Who wrote the New Testament? :Who wrote the New Testament? Christadelphian Presentation


Matthew and Mark :Matthew and Mark Papias – early 2c., someone who listened to the apostle John on Patmos… “Mark, indeed, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote accurately howbeit not in order, all that he recalled of what was either said or done by the Lord” “So then, Matthew compiled the oracles in the Hebrew language; but everyone interpreted them as they were able”


Matthew and Mark :Matthew and Mark Ireneaus – mid-2c., “Matthew published a gospel in writing among the Hebrews in their own language” Matthew dependent on Mark, so Mark is the earliest Gospel. The original Hebrew Gospel of Matthew is lost; our version is not a translation of an Hebrew original.


Matthew and Mark :Matthew and Mark Peter killed in the Neronic persecution, therefore Mark wrote his gospel before the mid-sixties CE. Scholars are unhappy with the prediction of the destruction of the temple and date the gospel to the mid-sixties, however, if we accept that Jesus had the holy Spirit, this constraint is removed and Mark could have been written much earlier.


Luke :Luke Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. Luke 1:1-4


Acts :Acts The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach Acts 1:1 Many had written accounts – hence we have four Gospels and many other non-canonical Gospels The same author wrote Luke and Acts


Acts’ “We Passages” :Acts’ “We Passages” And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Acts 16:10 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. Acts 20:6 (Acts 16:10-17, 20:5-15, 21:1-18, 27:1-28:16)


Who was Luke? :Who was Luke? The Muratonian Canon (170-180 CE) attributes the gospel to Luke, a companion of Paul. “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.” Col 4:14 “Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.” Phile 1:24 “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” 2 Tim 4:11


Ending of Acts :Ending of Acts And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Acts 28:31 Paul was killed in the Neronic persecution in the mid-sixties, so Acts is finished at least two years before this date. The expression “two whole years” implies his death – cf. after his diagnosis, he lived for two whole years.


Luke-Acts :Luke-Acts Luke uses Mark, so Mark must be no later than the late-fifties. Must have been written before Acts was started. The latest date for Luke must be in the fifties CE. The latest date for Acts would be 63 CE. Luke’s prologue implies the existence and circulation of other gospels and a period of evaluation by him of their value – his dissatisfaction with Mark could be its chronological ordering Luke uses Matthew and so post-dates Matthew


Synoptic Gospels :Synoptic Gospels Mark 40-50 CE Matthew 45-50 CE Luke 50-60 CE Acts 63 CE Q


John :John Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? This is the disciple which is testifying of these things, and he wrote these things: and we have known that his testimony is true. John 21:23 Editorial remark John the beloved disciple (Jn 21:20) Peter is dead around 65 CE Gospel Written between 65-70 CE


John :John The Muratonian Canon (170-180 CE) attributes the gospel to the disciple John and at a time when other disciples were alive, e.g. Andrew. John’s topography presumes Jerusalem has not been destroyed (Jn 5:2)


Paul’s Letters :Paul’s Letters Galatians 47 CE 1 Thessalonians 50 CE 2 Thessalonians 51 CE 1 Corinthians 54 CE 2 Corinthians 55 CE Romans 55 CE 1 Timothy 55 CE Titus (55 CE) Philippians 56 CE Colossians/Ephesians 60-61 CE Philemon 60-61 CE 2 Timothy 62 CE


Paul’s Life :Paul’s Life Gallio became proconsul in early summer of 51 CE Paul brought before Gallio in May/June 51 CE (Acts 18:12) Paul had been in Corinth 18 months (Acts 18:11) Paul had arrived in Corinth in late Autumn 49 CE, Timothy and Silas join soon thereafter (Acts 18:5) 1 Thessalonians written in early 50 CE just after Timothy arrives from Macedonia (1 Thess 3:6) 2 Thessalonians follows soon after as a response to a fellowship problem (2 Thess 1:1) – late 50 CE


Paul’s Life :Paul’s Life To allow time for the visits of Acts 15:36-17:34, Paul must have left Antioch in Spring 49 CE. To allow for the preaching of Acts 15:30-36 the Council of Jerusalem must have taken place in late 48 CE. Famine of Acts 11:27-30 came to a climax in 46 CE according to Josephus, so the famine relief visit of Acts 11:20/12:25 is toward the end of 46 CE. Paul’s first missionary journey therefore happens during 47-48 CE


