The Eyewitness Evidence: Can the Biographies of Jesus Be Trusted?
Interview #1: Dr. Craig Blomberg
- The book of Matthew was written by the tax collector and disciple Matthew (also knowns as Levi), the book of Mark was written by John Mark, a companion of Peter, and the books of Luke and Acts were written by Luke, the “beloved physician” of Paul.
- The gospel of John is the only book where authorship has any dispute.
- The apostle John is widely believed to be the author, however, there may have been somebody else involved who helped John with stylistic editing.
- All gospels are based on eyewitness accounts.
More Evidence of Authorship
Ancient Biographies
- Ancient biographies were not written in the same literary style as modern biographies.
- The only purpose ancients saw to record history was because there were some lessons to be learned from the characters described. Only the important moments by this standard were recorded.
- The theological reason for not including more detail about Jesus’ life in the gospels is that all of his teachings and miracles were meaningless if it were not historically factual that Christ died and was raised from the dead and that this provided atonement for the sins of humanity. His death and resurrection is the most important narrative and thus receives the most attention by the gospel writers.
The Unique Perspective of John
- The first three gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the synoptics, which means “to view at the same time,” because of their similar outline and interrelationship.
- John includes many different stories of Jesus’ ministry.
- John uses a very different linguistic style and terminology.
Son of Man
- Jesus often refers to himself as the “Son of Man” in the synoptics. This title does not primarily refer to Jesus’ humanity. Instead it is a direct allusion to Daniel 7:13-14.
- “Son of Man” is a title given to someone who approaches God himself in his heavenly throne room and is given universal authority and dominion. It is a title of great exaltation.
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13-14
Theological Emphasis
- Matthew emphasizes the relationship between Christianity and Judaism.
- Mark portrays Jesus as the suffering servant.
- Luke is the theologian of the poor and of social concern.
- John highlights the divinity of Christ and makes clear the claim that Jesus is God.
Were the Gospels Written Too Late?
- Mark was written in the 70s, Matthew and Luke in the 80s, and John in the 90s.
- These are all still within the lifetimes of various eyewitnesses of the life of Jesus, including hostile eyewitnesses who would have served as a corrective if false teaching about Jesus were going around.
- There’s good evidence from the book of Acts that Mark was written even earlier. Perhaps as early as the late 50s.
- The two earliest biographies of Alexander the Great were written by Arrian and Plutarch more than 400 years after Alexander’s death in 323 BC, yet historians consider them to be generally trustworthy.
- The gap between the events of Jesus’ life and the writings of the gospels is negligible by historical standards.
The Earliest Manuscripts
- The New Testament books are not in chronological order.
- The gospels were written after almost all the letters of Paul, whose writing ministry probably began in the late 40s.
- Paul incorporated some creeds, confessions of faith, or hymns from the earliest Christian church. These go way back to the dawning of the church soon after the Resurrection.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
1 Corinthians 15