Last week we
looked at the bibliographical test for ancient documents relating to the
Gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We found that no documents of ancient
history have better evidential accuracy (that is, we have the documents as they
were written) than the New Testament texts. This week were going to look at the
internal and external tests for ancient documents. The internal test for
documentary real liability asks this question: What do the texts claim for
themselves?
The four Gospels, Matthew Mark, Luke and
John claim to have been written by witnesses or eyewitnesses of the events
described. Or written by close associates of eyewitnesses based on careful
research. For example from Luke’s gospel the writer tells of his careful
research: “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the
things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the
beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to
us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time
past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you
may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:1–4, ESV)
Matthew and John were disciples of Jesus
and eyewitnesses of the events they describe. Luke the physician accompanied
Paul on his journeys. Mark was an associate of the disciple Peter. The
connection to be original apostles is very strong. In the face of these claims,
and no external argument against them. We must follow Aristotle’s dictum that
the benefit of the doubts is to be given to the document itself, not arrogated
by the critic to himself.
The external test
for documentary authenticity looks for sources outside of the texts in question
to confirm what those text say about themselves. Since it is possible for a
document to make claims that are not true; external confirmation is therefore an
important way to eliminate the possibility. Fortunately, the New Testament as
many such external confirmations available.
Papias of
Hiropolis (ca 130 A.D.), based on information obtained by John the elder (John
the apostle) tells us that Mark very carefully recorded what the apostle Peter
told him. Irenacus, a student of Polycarp of Smyrna, was himself a disciple of
John writes, “Matthew published his gospel among the Hebrews in their own
language, when Peter and Paul were preaching the gospel in Rome and founding
the church there. After their departure (that is their death which occurred
time of the early and persecution and 64-65), Mark, the disciple and
interpreter of Peter, himself handed down to us in writing the substance of
Peter’s preaching. Luke, the follower of Paul, set down in a book the gospel
preached by his teacher. Then John the disciple of the Lord, who also leaned on
his breast, himself produced his gospel, while he was living it Ephesus in
Asia.” (Add. Haer. 3.1)
An article of this
size does not allow the inclusion of the many external documents that’s
important the authors of the New Testament. You are encouraged to research for
yourself these claims on the Internet.
These conclusions
about the authorship of the New Testament documents allow us to date the
writing of these documents before 70 A.D. The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed
by the Romans in that year. The documents do not speak of this very important
event. There is also of fragmented John’s gospel that must be dated at the end
of the first century (100 A.D.). The biblical scholar Harnack uses the
following reasoning to date the Gospels. Paul died in 64-65 A.D. the book of
Acts does not mention his death and would have done so if he had already died.
The gospel of Luke, which is part one of the book of Acts and referred to in
the preface of Acts as having been written earlier, must’ve occurred after the
writing of the gospel Mark. This gospel was used as a source for Luke’s and
Matthew’s gospel. All of which occurred later than Jesus ministry which ended
around 30 A.D. From this reasoning we determine that Matthew, Mark, and Luke
were written within a 35 year period following Jesus’ crucifixion.
His argument can
be summed up with the following diagram: (> signifies “must have occurred
before”)
The Book of Acts > Gospel of Luke
> Gospel of Mark all after Jesus Ministry – 30 A.D.
To be sure, this
evidence merely allows for us to date the documents and determine their
authorship. How much weight should be given to them, that is, how accurate are
they and what they say will be taken up in my next article.
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