was written first? I've heard some say Mark and others say Matthew....which is it?
2007-03-27 08:01:21 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
As the gospels are not dated, the best anyone can do is guess from the text themselves.
If you read through Matthew and Luke, you will find that roughly 90% of the material in Matthew is a repeat of Mark, and about 82% of the material in Luke is a repeat of Mark. The 10% of material in Matthew and the 18% of material in Luke not repeated are unique to each. There is less then 1% of Mark which is not found in the other two gospels. So most scholar believe that Mark was the earliest of the three and Matthew and Luke borrowed from him.
Those who argue for an earlier date for Matthew do so on with a belief that Matthew was original written in Aramaic to be read and understood by the Jews. However if it was first, why neither Luke or Mark repeat the unique material in Matthew is unknown. It tends to argue against an early Matthew gospel.
As Luke is quoted by Paul in his writing in the early 60's, it is a good argument that all three of those gospels were written prior to 60AD.
2007-03-27 08:12:50 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I thought it was Mark. The majority of scholars date Matthew between the years 80 and 100.
"The oldest gospel is most likely Mark, and can be dated to around 70 CE, or 35-40 years after the time of Jesus' death. The 3 other gospels of the New Testament belong to the period of 80 - 100 CE. The Gospel of Thomas dates to around 200 CE."
2007-03-27 15:05:32 · answer #2 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most scholars would date Matthew to around 80-90 CE, and Mark to 70 CE.
Do a search on the web for the NRSV Bible, it is a scholarly Bible with history of each gospel at the beginning of each book.
2007-03-27 15:08:57 · answer #3 · answered by SisterSue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Luke is the only one that is any sort of contemporary account. He was probably at the Mount of Olives.
* Mark: c. 50s to early 60s, or late 60s
* Matthew: c. 50 to 70s
* Luke: c. 59 to 63, or 70s to 80s
* John: c. 85 to near 100, or 50s to 70
2007-03-27 15:13:12 · answer #4 · answered by novangelis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mathew was completed in 41 CE and Mark was Completed in 60-65 CE
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2007-03-27 15:07:21 · answer #5 · answered by gem 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most scholars believe that Mark was first, and John was last.
2007-03-27 15:06:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