Questioning the Dating of the Gospels

Many people accept the traditional belief that the four Gospels were written in the first century without questioning it. The church has long claimed this, but no concrete evidence has been presented by anyone to substantiate this claim. However, compelling evidence from ancient manuscript fragments and second witness accounts reveals a different narrative.

Paleographical Evidence: Manuscripts and Fragments

Over 140 manuscript fragments have been identified and dated from the early second century to the third century, indicating that Gospel texts were in circulation within a very short period of their supposed composition. Additionally, nearly complete codices (bound books) of the New Testament books were found in the early 200s, suggesting that these texts were not only written but widely replicated and read. These manuscripts show signs of daily use and wear, underscoring the practical use and extensive distribution of the texts in the early Christian church. The Gospels are more extensively preserved than any other ancient text, such as Homer’s Iliad, which dates to 5-7 centuries later and has only a dozen copies or fragments.

Eyewitness Accounts and First-Hand Knowledge

The authors of the Gospels are believed to have been eyewitnesses or close associates of the disciples. These authors often cited writings of the Apostles and the instructions given by Jesus, verified by disciples or students of these eyewitnesses. This chain of knowledge and verification makes it very difficult to argue that these texts were written much later than the first century. Second-generational witnesses, who lived in the 2nd century, can definitively attest to the authorship and the origins of the texts. The next generation of students repeatedly referred to the Apostles and witnesses as the true authors of these texts.

Early Quotations and References

Paul, an early apostle, provides significant evidence for the early dating of the Gospels and Epistles. In his First Letter to the Corinthians, written in 55 AD, he includes 20 short phrases that are verbatim excerpts from the Gospel of Mark and quotes Jesus’ words from the Last Supper. In Chapter 15, Verse 4, he also refers to “the scriptures” as saying that Jesus would rise on the third day, a statement only found in Mark 9:31. In his First Letter to Timothy, penned between 62 and 64 AD, Paul quotes Luke 10:7, stating that this quote is on par with the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy.

Further Evidence from Church Fathers

c of Rome, in his first letter written in 96 AD, demonstrates the use of New Testament texts by quoting sections from Mark and Luke. The fact that Paul, Clement, and other early church figures could quote and reference these texts from such early dates (55 AD, 62-64 AD, and 96 AD) makes it highly unlikely that the Gospels were written later than the first century. This implies that the texts were in circulation and widely known before the time of these citations.

Together, this evidence from manuscript fragments, eyewitness accounts, and early quotations provides a robust case for the early dating of the Gospels, challenging the traditional view that they were written much later.