don (03/29/83)
I would like to start a discussion of the history of
the writings in the New Testament. While I realize that
some feel the writers of these were faithfully transcribing
the words of another source (you know who), and others do
not (yes, myself included), I would like to stay away from
flames on this and try to focus on the historical aspects of
the writings.
To begin this discussion, I'll toss out what I've heard so
far. What follows is picked up from a variety of sources
over a long time and some of it may be incorrect. I plan to
do some detailed study on this subject beginning in a few
weeks, and I'll report on what I find out sometime in May.
Until then, just to get things going:
Many (possibly most) scholars believe that some of Paul's
letters are the oldest writings in the New Testament. It is
believed that Paul dictated to a scribe. The oldest Gospel
is that of Mark. Luke and Matthew were written shortly
after Mark and their main sources were Mark and a collection
of the saying of Jesus as sources. I think the oldest New
Testament texts that have been found are fragments of Mark
and of the collection of sayings. The Gospel of John was
written much later than the other three, probably around 150
C.E. As far as I know, early Christians did not use a
collected New Testament as such, as they believed in an
imminent return of Christ and did not need a formal
collection of their religious texts.
Additions, corrections to errors, and discussion welcomed.
Flames on "inspiration" (from either point of view) read
respectfully and ignored.
Don Winsor