The Contents of Q
The purpose of this page is to lay out for comparison various outlines of Q that are provided by contemporary scholars. The following books are currently represented in this study.
Richard A. Edwards, A Theology of Q: Eschatology, Prophecy, and Wisdom (Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press 1976).
Robert J. Miller, ed., The Complete Gospels: Annotated Scholars Version (Sonoma, CA: Polebridge Press 1992).
Burton L. Mack, The Lost Gospel: The Book of Q & Christian Origins (San Francisco, CA: HarperCollins 1993).
John S. Kloppenborg Verbin, Excavating Q: The History and Setting of the Sayings Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press 2000).
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[This table is quoted from A Theology of Q, pp. xi-xiii.]
Title Matthew Mark Luke
The Preaching of John 3:7-10
3:11-12 1:7-8 3:7-9
3:15-18
Temptations 4:1-11 4:1-13
Beatitudes 5:3-12 6:20b-23
Love of Enemies 5:38-48
7:12 6:27-36
Judging 7:1-5
12:36-37
15:14
10:24-25 4:24-25 6:37-42
Fruits 7:15-20
12:33-35 6:43-45
House on Rock 7:21-27 6:46-49
Centurion of Capernaum 8:5-13 7:1-10
13:28-29
John's Question and Jesus' Answer 11:2-6 7:18-23
Jesus' Witness to John 11:7-19
21:31-32 7:24-35
16:16
Commissioning the Twelve 10:1
10:7-11
10:14 6:6b-13 9:1-6
On Following Jesus 8:18-22 9:57-62
Commissioning of 70 9:37-38
10:7-16 10:1-12
Woes on Galilee 11:20-24 10:13-15
10:12
Whoever Hears You, Hears Me 10:40 10:16
Thanksgiving and Blessedness of Disciples 11:25-27
13:16-17 10:21-24
Lord's Prayer 6:9-13 11:1-4
Encouragement to Pray 7:7-11 11:9-13
Beelzebul Controversy 12:22-30
9:32-34 3:22-27 11:14-23
Return of the Evil Spirit 12:43-45 11:24-26
Sign of Jonah 12:38-42
16:1-4 8:11-12 11:16
11:29-32
Sound Eye 6:22-23 11:34-36
Against the Pharisees 23:4-36 7:1-9 11:37-54
Fearless Confession 10:26-33 12:2-9
Sin against the Holy Spirit 12:31-32 3:29-30 12:10
Assistance of the Holy Spirit 10:19-20 13:11 12:11-12
21:14-15
Anxiety 6:25-34 12:22-32
Treasures in Heaven 6:19-21 12:33-34
Watchfulness and Faithfulness 24:42-51 12:35-48
Divisions in Households 10:34-36 12:49-53
Signs of the Times 16:2-3 12:54-56
Agreement with Accuser 5:25-26 12:57-59
Mustard Seed 13:31-32 4:30-32 13:18-19
Leaven 13:33 13:20-21
Exclusion from the Kingdom 7:13-14
7:22-23
8:11-12
19:30 13:22-30
Lament over Jerusalem 23:37-39 13:34-35
Great Supper 22:1-14 14:15-24
Conditions of Discipleship 10:37-38 14:25-33
Parable of Salt 5:13 9:49-50 14:34-35
Lost Sheep 18:12-14 15:1-7
Two Masters 6:24 16:13
Concerning the Law 11:12-13
5:18 16:16-17
Warning against Offenses 18:6-7 9:42 17:1-3a
On Forgiveness 18:15
18:21-22 17:3b-4
On Faith 17:19-20 9:28-29 17:5-6
Day of the Son of Man 24:23
24:26-27
24:37-39
24:17-18
10:39
24:40-41
24:28 13:19-23
13:14-16 17:22-37
Parable of Pounds 25:14-30 19:11-27
Precedence 19:28 10:41-45 22:28-30
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[This table was constructed with reference to the synopsis provided in The Complete Gospels, pp. 249-300. The verses and titles are quoted verbatim.]
