Dr. Jay Forrest

The four gospels of the New Testament were originally written anonymously. They were only later given the names: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Scholars do not believe that these are eyewitness accounts. And the gospel of Thomas, which is not included in the New Testament, maybe the oldest of all of them (60 CE). The first time we have a list of the four gospels is in the Muratorian Canon that was written in the late 2nd century (154-199 CE). The earliest fragments exist from about the middle of the second century. So the gospels must have been written before then.  Most scholars date the gospels from the end of the first century. But this is based upon the presupposition that they are historical biographies. As the search for the historical Jesus demonstrates, they are not historical biographies. They are either elaborations of a historical Jesus or a allegorical myth. Now if we lay aside the presupposition that they are historical biographies, a more reasonable dating puts th

This is the oldest creed of Christianity. It is recorded in the first epistle of Paul to the Corinthians. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the [Jewish] scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the [Jewish] scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brothers at once; of whom the greater part remain to this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

Chapter 17. Philo's Account of the Ascetics of Egypt. 1. It is also said that Philo in the reign of Claudius became acquainted at Rome with Peter, who was then preaching there. Nor is this indeed improbable, for the work of which we have spoken, and which was composed by him some years later, clearly contains those rules of the Church which are even to this day observed among us. 2. And since he describes as accurately as possible the life of our ascetics, it is clear that he not only knew, but that he also approved, while he venerated and extolled, the apostolic men of his time, who were as it seems of the Hebrew race, and hence observed, after the manner of the Jews, the most of the customs of the ancients. 3. In the work to which he gave the title, On a Contemplative Life or on Suppliants , after affirming in the first place that he will add to those things which he is about to relate nothing contrary to truth or of his own invention, he says that these men were called