Meta Description: Join Dr. Jeff Winkle and Dr. David Noe in Ad Navseam Episode 203 as they conclude their deep dive into John Wenham’s Redating Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Discover the mystery of Qumran fragment 7Q5, the “Abdominal Snowman” theory of historiography, and resources to master the Latin language.
Introduction: The Snowpocalypse and Olfactory Grading
Welcome back, classical gourmands, to Episode 203 of the Ad Navseam Podcast! Broadcasting from the subterranean depths of Parnassus Central, your hosts, Dr. Jeff Winkle and Dr. David Noe, have officially turned the corner into the third century of episodes.
The hosts record this episode having just survived a massive Michigan “snowpocalypse.” Dave jokingly claims he ran into a Sasquatch on the way to the studio, while Jeff was waylaid by the “Abdominal Snowman,” who rudely demanded he stop and do some crunches in the snow. Despite the harsh winter weather outside, the boys are comfortably settled in the bunker, ready to conclude their epic, three-part intellectual journey.
Before diving into the biblical scholarship, the hosts chat about the grueling realities of academic life at the end of the semester. Jeff is staring down a massive, looming pile of final exams. When Dave asks if he grades them objectively or subjectively, Jeff confesses that he is an “olfactory” and “tactile” grader. He simply holds the blue book, gives it a good sniff, and determines if it feels like a solid “F.” However, Jeff did receive one highly amusing final exam that was left completely blank save for a single sentence at the top: “Hey Professor Winkle, I don’t remember anything, but I loved your class anyway.” Jeff gave the honest student an “A,” noting that such unmatched enthusiasm and zest for life will undoubtedly take the kid far.
Recap: The Two-Source Hypothesis vs. John Wenham
The primary agenda for Episode 203 is conquering the final chapters (Chapters 8 through 12) of John Wenham’s monumental 1991 book, Redating Matthew, Mark, and Luke: A Fresh Assault on the Synoptic Problem.
For listeners just jumping into the series, Dave offers a brief and useful recap of the “Synoptic Problem.” The dominant, widely accepted modern scholarly solution to how the first three Gospels were written is called the “Two-Source Hypothesis.” This theory posits that the Gospel of Mark was written first (Markan priority), and that the authors of Matthew and Luke independently used Mark, along with a hypothetical lost document known as “Q” (from the German word Quelle, meaning source), to construct their narratives.
Wenham’s book is a systemic, highly detailed dismantling of this modern consensus. Instead, Wenham argues for a return to the traditional view held by the early church fathers: Matthew was written first, followed by Mark, and then Luke. He rejects the existence of the Q document, arguing that the Gospel writers relied on a highly developed oral tradition and direct interdependence.
The Qumran Fragment 7Q5: Dating the Gospel of Mark
One of the most fascinating pieces of external evidence discussed in Chapter 8 concerns the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. Wenham brings up a highly debated papyrus scrap known as fragment 7Q5, recovered from Cave 7 at Qumran.
Because Cave 7 was permanently sealed in the year 68 AD, any document found inside must have been written prior to that date. For years, scholars attempted to match the Greek letters on this tiny scrap to a passage in the Old Testament Septuagint, but nothing fit. However, in 1972, an eminent Jesuit papyrologist named J. O’Callaghan made a massive discovery that landed on the front page of the Times of London. O’Callaghan confidently identified the fragment as a piece of the Gospel of Mark, specifically Mark 6:52-53, which describes the disciples’ hardened hearts after Jesus walked on the water.
Not only did the visible letters match the text, but the fragment contained a highly unusual, three-letter-wide blank space right where verse 53 begins a new paragraph. While critics point to a swapped Greek letter (a tau instead of a delta) and a missing prepositional phrase, O’Callaghan and Wenham defend the identification.
If fragment 7Q5 is indeed from the Gospel of Mark, it fundamentally destroys the late-dating timeline favored by modern secular critics. Combining this with the unanimous early church tradition that Mark served as the Apostle Peter’s catechist, Wenham argues that Mark likely wrote his Gospel in Rome sometime between 42 and 45 AD, directly recording Peter’s sermons.
Historiography and the “Abdominal Snowman” Metaphor
Moving into chapters 9 and 10, Wenham explores exactly how these documents were physically constructed. Modern biblical critics frequently point to minor discrepancies between the Synoptic Gospels—such as one Gospel mentioning two demon-possessed men at the tombs, while another only mentions one—as definitive proof that the texts are historically unreliable.
