How many writers from the NT actually knew Jesus? (see more)?

Question

I know that Mark and Luke did not know him. I also know that Paul only saw him in a vision.

So I think that leaves Matthew and John who actually knew him.

Any others?

PS, this is a serious question. I'm not attempting to make fun of anything.

Thanks in advance.

This is where I got my original information:

http://www.carm.org/evidence/gospels_written.htm

Answer 1

St. Peter, St. James, and possibly St. Jude if the "James" he calls himself the brother of is St. James, and he is using "brother" in its narrowest sense (which is by no means certain). The others were associates of the apostles.

As an aside, it is quite possible that St. Ignatius of Antioch knew or at least saw Jesus during his childhood. St. Ignatius ended up becoming a bishop, and wrote several very valuable letters to various churches during his ride to his execution. In them is a wealth of Christian doctrine, and the sainted bishop's association with St. John is clearly evident.

Answer 2

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John is considered to be written by people who weren't Jesus' disciples. John has more potential but it is debatable.

Peter is possibly written by someone associated with Paul and not Peter himself.

James is purported to be Jesus' brother but we don't know that for sure either.

Timothy and Titus are thought to be forgeries and not from Paul's hand.

Paul only knew Jesus from a vision.

Fact is, no one knows if any actual works from Jesus' followers are legitimate. You have to take it on faith.

Mark is thought to be the best and most accurate source.

Answer 3

From the Gospels, Matthew and John knew Him. Luke did not, but was a contemporary of the disciples and attained his knowledge from them. Likewise, Mark was close to Peter - but was also possibly a follower of Christ while Jesus still walked the earth.

Let's look at some of the writers of the epistles:
Paul - He DID know Jesus. He did not "only see him in a vision" - Jesus spoke to Him personally. His encounter with Jesus was as real as anyone's.

John and Peter - already mentioned above

James and Jude - brothers of Jesus

So, as you can see, much of the NT was written by those who knew Jesus personally; the rest was written by close companions of the disciples.

Answer 4

I always knew Paul never knew him. That's the main thing that stuck in my craw about the Christianity since Paul wrote such a large portion of the NT. I found out later Luke didn't know him either. Does that means half of the Gospels, the supposed first-hand account of Jesus, were written (attributed) by people who could not have had first-hand accounts of Jesus?

Here's another question: What if Paul wasn't being honest?

Answer 5

None of them knew Jesus. The NT was written after Jesus was crucified by the Romans.

Paul, who did the most to spread and develop Christianity, never met Jesus.

The Jews knew Jesus well, of course, which is why they knew he wasn't the messiah, because he did not fulfill any of the criteria specified in the Old Testament, which was written long before Jesus was born.

Mad, isn't it? The Jews knew Jesus, but Christians just insist they are wrong, or 'incomplete'.

Meanwhile, those that developed Christianity never even met Jesus, yet Christians trust their word more.

Answer 6

Haven't read any of the other answers, but what about Peter and James? And Mark MAY have known him. I heard somewhere that several scholars believe that Mark may have been related to Peter - a son or a nephew and that he lived with Peter's family. So if that is true then it's possible that Mark knew Christ, but was considered too young to be a disciple of Christ's. Remember that Jewish culture at the time said that only those who had facial hair could read from their scriptures, were taken seriously, and that generally meant that they were an adult. It could be that Mark just wasn't old enough prior to Christ's cruxifiction.

Answer 7

It is generally considered that none of the writers of the gospels knew Jesus. To those thinking that John did, it's a different John than the apostle. Luke was also a Gentile and therefore would not have known Jesus (and they lived at different times).

Answer 8

Matthew and John have been the two disciples of Jesus (Luke 6:13-sixteen). As for Mark and Luke, they have been passing alongside info of the story to a diverse purpose industry. The gospel in accordance to Mark replaced into meant for a especially Roman purpose industry. Mark replaced right into a youthful guy whose artwork interior the ministry replaced into in conjuction with the Apostle Paul, yet in all probability to no longer a large degree (Act 15:36-40; II Timothy 4:11). Luke replaced right into a Greek medical expert. He additionally wrote the e book of Acts, and except i'm flawed, the gospel in accordance to Luke and the e book of Acts have been initially one volume. yet i don't have self belief that he had very own understanding of the Lord Jesus, a minimum of, to no longer the quantity that Matthew and John did for the duration of the three-plus years that they travelled with Him and have been taught by employing Him on a on a regular basis foundation.

Answer 9

It is possible Mark knew him, there is speculation that Mark was refering to himself as the young man that ran off into the night in Mark 14.

James was the brother of Jesus, so he knew him. Peter knew him. Paul did not know him physically nor did Luke (who learned from Paul).

So unless I'm missing someone:

Matthew
Mark (possibly)
John
James
Peter

We don't know who the writer of "Hebrews" is--so, that would be hard to say.

The other books were written mostly by Paul.

Answer 10

One passage in Mark suggests a personal presence at the arrest of Jesus. Otherwise, there is no evidence of any contemporary account.

John was written far late for the author to be likely to have known Jesus.