The Dating of the New Testament Books

Bob Harvey
Dr. Robert Harvey

Abersold's favorite columns in 'Words to Think About ...
Dr. G.W. Abersold, pastor emeritus

The other day I was looking through my old DVDs and CDs to see which one I would broadcast next. I came across a CD I labeled "Harvey Debates". I was hoping that it was the recorded files of my 2006 debate with Dr. Robert Harvey, Ph.D. Back in 2006 I only had a BA, the ink wasn't even dry on the diploma yet, so I was even more of a nobody then. It was a bit unfair, as I was teamed up with my friend Dr. Anthony Duk, MD, although the moderator, Dr. G.W. Abersold, was very biased in support of my opponent's side. This fact was clear during the debate itself. The debate was on the Da Vince Code. See references in Highland community news here, here, here, and here.

The audio files were featured on a once-popular Catholic audio site called Sonitus Sanctus. Highland Community News has apparently removed my published response to Dr. Harvey since then. I don't blame them. Poor guy knew quite a bit about biology and theology (his PhD) but very little of Biblical scholarship, apparently. However, I found the shorter published version in MS-WORD format here, if you're interested, and here is the full original version, too long to publish in the paper.

To prepare for that debate I delved deep into mostly Protestant Biblical scholarship to defend an earlier dating of the New Testament books. I made several trips to the Redlands University Library and listened to several conservative Biblical Scholars such as Biola's Dr. JP. Moreland, with whom I had a brief email exchange wishing me luck on my debate. I used some of his material in Scaling the Secular City. Robert Sungenis gave a great presentation on why liberal Biblical scholars wanted to push for a later dating of the NT books, because it fits the narrative of the liberals to say that most of what became standard orthodox Christian doctrine was really later accretions and developments. In fact, Jesus didn't even know He was God apparently until John depicted him as such when he wrote his Gospel, allegedly in the 90's AD. At that time, I wasn't working for Robert Sungenis, and so I only had access to his articles on his website and his DVD on Biblical Scholarship. I have since then put it up online here.

Another source I used was apparently from a liberal Protestant scriptural scholar, an Anglican I believe, JAT Robinson. So, back to the present. One of my friends is a Catholic seminarian. Another is taking a Biblical course at Cal Baptist, and of course, my other friends have studied this issue peripherally over the years. All have heard or currently believe that Mark was the first Gospel to be written. Catholic Tradition has always had Matthew as the first book to be written. JAT Robinson seems to support this, at least he allows for an earlier dating of Matthew compared to the other Gospels. His dating scheme can be found here and below.

J.A.T. ROBINSON'S REDATED NEW TESTAMENT CHRONOLOGY

James - c. 47-8.
1 Thessalonians - early 50.
2 Thessalonians - 50-1.
1 Corinthians - spring 55.
John A T Robinson
JAT Robinson
1 Timothy - autumn 55.
2 Corinthians - early 56.
Galatians - later 56.
Romans - early 57.
Titus - late spring 57.
Philippians - spring 58.
Philemon - summer 58.
Colossians - summer 58.
Ephesians - late summer 58.
2 Timothy - autumn 58.
The Didache - c. 40-60 (non-canonical).
Mark - c. 45-60.
Matthew - c. 40-60+
Luke - 57-60+
Jude - 61-2.
2 Peter - 61-2.
Acts - 57-62+
1 John - c. 60-65.
2 John - c. 60-65.
3 John - c. 60-65.
1 Peter - spring 65.
John - c. 40-65+
Hebrews - c. 67.
Revelation - mid to late 60s.
1 Clement - early 70 (non-canonical).
Barnabas - c. 75 (non-canonical).
The Shepherd of Hermas -c. 85 (non-canonical).

Tonight, I also logged onto a broadcast of former apologist, and former professor of New Testament, theology, and philosophy, Gerry Matatics. I asked him about his thoughts on the dating of the New Testament books. His response can be found here or embedded below @ 19:30, or thereabouts. He holds to the traditional Catholic view that the Gospel of Matthew was the first to be written.

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