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| the sayings of Jesus |
The author was inspired to undertake these investigations and publish his findings after reading Wellhausen's "Introduction to the First Three Gospels" in 1905, although he ultimately takes an opposing stance on one of Wellhausen's conclusions.
Harnack provides evidence for the unity of the source Q by pointing out that there are approximately 373 words found in St. Matthew and St. Luke that do not appear elsewhere in the New Testament.
However, in his reconstructed text of Q, only about 16 of these words are included, with the rest being unique to the individual gospels. This observation further supports the idea that Q is a unified source rather than a collection of disparate sayings.
Throughout the book, Harnack meticulously examines the language and content of Q, highlighting specific words and phrases that are exclusive to this source.
By comparing these elements to the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Luke, the author sheds light on the distinctiveness of Q and its significance in shaping the narrative of Jesus' teachings.
Overall, "The Sayings of Jesus" offers a detailed and scholarly analysis of the second source of the Gospels, providing valuable insights into the composition and transmission of the biblical texts.
Harnack's work contributes to the ongoing scholarly discussion surrounding the origins of the Gospels and the historical context in which they were written.
