Marcan priority

Marcan priority

Theory Information
Order	Mark Luke, Matt
Theory History
Originator	Gottlob Christian Storr
Origination Date	1786
Proponents	Christian Gottlob Wilke, Christian Hermann Weisse, Heinrich Julius Holtzmann, J. C. Hawkins
Opponents	B. C. Butler, William R. Farmer

Marcan priority (or Markan priority) is the hypothesis that the Gospel of Mark was the first of the three synoptic gospels to be written, and was used as a source by the other two (Matthew and Luke). It is a central element in discussion of the synoptic problem; the question of the documentary relationship among these three gospels.

Most scholars since the late 19th century have accepted the concept of Marcan priority, although a number of scholars support different forms of Marcan priority or reject it altogether. It forms the foundation for the widely accepted two-source theory.^[1][2]