“... A study of the incident and saying in John 2:13–22 suggests that earlier tradition, some of which may be historically accurate, did indeed find its way into the Fourth Gospel. A careful examination of this passage further suggests that we might not always need the Synoptics in order to identify such earlier traditions. Even without the Synoptics or Thomas, the evidence within the Gospel of John itself may well provide sufficient basis for scholars to recognize that an earlier saying was being reinterpreted. When John’s information about this particular incident and saying is compared with the Synoptics, it retains its value. If the information about the date of the event fits so well by a mere fluke, then it is certainly an impressive one (see Robinson 1985, 130–31). John’s placement of the saying on the lips of Jesus in the context of his temple action is historically plausible. Further, if the wording of the saying in John represents an alteration from its original form, the changes are not more extensive than is the case in the other works in which the saying appears. In Mark’s version, the contrast about the temple being made with hands is inserted and the words are depicted as something Jesus did not in fact say (Mark 14:58). In Matthew’s version, the wording is changed to “I am able” (Matt 26:61), while in Luke the saying is omitted altogether, except in some hints in the accusation brought against Stephen (Acts 6:14). In the version in Thomas, the second half of the saying is changed, either to reflect the fact that the temple was not rebuilt or simply as part of a negative view of the temple (Gos. Thom. 71). John’s version resembles the most likely original form of the saying, at least as plausibly as the versions found in other written sources. ...”