two-source hypothesis

The two-source hypothesis explains how early Greek authors wrote the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. It suggests they used two main sources: the Gospel of Mark, which provided a basic narrative of Jesus' life, and a second source called “Q” (from the German “Quelle,” meaning “source”), a collection of Jesus’ sayings and teachings. Matthew and Luke added their own material around these sources. This helps scholars understand why Matthew and Luke share similar stories but also have unique content, showing how early texts were combined and adapted by different writers.