The Augustinian Hypothesis is a theory about the authorship of the Gospel of John. It suggests that the gospel was written by John the Apostle, but heavily edited and influenced by the theology of Augustine of Hippo. The word "Augustinian" is spelled /ɔɡʌstɪniən/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The stress is on the second syllable, and the first syllable is pronounced with the vowel sound in "dog". The second syllable has the sound of "uh", and the final syllable has the sound of "shun".
The Augustinian Hypothesis is a term used in biblical and textual criticism to refer to the theory proposed by Saint Augustine of Hippo in the 5th century regarding the authorship and composition of the biblical Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. According to this hypothesis, Augustine proposed that Matthew wrote his Gospel first, followed by Mark, who based his work on Matthew's account, and finally Luke, who relied on both Matthew and Mark for his Gospel.
This hypothesis suggests that the authors of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) had access to each other's writings and used them as sources for their own accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It posits that the similarities and overlapping content found in these gospels can be attributed to their dependence on one another rather than to independent sources.
The Augustinian Hypothesis has been influential in shaping the field of biblical studies, particularly with regards to the Synoptic problem, which seeks to understand the literary relationship between these three gospels. While it has been widely discussed and debated over the centuries, the hypothesis continues to be one of the key theories concerning the origin and composition of the Synoptic Gospels.
The term "Augustinian hypothesis" is derived from two key elements:
1. Augustinian: Referring to Saint Augustine of Hippo, a prominent fourth-century theologian and philosopher. Augustine's works had a significant influence on Christian theology, including his views on the authorship of the Gospel of John.
2. Hypothesis: A proposed explanation or theory based on limited evidence or assumptions. In this context, it refers to the proposal regarding the authorship and origins of the Gospel of John.
Thus, the term "Augustinian hypothesis" is used to describe Augustine's suggestion or theory about the authorship and composition of the Gospel of John.