Decades before our earliest preserved Gospels were first penned, the things Jesus said and did were passed down by word of mouth among his followers.

However, by carefully comparing Matthew, Mark, and Luke, biblical scholars have discerned a written source even earlier than these texts: The Gospel commonly known as “Q,” from the German word for “source.”

Written in Greek sometime between 50 and 70 CE, this collection of Jesus’ teachings was used by the authors of Matthew and Luke. Following the meticulous reconstruction of Q by an international team of experts, this new translation highlights the wisdom of Jesus’ prophetic message — the Gospel behind the Gospels.