Date: 	Sat, 31 Jan 1998 12:39:02 -0500
From: y.kuchinsky@utoronto.ca
X-Sender: 04572923@log3
To: "Stephen C. Carlson" <scarlson@mindspring.com>
cc: miser17@epix.net, crosstalk@info.harpercollins.com
Subject: Re: Thomas and Synoptics


On Fri, 30 Jan 1998, Stephen C. Carlson wrote:

	...

> 2.  Thomas vs. Mt/Lk and Mk.  Where Thomas and Mark overlap (at least
> in twenty logia), Thomas is very often more similar to the Mt/Lk version
> of the Markan tradition than Mark itself. 

Stephen,

This has been explained to you already. Mk's sayings are for the most part
formulated differently compared to Mt and Lk. GTh's sayings are much
closer to Q, and to Synoptic sayings shapes. So how could this be any sort
of an argument against Thomasine independence? You're offering us a non
sequitur. Rather, all this should actually be an argument for the priority
of the GTh!

> Based on Antonio's list, which
> you have, at best, only challenged but a few examples, Thomas is more
> similar to Mt/Lk than to Mk in a vast majority (e.g. 90%) of the overlaps.

So what? This should mean that Thomas is closer to Q. THEREFORE, Thomas is
independent.

> Only in a few of which Mk is actually more similar. 

But Mk is presumably later than Q. You make no sense whatsoever, Stephen, 
sorry.

> Such a clear separation in the pattern of similarities is difficult to
> account for by complete independence.  If there were no influence
> between Th and the Synoptics,

This is strange. Who has ever said this? There're all kinds of
relationships between GTh and Q.

> This leaves two basic possibilities:
> 
>            Mk --> Mt/Lk <-- Th    (3a)
>            Mk --> Mt/Lk --> Th    (3b)
> 
> The first possibility (3a) is that Thomas is non-dependent and influenced
> the text of Mt/Lk (perhaps by conflation of Thomas or a (oral?) tradition
> which is better preserved in Thomas than in Mark). 

Again, Stephen, you seem to be quite confused. The oral tradition is best
preserved in GTh and in Q! Whoever could it be who could have said that
the oral tradition is best preserved in MK? Please name us some names if
you have them. Methinks you're dreaming.

Best wishes,

Yuri.