Paul’s Life :Paul’s Life Paul went up for the famine relief visit 14 years after his conversion in 33 CE (Gal 2:1) Paul wrote Galatians in 48 CE shortly after the missionary journey and before the council of Jerusalem, the edict of which he does not mention in his argument against the Judaizers. Sets out on missionary journey in the spring of 52 CE (Acts 18:23) Arrives in Ephesus in late summer of 52 CE (Acts 19:1)


Paul’s Life :Paul’s Life Uses Ephesus as a base for 2 years (Acts 19:10) – until late summer 54 CE, Timothy and Erastus sent to Macedonia (Acts 19:21) Stays on in Ephesus for another season – Autumn/Winter 54 CE – and leaves in early 55 CE Paul states he will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost, spring 55 CE – (1 Cor 16:8), so he is writing 1 Corinthians when he decides to stay for another season in late 54 CE Paul starts out for Macedonia and leaves Timothy behind (1 Tim 1:3) – so he is writing 1 Timothy from Macedonia during 55 CE


Paul’s Life :Paul’s Life During 55 CE he conducts a preaching tour around Macedonia and he sets out for Jerusalem (Acts 20:16) from Ephesus at the end of the tour Paul is in Macedonia when he writes 2 Corinthians (2 Cor 7:5, 9:2) in late 55 CE, as he refers to the collection he had initiated “a year ago” (2 Cor 8:10) in his first letter (1 Cor 16:1-3) which was late 54 CE Romans is written on the Macedonian tour in late 55 CE


Paul’s Life :Paul’s Life Romans is written on the Macedonian tour in late 55 CE Because Paul says he has completed his work in that region (Rms 15:19, 23) Because he refers to the collection about which he has nagged the Corinthians (Rms 15:26) Because he has decided to go to Jerusalem


Paul’s Life :Paul’s Life “When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.” Titus 3:12 This would be in the winter of 55-56 CE after the first part of the Macedonian tour, and this is the best guess for Titus.


Paul’s Life :Paul’s Life Paul arrives in Jerusalem in May 56 CE (Acts 21:15) Paul is in Captivity in Caesarea from late 56 CE to -58 CE (Acts 24:27) until Festus Journey to Rome 59 CE Imprisonment in Rome 60-62 CE Death


Caesarean Captivity :Caesarean Captivity “He said, "I will hear you when your accusers arrive." And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.” Acts 23:35 “So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the praetorium, and in all other places” Philippians 1:13 “And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty…” Acts 24:23 Philippians – late 56 CE within first week of prison


Roman Captivity :Roman Captivity “But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things” Ephesians 6:21 “All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord…With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.” Colossians 4:7 “I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds” Philemon 1:10


Roman Captivity :Roman Captivity Timothy (Col 1:1), Tychicus, Aristarchus (Col 4:10, Phile v24) and Luke (Col 4:14) came to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4) Aristarchus - a fellow prisoner (Col 4:10) sets out for Rome (Acts 27:2) “But, when he [Onesiphorus] was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.” 2 Timothy 1:17 (fought the fight – 2 Tim 4:7) “And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.” 2 Timothy 4:12 2 Timothy, Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon – 60-62 CE


Paul’s Letters :Paul’s Letters “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” 2 Peter 3:15 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, …” 1 Pet 1:1 (RSV)


Hebrews :Hebrews Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. Heb2 13:23-24 Hebrews written 60-62 CE


Peter’s Letters :Peter’s Letters “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.” 1 Peter 5:13 Mark is with Peter Babylon is a cipher for Rome Written to the “Diaspora” “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance” 2 Peter 3:1


Letter to James :Letter to James James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. Letter is for someone with authority James died in 62 CE (Josephus) Letter pre-dates the Gentile mission


John the Elder :John the Elder “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth” 2 John 1:1 “The elder unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.” 3 John 1:1


Jude :Jude “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called” Jude 1:1


Revelation :Revelation “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.” Revelation 1:1