Meaning: The quote is from Chester Brown, a Canadian cartoonist, and it refers to a debate about the order in which the four Gospels of the New Testament were written. Brown is discussing his decision to base his comic book series "The Gospel of Mark" on the Gospel of Mark, citing the popular consensus that Mark was the first Gospel to be written. However, he also acknowledges the debate surrounding this issue, with some scholars arguing that the Gospel of Matthew may have been written first.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the first four books of the New Testament and are considered to be the primary sources of information about the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The order in which these Gospels were written has been the subject of much scholarly debate, with various theories and hypotheses proposed over the centuries.

The traditional order of the Gospels in the New Testament is Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but many scholars believe that the Gospel of Mark was the earliest written Gospel, and that both Matthew and Luke used Mark as a source when composing their own Gospels. This theory is known as the "Two-Source Hypothesis," and it posits that Mark was the first Gospel to be written and that Matthew and Luke drew from both Mark and another source, known as "Q," when writing their Gospels.

However, some scholars have challenged the Two-Source Hypothesis and have put forward alternative theories about the order in which the Gospels were written. One such theory suggests that the Gospel of Matthew was actually the earliest written Gospel, and that Mark and Luke used Matthew as a source when composing their own Gospels. This theory is known as the "Augustinian Hypothesis," named after the early Christian theologian Augustine of Hippo, who proposed a similar idea in the 5th century.

The debate about the order of the Gospels is complex and multifaceted, and it involves careful analysis of the texts themselves, as well as consideration of historical, cultural, and theological factors. Scholars examine the language, style, and content of the Gospels, as well as external evidence such as quotations from the Gospels in the writings of early Christian authors and references to the Gospels in other ancient texts.

Chester Brown's comment reflects the ongoing scholarly discussion about the order in which the Gospels were written and the complexity of the issues involved. By acknowledging the debate and the differing viewpoints on the topic, Brown demonstrates an awareness of the nuances and uncertainties surrounding the origins of the Gospels. His decision to focus on the Gospel of Mark in his comic book series is based on the prevailing consensus among scholars, but he also acknowledges the existence of alternative perspectives on the matter.

In conclusion, Chester Brown's quote touches on the debate about the order in which the Gospels of the New Testament were written, highlighting the complexity of the issue and the diversity of scholarly perspectives. The question of the order of the Gospels remains a topic of ongoing research and discussion within the fields of biblical studies and New Testament scholarship, and it continues to inspire a wide range of theories and interpretations.