Dr. Noe provides an incredibly helpful metaphor to explain why this modern skepticism is deeply flawed. Imagine Jeff arrives at the Vomitorium. The Sasquatch observes him from one corner, the Abdominal Snowman watches from another, and a guy named “Local Ron” watches from across the street. The Abdominal Snowman describes Jeff sloshing through the snow; the Sasquatch describes the specific coat Jeff is wearing; Local Ron describes the make and model of the car Jeff drove.
The three accounts are entirely different, yet they are not contradictory. Historians regularly harmonize eyewitness testimonies without sacrificing truth because they understand that real eyewitnesses possess different perspectives and choose to emphasize different details. Harmonization, Wenham argues, is the proper procedure for a historian dealing with reliable witnesses.
Wenham suggests that the author of the third Gospel, Luke the physician, had access to both Matthew and Mark. He did not seek to correct them, but rather to add fresh eyewitness testimony. A prime example is the highly detailed infancy narrative found in the early chapters of Luke. Relying on the timeline of the Apostle Paul’s travels in the Book of Acts, scholars suggest Luke traveled to Palestine while Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea (around 57-59 AD). During this time, Luke likely interviewed Mary, the mother of Jesus, directly recording her inner psychological thoughts and experiences that the other Gospel writers omitted.
Why Doesn’t Paul Quote the Gospels?
In Chapter 11, Wenham tackles a major counter-argument: if the Gospels were written as early as Wenham claims, why doesn’t the Apostle Paul explicitly quote them in his epistles? Scholars like Rudolf Bultmann argued this silence proved the Gospels did not yet exist.
Wenham counters that the early church relied heavily on the primacy of the oral tradition. Because the stories and sayings of Jesus were already deeply ingrained in the minds of the early Christians through constant oral instruction, Paul did not need to cite written manuals. Furthermore, Paul’s letters were highly specific, situational correspondence addressing local church crises, not comprehensive historical treatises.
However, there is one major clue. In 2 Corinthians 8:18, Paul mentions sending a companion, “the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches.” Early church tradition strongly identifies this unnamed brother as Luke. If Paul is referencing Luke’s written Gospel here, it means the text was already widely circulated and famous by the year 55 AD.
Wenham’s Radical/traditional Timeline Summarized
To conclude the book, Wenham provides a definitive checklist of his radically redated timeline. Reversing the modern critical consensus, Wenham concludes the following chronological order:
- Matthew: Written first, originally drafted around 40 AD, serving as a comprehensive handbook for Jewish Christians.
- Mark: Written second, around 45 AD, serving as a direct recording of the Apostle Peter’s preaching in Rome.
- Luke: Written third, completed no later than 55 AD, serving as a highly researched, harmonized account utilizing previous texts and fresh eyewitness interviews.
By taking the patristic evidence of the early church fathers seriously rather than dismissing it out of hand, Wenham provides a compelling, logically sound defense of the traditional ordering of the Synoptic Gospels.
Sponsors: Fueling the Classical Renaissance
Before the hosts have to vacate the studio to make way for the Cryptological Historiography Association, they thank their exceptionally generous sponsors.
- Hackett Publishing: Celebrating an amazing 55 years of keeping the classical flame alive, Hackett offers incredibly affordable, high-quality translations. To win a stunning, two-volume complete works of Aristotle, email Dave at dave@adnavseam.com with “Kontos” in the subject line! For all other purchases, go to hackettpublishing.com and use the code AN2025 for 20% off your entire order and free shipping.
- Ratio Coffee: Banish the bitter, scorched coffee of your past. Invest in the Ratio 8 or the new Series 2 to perfectly execute the bloom and brew stages right on your countertop. Visit ratiocoffee.com/adnavseam and use the code ANRatio2025 for a whopping $20 off your entire order.
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- The Moss Method & Latin Per Diem: Ready to read the ancient texts yourself? Dave’s Moss Method will take your ancient Greek from “neophyte to erudite” with weekly live office hours. Or, sign up to master the Latin language from the ground up using Hans Ørberg’s famous Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata curriculum. Visit latinperdiem.com and use the code 10PLUS for 10% off.
The Gustatory Parting Shot
To close out this monumental 203rd episode, Dave provides a highly relatable Gustatory Parting Shot from the great American journalist and author, Charles Kuralt.
“You can find your way across this country using burger joints the way a navigator uses stars.”
Jeff playfully adds that his own “burger joints” have been aching lately due to the frigid weather. Keep your joints warm, keep dodging the Abdominal Snowman, and keep taking in the classics. Valete!
