung zur Darstellung Johannes des Täufers im Matthäusevangelium (sbb 27; Stuttgart: Katholisches Bibelwerk, 1994) 167, 275; J.P. Meier, A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus, Volume Two: Mentor, Message, and Miracles (abrl; New York: Doubleday, 1994) 198 n. 89; L. Lybaek, New and Old in Matthew 11-13: Normativity in the Development of Three Theological Themes (frlant 198; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2002) 82.
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Cf. N.B. Stonehouse, The Witness of Luke to Christ (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1951) 101-102; Bundy, Jesus and the First Three Gospels, 199-200; H. Schürmann, Das Lukasevangelium: Erster Teil: Kommentar zu Kap. 1,1-9,50 (HThKNT 3/1; Freiburg/Breisgau et al.: Herder, 1969) 407-408; F. Schütz, Der leidende Christus: Die angefochtene Gemeinde und das Christuskerygma der lukanischen Schriften (bwant 89; Stuttgart et al.: Kohlhammer, 1969) 25-26; S. Sabugal, “La embajada mesiánica del Bautista (Mt 11,2-6 = Lc 7,18-23). III,” Aug 14 (1974) 5-39, here 12 with n. 14 (= Id., La embajada mesiánica de Juan Bautista, 90 with n. 16); C.F. Evans, Saint Luke (tpi New Testament Commentaries; London: scm; Philadelphia, Pa.: Trinity Press International, 1990) 350; C.G. Müller, Mehr als ein Prophet: Die Charakterzeichnung Johannes des Täufers im lukanischen Erzählwerk (Herders Biblische Studien 31; Freiburg/Breisgau et al.: Herder, 2001) 217, 222; W. Radl, Das Evangelium nach Lukas: Kommentar: Erster Teil: 1,1-9,50 (Freiburg/Breisgau – Basel – Wien: Herder, 2003) 462; G.-A. Kangosa, “ ‘Allez rapporter à Jean ce que vous avez vu et entendu’: Réception d’Isaïe en Lc 7,18-23 et actualisation,” in La théologie au service de la société (Mem. R. de Haes) (ed. A. Kabasele Mukenge; Recherches africaines de théologie. Travaux de la Faculté de Théologie 19; Kinshasa: Facultés Catholiques de Kinshasa, 2007) 81-96, here 82-83; H.-J. Sellner, Das Heil Gottes: Studien zur Soteriologie des lukanischen Doppelwerks (bznw 152; Berlin – New York: de Gruyter, 2007) 100.
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For a comprehensive inventory cf. Labahn, Der Gekommene als Wiederkommender, 243-569.
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Search for other papers by Stephan Witetschek in
Current site
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The passage of John the Baptist’s question (Matt 11:2-19 par. Luke 7:18-35) is a key text in the double tradition (and, therefore, in “Q”). When it comes to the narrative introduction (Matt 11:2-3 par. Luke 7:18-19), however, reconstructing a common Q text behind the two versions proves difficult, since both Matthew and Luke have reworked the introduction in their respective ways. Recent reconstructions prefer a “minimalist” solution that leaves the setting relatively open, with some narrative gaps. This article attempts to integrate these gaps into a meaningful reading of Q as a narrative. After giving an account of previous work on the reconstruction of this Q passage and discussing its central issues, a narratological approach to Q allows understanding the gaps in this Q passage as indicators of overarching narrative cohesion in Q.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 213 | 31 | 2 |
| Full Text Views | 172 | 3 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 43 | 5 | 0 |
