Who wrote the 4 gospels of the New Testament and when?

[dcontroversal]

I think there is a church where people get together to laugh like that, forget the name. Here another joke and hope it works as well as the others. Bart Erhman a distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a leading authority on the Bible and the life of Jesus wrote that

Several significant studies of literacy have appeared in recent years showing just how low literacy rates were in antiquity. The most frequently cited study is by Columbia professor William Harris in a book titled Ancient Literacy. By thoroughly examining all the surviving evidence, Harris draws the compelling though surprising conclusion that in the very best of times in the ancient world, only about 10 percent of the population could read at all and possibly copy out writing on a page. Far fewer than this, of course, could compose a sentence, let alone a story, let alone an entire book. And who were the people in this 10 percent? They were the upper-class elite who had the time, money, and leisure to afford an education. This is not an apt description of Jesus’s disciples. They were not upper-crust aristocrats.
In Roman Palestine the situation was even bleaker. The most thorough examination of literacy in Palestine is by a professor of Jewish studies at the University of London, Catherine Hezser, who shows that in the days of Jesus probably only 3 percent of Jews in Palestine were literate. Once again, these would be the people who could read and maybe write their names and copy words. Far fewer could compose sentences, paragraphs, chapters, and books. And once again, these would have been the urban elites.
​

Source: Ehrman, Bart D. (2012-03-20). Did Jesus Exist?: The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth (Kindle Locations 702-712). Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

WHO CARES WHAT HE SAID...I once heard college trained and taught conservation officer say turkeys cannot fly..half of the people got up and walked out....how do you suppose Matthew penned the book of Matthew, or Mark..how did he pen the book of Mark...common sense will dictate that who ever you quoted was an educated idiot!

 

[Pat2]

What the heck have you been drinking tonight?

I took a coke as usual!

 

[Pat2]

WHO CARES WHAT HE SAID...I once heard college trained and taught conservation officer say turkeys cannot fly..half of the people got up and walked out....how do you suppose Matthew penned the book of Matthew, or Mark..how did he pen the book of Mark...common sense will dictate that who ever you quoted was an educated idiot!

You should care because he is a well-known expert in his field. About Matthew who is said to have penned the gospel bearing his name here is quote from another respectable scholar.

• It is quite clear that the Apostle Matthew could not have written the present Greek version of the Gospel: the writing represents not an eyewitness collection but a compilation of traditional texts in a second-generation Christian community. Moreover, an internal analysis of the text shows that the author of the Greek version (the final edition) was without any doubt a thoroughly hellenised Jew, not a Galilean countryman as Matthew must have been.

Extract from Authorship of Matthew's Gospel
From ‘Notes on the Formation of the Gospels’, by John Wijngaards.

 

[GuessWho]

Wasn't Matthew a tax collector? Didn't they have to know to read and write?

 

[Magenta]

John Wijngaards.

Johannes Nicolaas Maria Wijngaards is a Catholic spiritual author and controversial theologian. Kudos to him for taking on Catholicism, but that does not mean his opinions on other theological issues necessarily need be respected above those of other theologians who are also respected in their fields. There is no consensus among all the many scholars clamouring for respect. In the final analysis, you will most likely agree with whomever aligns with what you already believe.

 

[Magenta]

Wasn't Matthew a tax collector? Didn't they have to know to read and write?

Excellent point.

 

[Magenta]

I think there is a church where people get together to laugh like that, forget the name.

Laughter Yoga?

Oops, I guess that is Yoda laughing...

 

[chancer]

From questions.org

The style of the book is exactly what would be expected of a man who was once a tax collector. Matthew has a keen interest in accounting (18:23-24; 25:14-15). The Gospel of Matthew is very orderly and concise. Rather than write in chronological order, Matthew arranges this Gospel through six discussions.

As a tax collector, Matthew possessed a skill that makes his writing all the more exciting for Christians. Tax collectors were expected to be able to write in a form of shorthand, which essentially meant that Matthew could record a person’s words as they spoke, word for word. This ability means that the words of Matthew are not only inspired by the Holy Spirit, but should represent an actual transcript of some of Christ’s sermons. For example, the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in chapters 5-7, is almost certainly a perfect recording of that great message.

Date of Writing: As an apostle, Matthew wrote the Gospel of Matthew in the early period of the church, probably in A.D. 55-65. This was a time when most Christians were Jewish converts, so Matthew’s focus on Jewish perspective in this Gospel is understandable.