Title Verses in Luke Verses in Matthew
John's preaching Luke 3:7-9 Matt 3:7-10
The Coming One Luke 3:16-17 Matt 3:11-12
Jesus Tested Luke 4:1-13 Matt 4:1-4, 9-12, 5-7, 13
Inaugural sermon Luke 6:12, 17, 20 Matt 5:1-2
Congratulations Luke 6:20-26 Matt 5:3, 6, 4, 11-12
Love of enemies Luke 6:27-36 Matt 5:44, 39-42; 7:12; 5:46-47, 45, 48
On judging Luke 6:37-38 Matt 7:1-2
Blind guides Luke 6:39-40 Matt 15:14; 10:24-25
On pretense Luke 6:41-42 Matt 7:3-5
Tree & fruit Luke 6:43-45 Matt 7:16-20; 12:33-35
Foundations Luke 6:46-49 Matt 7:21, 24-27
Centurion's slave Luke 7:1-10 Matt 7:28; 8:5-10, 13
John's inquiry Luke 7:18-20, 22-23 Matt 11:2-6
Jesus praises John Luke 7:24-28 Matt 11:7-11
Law & prophets Luke 16:16 Matt 11:12-13
Children in the marketplace Luke 7:31-35 Matt 11:16-19
Foxes have dens Luke 9:57-62 Matt 8:19-22
The Mission Speech Luke 10:2-12 Matt 9:37-38; 10:7-16
Damn you Chorazin Luke 10:13-15 Matt 11:21-24
Rejecting the sender Luke 10:16 Matt 10:40
Father & son Luke 10:21-22 Matt 11:25-27
Privileged eyes Luke 10:23-24 Matt 13:16-17
Lord's prayer Luke 11:2-4 Matt 6:9-13
Ask, seek, knock Luke 11:9-13 Matt 7:7-11
Beelzebul controversy Luke 11:14-23 Matt 12:22-30
Return of an unclean spirit Luke 11:24-26 Matt 12:43-45
Congratulations to the womb Luke 11:27-28
Request for a sign Luke 11:16, 29-32 Matt 12:38-42
Lamp & bushel Luke 11:33 Matt 5:15
Eye & light Luke 11:34-36 Matt 6:22-23
Prophet's tombs Luke 11:47-48 Matt 23:29-32
Wisdom's oracle Luke 11:49-51 Matt 23:34-36
Blocking the way Luke 11:52 Matt 23:13
Veiled & unveiled Luke 12:2-3 Matt 10:26-27
God & sparrows Luke 12:4-7 Matt 10:28-31
Before the father Luke 12:8-9 Matt 10:32-33
Blasphemies Luke 12:10 Matt 12:32
Spirit under trial Luke 12:11-12 Matt 10:19
Disputed inheritance Luke 12:13-14
Rich farmer Luke 12:16-21
On anxieties Luke 12:22-31 Matt 6:25-33
On possessions Luke 12:33-34 Matt 6:19-21
Homeowner & burglar Luke 12:39-40 Matt 24:43-44
Unexpected return Luke 12:42-46 Matt 24:45-51
Peace or conflict Luke 12:49, 51-53 Matt 10:34-36
Knowing the times Luke 12:54-56 Matt 16:2-3
Before the judge Luke 12:57-59 Matt 5:25-26
Mustard seed & leaven Luke 13:18-21 Matt 13:31-33
Two gates Luke 13:24-27 Matt 7:13-14, 22-23
Dining with patriarchs Luke 13:28-30 Matt 8:11-12; 20:16
Jerusalem indicted Luke 13:34-35 Matt 23:37-39
Promotion & demotion Luke 14:11, 18:14 Matt 23:12
The feast Luke 14:16-24 Matt 22:1-10
Hating one's family Luke 14:26-27, 17:33 Matt 10:37-39
Saltless salt Luke 14:34-35 Matt 5:13
Lost sheep & coin Luke 15:4-10 Matt 18:12-13
Two masters Luke 16:13 Matt 6:24
God's rule & violence Luke 16:16 Matt 11:12-13
Not one serif Luke 16:17 Matt 5:18
On divorce Luke 16:18 Matt 5:32
Millstone award Luke 17:1-2 Matt 18:6-7
Scold & forgive Luke 17:3-4 Matt 18:15, 21-22
Mountains into the sea Luke 17:6 Matt 17:20
Coming of son of Adam Lk 17:22-24, 26-30, 34-35, 37 Mt 24:26-28, 37, 39-41
Entrusted money Luke 19:12-26 Matt 25:14-30
On twelve thrones Luke 22:28-30 Matt 19:28
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[This table is based on the table given by Mack in The Lost Gospel, pp. 260-261. The names for the segments are quoted from the translation on pp. 81-102.]
Title Verses in Luke Verses in Thomas
QS 1. Title
QS 2. The Setting for the Instructions
QS 3. The Appearance of John 3:1-6
QS 4. John's Address to the People 3:7-9
QS 5. John's Prediction of Someone to Come 3:16-17
QS 6. Jesus Tempted by the Accuser 4:1-13
QS 7. Introduction 6:20
QS 8. On Those who are Fortunate 6:20-23 54; 68; 69
QS 9. On Responding to Reproach 6:27-35 95; 6:2
QS 10. On Making Judgments 6:36-38
QS 11. On Teachers and Students 6:39-40 34
QS 12. On Hypocrisy 6:41-42 26
QS 13. On Integrity 6:43-45 45
QS 14. On Practical Obedience 6:46-69
QS 15. The Occasion 7:1-10
QS 16. John's Inquiry 7:18-23
QS 17. What Jesus Said about John 7:24-28 74; 46
QS 18. What Jesus Said about this Generation 7:31-35
QS 19. On Becoming a Follower of Jesus 9:57-62 86
QS 20. On Working for the Kingdom of God 10:1-11 73; 14:2
QS 21. The Unreceptive Town 10:12
QS 22. The Galilean Towns 10:13-15
QS 23. On the one who Receives the Worker 10:16
QS 24. On the one who Receives Revelation 10:21-22 61?
