How many years after the suposed christ event were the gospels and epistles written?

Question

I think it's 140 years.. think about that... nothing historically appeared about any Jesus of Nazareth until 140 years after his suposed death.

Answer 1

It is thought, by the academics, that most of the New Testament was written down between 48 -70 CE. However, the earliest found record (a fragment of papyrus) is dated about 150CE (John 18) and can be found in the Rylands University Library, Manchester.

Answer 2

The earliest works in the New Testament are Paul's epistles. Notice how he never mentions events in Jesus' life as told by the gospels? Because they weren't written yet. Some of the letters of Paul in the NT were written by him, others written only in his name. I think they start around 70 AD.

The gospels and other books were passed on as oral tradition until the 2nd century. None of them were written by the persons named in the titles. Also they were all written in Greek but all the characters in them spoke Aramaic.

As for Josephus, he was a Roman Jew who wrote a multi-volume history of the Jews for Roman consumption. It was extremely popular and was reprinted for centuries, right up into the Middle Ages. Later versions of his book have a reference to Jesus but more recently very early versions have been found that don't have this in them. So it's thought that it was added later by Christians. It's called the Testimonium Flavianum (Flavius was Josephus's Roman name).

Answer 3

It wasn't that long after the events took place. The books of the New Testament were written either by eye witnesses or people who knew and interviewed actual eye witnesses of the events written about.

Here is a link showing a compilation of when a whole bunch of different people think each book in the New Testament was written.

http://www.errantskeptics.org/DatingNT.htm

Answer 4

The first were written 60 years after his death, to about 140 years.

Yep, not a word from any but one who actually lived when he did. Sad, isn't it? You'd think for so important a guy, even then, more would have been written.

Answer 5

Hope this helps:

"At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and (he) was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that He was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders. (Flavius Josephus, born A.D. 37, Antiquities. xviii.33)

There are numerous other secular historians who recorded the events surrounding Jesus and the early church. The long list includes: Suetonius (A.D. 120), Plinius Secundus (A.D. 112), Tertullian (A.D. 197), Thallus (A.D. 52), along with numerous Jewish Talmuds that speak of Yeshu of Nazareth (the Jewish name for Jesus) who was hanged on the eve of Passover for leading Israel astray. It’s interesting to note that even the Jewish Talmuds, which were written by the enemies of Jesus, do not deny that Jesus performed signs and miracles, although they try to explain them away as demonic.

These independent accounts prove that in ancient times even the opponents of Christianity never doubted the historicity of Jesus, which was disputed for the first time and on inadequate grounds by several authors at the end of the 18th, during the 19th, and at the beginning of the 20th centuries. [Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th edition.]

Answer 6

The author of First John claims to be a first hand witness:

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ..
I John 1:1-3

So does the author of Second Peter:

"We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. or he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. '

II Peter 1:16-18

Luke claims to have interviewed eyewitnesses:

"Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."

Luke 1:1-4

As the author of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, he speaks of some of the events in the first person - affirming he was present and involved with the recorded events.

There are more examples that could be cited affirming firsthand testimony on the part of the author.

The "experts" who affirm otherwise are wet behind the ears - denying the plain testimony of the record itself in favor of "higher criticism".
An ugly combination of arrogance and unbelief.

Answer 7

Some were witnesses to Christ, thats why they said this is just not a story, they were actual witnesses.

Answer 8

450BC