Purpose of Writing: Matthew intends to prove to the Jews that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah. More than any other Gospel, the Gospel of Matthew quotes the Old Testament to show how Jesus fulfilled the words of the Jewish prophets. Matthew describes in detail the lineage of Jesus from David, and uses many forms of speech that Jews would have been comfortable with. Matthew’s love and concern for his people is apparent through his meticulous approach to telling the gospel story.

Key Verses: Matthew 5:17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Matthew 5:43-44: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Matthew 6:9-13: “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Matthew 16:26: “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Matthew 22:37-40: "Jesus replied, '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two.'"

Matthew 27:31: “After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.”

Matthew 28:5-6: “The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.'”

Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Brief Summary: The Gospel of Matthew discusses the lineage, birth, and early life of Christ in the first two chapters. From there, the book discusses the ministry of Jesus. The descriptions of Christ’s teachings are arranged around “discourses” such as the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5 through 7. Chapter 10 involves the mission and purpose of the disciples; chapter 13 is a collection of parables; chapter 18 discusses the church; chapter 23 begins a discourse about hypocrisy and the future. Chapters 21 through 27 discuss the arrest, torture, and execution of Jesus. The final chapter describes the Resurrection and the Great Commission.

Connections: Because Matthew’s purpose is to present Jesus Christ as the King and Messiah of Israel, he quotes from the Old Testament more than any of the other three Gospel writers. Matthew quotes more than 60 times from prophetic passages of the Old Testament, demonstrating how Jesus fulfilled them. He begins his Gospel with the genealogy of Jesus, tracing Him back to Abraham, the progenitor of the Jews. From there, Matthew quotes extensively from the prophets, frequently using the phrase “as was spoken through the prophet(s)” (Matthew 1:22-23, 2:5-6, 2:15, 4:13-16, 8:16-17, 13:35, 21:4-5). These verses refer to the Old Testament prophecies of His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14) in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), His return from Egypt after the death of Herod (Hosea 11:1), His ministry to the Gentiles (Isaiah 9:1-2; 60:1-3), His miraculous healings of both body and soul (Isaiah 53:4), His speaking in parables (Psalm 78:2), and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9).

 

[Angela53510]

It is good for the health to laugh! I love to laugh myself it always changed my mood and my friends mood. I did not go to seminary but university and apparently the approach is different. Literacy style is very important to understand the content of a book and the author message. None of the twelve disciples was able to write or read, all were illiterate. Mary neither was able to write but in those times illiterate people make use of scribes. I am not aware of any serious scholars except fundamentalist who would says that John wrote the fourth gospel. I repeat not a single serious scholar. How would defend such a position when doing critical and impartial analysis. From you answer, It is clear that seminary and university have nothing in common. Looks like university are much more critic than seminary. put two links about Mary which you have not look at so far... This is my last post related to thi topic given your hostile and narrow-mind reaction from you and vaillant.

Just so you know, in order to get a Master's degree, you need a Bachelor's degree. Mine was in Science, from a secular university. I got the outstanding graduate in my department. So, yes, I know how to do research.

All Hebrew boys were taught how to read and write. Plus, anyone living in Palestine who wanted to make a living by interacting with the Romans, needed a good working knowledge of Greek, which was the lingua franca or common language. So, pretty much, all the men knew how to read and write, and probably in at least two languages, maybe three (Latin?)

When you quote Bart Erhman, it lets me know that you are apostate. Or never were saved - the more likely possibility. And I doubt you can quote one single reputable conservative scholar. I have certainly read all the liberal scholars who do not have faith in the living God - Jesus Christ.

I would suggest if you plan on being a part of this forum, Pat, that you actually read both sides of this debate. And again, it really speaks to your education that you post no Scriptures. Let alone links to Bart Erhman with his idle speculation basd on basically no information at all! History is simply not on your side.

One evidence for the disciples reading both Hebrew and Greek, is that they quoted from both the Septuagint and the Hebrew Old Testament. While it is true they could have memorized these texts without actually reading them, in fact, the way the quotes are used, combined and illustrated show that they would have to have a good reading knowledge of the both Greek and Hebrew.

Further, as someone who reads both languages, if you actually read the gospels and the rest of the New Testament in Greek, you will see marked differences in the words used and language structures. John uses much simpler Greek in his epistles. In fact, it is quite simple Greek. That leads me to speculate that he did indeed use an amanuensis for his gospel. Maybe by Revelation, he had learned to read and write in Greek a lot better. But, he certainly needed to approve what had been written, which required being able to read it.