QS 25. On the one who Hears and Sees 10:23-24
QS 26. How to Pray 11:1-4
QS 27. Confidence in Asking 11:9-13 2; 92; 94
QS 28. On Kingdoms in Conflict 11:14-23 35
QS 29. Those for and those against 11:23
QS 30. On the Return of an Evil Spirit 11:24-26
QS 31. Hearing and Keeping the Teaching of God 11:27-28
QS 32. The Sign of Jonah 11:16, 29-32
QS 33. The Lamp and the Eye 11:33-35 33:2
QS 34. O You Pharisees 11:39-52 39:1; 89; 102
QS 35. On Speaking Out 12:2-3 5:2; 6:3; 33:1
QS 36. On Fear 12:4-7
QS 37. On Public Confessions 12:8-12 44
QS 38. Foolish Possessions 12:13-21
QS 39. On Food and Clothing 12:22-31 36
QS 40. On Heavenly Treasure 12:33-34 76:2
QS 41. The Hour 12:39-40 21:3; 103
QS 42. On Faithfulness 12:42-46
QS 43. Fire and Division 12:49-53 16
QS 44. Signs of the Times 12:54-56 91
QS 45. Settling Accounts 12:57-59
QS 46. The Mustard and the Yeast 13:18-21 20, 96
QS 47. The Narrow Gate and Closed Door 13:24-27
QS 48. Exclusion from the Kingdom 13:28-30
QS 49. Lament over Jerusalem 13:34-35
QS 50. On Humility 14:11; 18:14
QS 51. The Great Supper 14:16-24 64
QS 52. On the Cost of Being a Disciple 14:26-27; 17:33 55; 101
QS 53. Savorless Salt 14:34-35
QS 54. When to Rejoice 15:4-10 107
QS 55. Either/Or 16:13 47:2
QS 56. The Kingdom and the Law 16:16-18
QS 57. On Scandals 17:1-2
QS 58. On Forgiveness 17:3-4
QS 59. On Faith 17:6
QS 60. The Day of Separation 17:23-37 3; 51; 61; 113
QS 61. Squaring Accounts 19:11-27 41
QS 62. Judging Israel 22:28-30
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[This outline is quoted in entirety from Kloppenborg in Excavating Q, p. 100.]
Figure 16
The Contents of Q
Sigla
3:7b-9 Highly Probable
3:(3) Probable
<3:21-22> Doubtful
3:(3) Setting of John's Preaching
3:7b-9 John's Preaching of Repentance
3:16b-17 The Coming One
<3:21-22>
4:1-13 The Temptations
4:(16a) Reference to Nazara
6:20a Introduction to the Sermon
6:20b-23 Beatitudes
6:(24-26) Woes
6:27-33 On Retaliation; Generous Giving; Golden Rule
(Q/Matt 5:41) Go the Second Mile
6:(34-35b), 35c Conclusion
6:36-37b, 38c On Mercy and Judging
6:39-45 On Self-Correction
6:46 Why Do You Call Me Lord?
6:46-49 The Two House-Builders
7:1b-2, 6b-10 The Centurion at Kefar Nahum
7:18-19, 22-23 John's Question
7:24-28 Jesus' Eulogy of John
7:(29-30) John, Tax Collectors, and Prostitutes
7:31-35 Children in the Agora
9:57-60, (61-62) Two (Three?) Volunteers
10:2-16 Mission Instructions
10:21-22 Thanksgiving for Revelation
10:23b-24 Commendation of Disciples
<10:25-28>
11:2-4, <5-8> The Lord's Prayer,
11:9-13 Sayings on Prayer
11:14-20 The Beelzebul Controversy
11:(21-22) Binding the Strong Man
11:23 Whoever is Not against Me
11:24-26 Return of the Evil Spirit
11:(27-28) A Woman in the Crowd
11:29-32 Request for a Sign
11:33-35 (36) Lamp; Sayings on Light
11:39-44, 46-52 Woes against Pharisees and Lawyers
12:2-12 Fearless Confession
12:(13-14, 16-21) Divider; Rich Fool
12:22b-31, 33-34 On Anxiety over Life
12:<35-38>, 39-40
12:42b-46 Faithful and Unfaithful Servants
12:49, 51-53 On Divisions
12:54-56 Weather Signs / Signs of the Times
12:58-59 Settle with a Creditor
13:18-19, 20-21 Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven
13:24, (25), 26-27 The Two Ways; Closed Door
13:28-29, 30 Many Will Come from East and West
13:34-35 Lament over Jerusalem
14:<5>
14:11/18:14 Exalting the Humble
14:16-24 The Feast
14:26-27; 17:33 Three Discipleship Sayings
14:34-35 Savorless Salt
15:4-7 The Lost Sheep
15:(8-10) The Lost Drachma
16:13 God and Mammon
16:16 The Kingdom Suffers Violence
16:17-18 The Torah; Divorce
17:1b-2 On Scandals
17:3b-4 Forgiveness
17:6b Faith like a Mustard Seed
17:<7-10>
17:(20-21) (The Kingdom and Signs)
17:23-24, 37b The Coming of the Son of Man
17:26-27 The Days of Noah
17:(28-29), 30 The Days of Lot
17:34-35 Two in a Field; Two at the Grindstone
19:12-13, 15b-16 The Entrusted Money
22:28-30 Judging the Twelve Tribes
