What is the fundamental observation of the triple tradition?
The fundamental observation of the triple tradition and, indeed, the synoptic problem is that Mark is the “middle term” between Matthew and Luke.When the triple tradition is analyzed, a very interesting pattern emerges. In the triple tradition, the ordering of the passages is largely shared between Matthew and Mark, between Luke and Mark, or among all three. It is rarely the case, however, that Matthew and Luke agree against Mark in arranging the Triple Tradition. This pattern also extends to the content, extent, and the wording of the triple tradition passages. There are four basic documentary approaches that can account for the fact that Mark is the middle term between Matthew and Luke: 1. Markan priority hypothesis: Mark was first and copied by both Matthew and Luke. 2. Matthean priority hypothesis: Matthew was first and was copied by Mark who was copied by Luke. 3. Lukan priority hypothesis: Luke was first and was copied by Mark who was copied by Matthew. 4. Griesbach hypothesis: M