I don't count spurious links to Mary Magdelene. Because other than the Bible, nothing at all is known about her, and very little in the Bible. And please don't bring up these extra-biblical accounts, as they are the ones dated to the 2nd and 3rd centuries, not the real Bible.

 

[MarcR]

Wasn't Matthew a tax collector? Didn't they have to know to read and write?

All men of Israel read and wrote unless a disability prevented that. When a man was called 'unschooled'; that meant that he had not studied under a recognized rabbi.

 

[oldhermit]

You should care because he is a well-known expert in his field. About Matthew who is said to have penned the gospel bearing his name here is quote from another respectable scholar.

• It is quite clear that the Apostle Matthew could not have written the present Greek version of the Gospel: the writing represents not an eyewitness collection but a compilation of traditional texts in a second-generation Christian community. Moreover, an internal analysis of the text shows that the author of the Greek version (the final edition) was without any doubt a thoroughly hellenised Jew, not a Galilean countryman as Matthew must have been.

Extract from Authorship of Matthew's Gospel
From ‘Notes on the Formation of the Gospels’, by John Wijngaards.

What a load of crock! You talk about a speculative theory. There is absolutely no way anyone could even begin to prove any point offered in this quote. What a bunch of nonsense.

 

[Mitspa]

Another thread by another person pretending to be looking for honest answers, who clearly has the agenda to attack the faith at the very foundations... I think we are too kind to some of these people.

 

[tourist]

Only the religious people knew Hebrew. Common folk like the apostles spoke Aramaic and/or Greek. That's why the Targums came into existence because the population had forgotten how to speak Hebrew.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targum

I shop at Target too.

 

[MarcR]

I shop at Target too.

The Wiki article on the targums was quite accurate; but, IMO, you have read more into it than intended.

There are two bodies of rabbinic literature known as: The Babylonian Talmud, and the Jerusalem Talmud.

Each of these have a section called Midrash which consists of Rabbinic tractates called targum(s).

In the first century A.D. Every Jewish man was a member of a synagogue. As such, he would be called to read from the Torah at least once a year. Every Jewish man was taught to read and write Hebrew; but the language was reserved for worship and prayer. Aramaic was the spoken language; but the spoken language in Israel was a slightly different dialect from Syrian Aramaic. The Pashita was a second century A.D. translation of the Septuigent into Syrian Aramaic; and was used by Syrian Christians (NOT BY Jews).

SYRIAC VERSIONS

As regards the Old Testament, the antiquity of the Version is admitted on all hands. The tradition, however, that part of it was translated from Hebrew into Syriac for the benefit of Hiram in the days of Solomon is a myth. That a translation was made by a priest named Assa, or Ezra, whom the king of Assyria sent to Samaria, to instruct the Assyrian colonists mentioned in 2 Kings 17, is equally legendary. That the tr of the Old Testament and New Testament was made in connection with the visit of Thaddaeus to Abgar at Edessa belongs also to unreliable tradition. Mark has even been credited in ancient Syriac tradition with translating his own Gospel (written in Latin, according to this account) and the other books of the New Testament into Syriac

3. Syriac Old Testament: But what Theodore of Mopsuestia says of the Old Testament is true of both: "These Scriptures were translated into the tongue of the Syrians by someone indeed at some time, but who on earth this was has not been made known down to our day" (Nestle in Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (five volumes), IV, 645 b). Professor Burkitt has made it probable that the translation of the Old Testament was the work of Jews, of whom there was a colony in Edessa about the commencement of the Christian era (Early Eastern Christianity, 71 ff). The older view was that the translators were Christians, and that the work was done late in the 1 st century or early in the 2 nd. The Old Testament known to the early Syrian church was substantially that of the Palestinian Jews. It contained the same number of books but it arranged them in a different order. First there was the Pentateuch, then Job, Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Ruth, Canticles, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, Isaiah followed by the Twelve Minor Prophets, Jeremiah and Lamentations, Ezekiel, and lastly Daniel. Most of the apocryphal books of the Old Testament are found in the Syriac, and the Book of Sirach is held to have been translated from the Hebrew and not from the Septuagint.
(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)


Most men of Israel in the first century A.D. were trilingual speaking and reading Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic.

Virtually all were bilingual speaking and reading Hebrew, and Aramaic.

Hebrew and Aramaic are very similar and most readers of one understand the other without instruction.