Criterion of multiple attestation

. In order to be both multiply and independently attested, it's not enough for a tradition to simply be found in two or three of the Synoptic Gospels. It needs to be attested in a combination of at least two out of the Marcan, Q, M, or L source materials. Otherwise, a non-Synoptic source is required to corroborate a tradition found in the Synoptics. The criterion of multiple attestation focuses on the sayings or deeds of Jesus that are attested to in more than one independent literary source such as Mark, Paul, Q, M, L, John, Josephus, or Thomas. The force of this criterion is increased if a given motif or theme is also found in different literary forms such as parables, dispute stories, miracle stories, prophecy, and/or aphorism. • Paul's 7 undisputed epistles • Q source • Gospel of Mark • M source (special Matthean tradition) • L source (special Lukan tradition) • Gospel of John • Josephus • (Coptic) Gospel of Thomas (disputed by some) • Gospel of Peter (possibly; its independence from the canonical Gospels is debated) • Tacitus == Examples of its use ==

passes the criterion of multiple attestation. It also appears in an array of literary genres. However, the Lord's Prayer, although found in both Matthew and Luke, evidently derives from their common source Q, and therefore cannot pass the criterion. However, John does not explicitly mention the baptism of Jesus (merely having the Baptist saying he 'witnessed the spirit descending on [Jesus] like a dove', John 1:32) that is attested in Mark, although Theissen (2002) claimed that the Gospel of the Hebrews 2 did corroborate the baptism. The episode of Jesus and the rich young man is found in all three Synoptic Gospels, but is evidently dependent on Mark, and not mentioned outside the Synoptics, and therefore does not pass the criterion. == Limitations ==

This criterion cannot be used for sources that are not independent. == See also ==