Q6 20-21. The Beatitudes for the Poor, Hungry, and Mourning

The sixth volume in the series Documenta Q is concerned with the reconstruction of the Q text behind Luke 6:20-21 par. Matt 5:2-3,6. The International Q Project's presentation of the critical text of Q 6:20-21, together with the exhaustive history of research on which it is based, will enhance considerable research in the Sayings Gospel Q, the historical Jesus, and New Testament theology. According to Q, Jesus' first words in his public ministry are the beatitudes for the poor, hungry, and mourning. This shows the weight and importance these words carry in the Jesus tradition. There is also a wide consensus that these three beatitudes probably go back to the historical Jesus. This could be one reason for the prominent place these verses have in Q: at the beginning of Jesus' inaugural sermon. They are certainly one of the core sayings of Jesus' message about the kingdom of God. The database and evaluations are an expanded and revised version of those presented and discussed at the meeting of the International Q Project in Claremont, CA 1991. Just prior to the bibliography at the conclusion of the volume the resultant critical text of Q 6:20-21 is printed. This Greek text is followed by English, German and French translations. (Lucan chapter and verse numeration is used as a convenience and a mere convention.)