Augustinian hypothesis

The Augustinian hypothesis is one of the proposed solutions to the Synoptic problem. Its proponents believe that the Gospel of Matthew, was written first. The Gospel of Mark was written second, based on material found in the Gospel of Matthew, and amplifying some of it with more detail. The Gospel of Luke was written third using information found in the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Matthew. Many advocates of the hypothesis, hold that the Gospel of Matthew was written by Matthew, the Gospel of Luke was written by Luke, and that the Gospel of Mark was written by Mark.

Statement of the Augustinian Hypothesis

Saint Augustine wrote: "Now, those four evangelists whose names have gained the most remarkable circulation over the whole world, and whose number has been fixed as four ... are believed to have written in the order which follows: first Matthew, then Mark, thirdly Luke, lastly John ... Of these four, it is true, only Matthew is reckoned to have written in the Hebrew language; the others in Greek... For Matthew is understood to have taken it in hand to construct the record of the incarnation of the Lord according to the royal lineage, and to give an account of most part of His deeds and words as they stood in relation to this present life of men. Mark follows him closely, and looks like his attendant and epitomizer. For in his narrative he gives nothing in concert with John apart from the others: by himself separately, he has little to record; in conjunction with Luke, as distinguished from the rest, he has still less; but in concord with Matthew, he has a very large number of passages. Much, too, he narrates in words almost numerically and identically the same as those used by Matthew, where the agreement is either with that evangelist alone, or with him in connection with the rest. On the other hand, Luke appears to have occupied himself rather with the priestly lineage and character of the Lord" The Four Evangelists wrote in the traditional order but each with a unique focus.

Evidence for the Augustinian Hypothesis

External evidence is clearly demonstrative that St. Matthew the Apostle himself wrote the Gospel of Matthew, wrote first, and wrote well before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70. This is attested by Bishop Saint Papias who knew St. John the Apostle, Tertullian in Africa, Saint Irenaeus, who was Bishop of Lyons in Europe but well acquainted with the Tradition of the East, having spent a significant time in Asia, and several other witnesses; and thus we have the unanimous witness of three whole continents and virtually the entire early Christian world that Saint Matthew the Apostle is the first of the Evangelists and wrote his Gospel well before 70 A.D.

Saint Irenaeus records: "Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome, and laying the foundations of the Church. After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, did also hand down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter. Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded in a book the Gospel preached by him. Afterwards, John, the disciple of the Lord, who also had leaned upon His breast, did himself publish a Gospel during his residence at Ephesus in Asia."

Saint Jerome knew where the original Gospel of Saint Matthew, in the library of Caesarea, in the Hebrew dialect, was kept in his day. “The Hebrew itself has been preserved until the present day in the library at Cæsarea which Pamphilus so diligently gathered. I have also had the opportunity of having the volume described to me by the Nazarenes of Berœa, a city of Syria, who use it”. .