One aspect of the Farrer (Mark-Matthew) theory that differs from the standard Two-Source (Mark-Q) theory is that Luke used, in addition to Mark, Matthew instead of Q for the double tradition material. The Q hypothesis follows from the premise that Luke did not know Matthew and so had to obtain its material from one of Matthew’s sources rather than Matthew itself. Thus, if sufficient credible evidence for Luke’s knowledge of Matthew can be established, then hypothesizing Q has a documentary source for the double tradition becomes unnecessary. Proponents of the Farrer theory have mainly looked at the so-called “Minor Agreements” as a fertile source of evidence in favor of Luke’s use of Matthew, because any agreements between Matthew and Luke against Mark much larger than the Minor Agreements may also be consistent with an unfalsiable “Mark-Q overlap.”
Perhaps another place to look for Luke’s knowledge of Matthew is in his other work: the Acts of the Apostles. In the 19th chapter of Acts, Paul has met some disciples in Ephesus who knew the baptism of John but did not receive the Holy Spirit and explains: “John baptized with the baptism of repetence, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” (Acts 19:4 NRSV)
This recalls John the Baptist’s explanation from the gospels. Which one is closest to Acts 19:4?
| Matt 3:11 | Mark 1:7-8 | Luke 3:16 | John 1:33 |
|---|---|---|---|
| “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (NRSV) | He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful that I is coming after me, I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” (NRSV) | John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (NRSV) | “I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’” (NRSV) |
Of the four gospels, only Matt 3:11 juxtaposes, as does Acts 19:4, the motifs of a baptism of repentance (John) with the one coming after (Jesus). According to the Critical Edition of Q (p. 14, at Q 3:16b, which aggressively adds Jesus’s baptism to Q because of too many minor agreements), the phrase “for repentance” is Matthew’s redaction of Q’s baptism. In other words, the author of Luke at Acts 19:4 knows Matthew, or, if the editors of CEQ are wrong, Q is more like Matthew than we thought.