i remember we were having a talk on here about when jesus was first wrote about and i said 150 years after his death and someone said he was wrote about while he was alive...well i did some research and found out we were both wrong......... The book of Mark was written in the 50s or early 60s, although some claim it was written as late as the 70s. Considering Jesus death was about A.D. 30, that would only make it 20 or 30 years after his death. Mark was most likely written by John Mark, Peters associate (Acts 10:37). The book of Matthew was written by the apostle Matthew who is mentioned in all the Gospels. His was written specifically for Jews, probably during the late 50s or 60s, although, again, it could have been as late as the 70s. Matthew was probably around the same age as Jesus, although we do not know for sure, so that would put him in his 50s or 60s as he is writing. The book of Luke was written latest, probably in the 60s or 70s. This Luke was a friend of Pauls, a doctor by profession, and probably a Gentile (non-Jew). His book was probably wirtten around the 60s. Paul wrote many letters which have been canonized, and these we have a more accurate idea of when they were written. The book of Romans, for example, was written in the spring of A.D. 57. At the beginning of Acts, when Stephen is stoned, we are told that Paul was a young man. When his books were written, then, he may have been only about 45 or 50 years old. As far as the virgin birth, it depends somewhat on the audience. Matthew points it out as a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy, because his message was directed to the Jews who knew the Old Testament. Mark skips over Jesus birth entirely. He was, however, writing to the Gentiles, who were very learned, intelligent people (think: predecesors of the ancient Greeks). He, therefore, emphasized Jesus humanity, and probably knew that starting a book by a virgin birth may have seemed too ridiculous to these Gentiles and they would have been turned off of it right away. Lukes Gospel was a universal Gospel, and he sent his message to everyone -- Jews & Gentiles, women & men, people of all ages. His purpose was to show people that the Gospel is for everyone. He definately talks about the virgin birth, and includes Marys Magnificat -- her song of thanks for the many blessings which God gave her -- probably to show people that God does bless men and women alike, and remind them that He gave this huge blessing to a poor, peasant woman.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 19:36:04 +0000