The first scholar to test Augustine's claim that Mark composed a condensed edition (epitome) of Matthew. In 1782 Koppe was a professor at Göttingen (Germany), when he published a thesis entitled "Mark was not an abbreviator of Matthew" (Marcus non epitamator Matthei). His argument focused on four observations:

• Mark often differs from Matthew in order and details. The pattern of variations is not typical of someone summarizing another's work, since Mark's passages are often longer than Matthew's.

• Where Mark deviates from Matthew he regularly agrees with Luke, not only in order but also in content.

• If Luke knew the works of both Matthew & Mark, as Augustine had claimed, then he regularly adopted Mark's readings rather than Matthew's.

• Luke's preference for Markan wording & sequence shows that he valued Mark as a source independent of & superior to Matthew.

Koppe concluded that Mark & Luke had sources other than Matthew since

• Mark often deviated from Matthew's wording &
• Luke regularly preferred Mark's version.

To explain the patterns of similarity & differences in the synoptic gospels, Koppe argued that the canonical gospels must have been based upon earlier Hebrew & Greek documents that are no longer in existence. Koppe did not attempt to describe these documents in any detail. But he was the first to propose the hypothesis that the canonical gospels are based on a non-canonical Greek source. Koppe's emphasis on the parallels between Mark & Luke, led J. J. Griesbach to propose the hypothesis that Mark is a condensed version of both Matthew & Luke.

[For a brief summary of Koppe's argument see W.R. Farmer, The Synoptic Problem: A Critical Analysis (NY: Macmillan, 1964), pp. 6-7].

Other On-line Resources:

• Mark is Not an Epitome of Matthew - Richard Winterstein's translation of Koppe's 1782 groundbreaking essay (posted by Classic Works of Apologetics).

• Koppe, Johann Benjamin - biographical sketch with extensive bibliography (in McClintock and Strong's Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature).

• Johann Benjamin Koppe - summary of Koppe's life & work in German Wikipedia.