We have all heard the theories expounded by the Da Vinci Code and the condidenta and well published, “New Atheists”. Stated simply, they believe that the gospels were written and “fleshed out” 300 years after the fact. Some even question whether or not Jesus actually existed.
Such thinking clearly flies in the face of facts, archeology, and credible peer reviewed studies . There is abundant evidence available that traces authorship to the gospels to as early as 50 AD. That would be just seventeen years after the events described took place. It is interesting to compare other books form antiquity with the Bible. No other book is as well supported by early authorship and physical fragments that date close to that early authorship.
There are 5700 New Testament Greek Manuscripts or fragments of the New Testament that date to within 200 years AD. For Homer’s Iliad, the ancient book that comes in second to the Bible for historical support, there are only 643. No ancient book has the support the New Testament has. The Gospels have more fragments that can be dated closer to the events described than any other ancient book or work.
The earliest (closest to the life of Christ) undisputed manuscript of a New Testament book is the John Ryland Papyri (P52, dated A.D 117-138), which survives from within about a generation of the time most scholars believe it was composed (A.D 95). Since it was written in Asia Minor and was found in Egypt, the demand for some circulation time (time for the fragment and message to travel form the point of origin) would place the composition of John in the first century. It is interesting that none of the “New Atheists” mentions the John Ryland Papyri in any of thier books. This despite the credibility and science that surrounds it and it’s dating.
Whole New Testament books (e.g., the Bodmer Papyri) are available form A.D. 200, and most of the New Testament, including the Gospels, are available in the Chester Beatty Papyri form 150 years after the New Testament was finished. This is important. The interval between the dates of the original composition and the earliest physically evidence is very small. The time gaps between the events being recorded, the date of authorship, and the early physical books and fragments are very small especially when compared to the other books of antiquity. Let’s compare the New Testament to some toher heavy weights form antiquity.
No other book form the ancient world has as small a time gap, between composition and the earliest manuscript copies, as the New Testament. Yet the very same voices that hold up the authorship and content of Plato’s work as fact question the validity of the Bible. Yet only seven fragments exist form Plato and they date form 1300 years after Plato supposedly wrote them. That is a 1300 year gap between the events described and the earliest physical copies. Yet nobody ever questions the historical accuracy of Plato’s writing or if Plato even wrote what is attributed to him. Has any scholar ever questioned Plato’s historical existence?
What about the “Gallic Wars” written by Caesar. Surely with such a notable author and such a famous and studied work we would have numerous copes dated closely to the “wars” described. Nope. The earliest copies on hand were written 1000 years after the wars in question. And we only have ten of those.
The abundance of early manuscripts, the narrow length of time between the written and the earliest manuscripts, make the New Testament the most well proven book of the ancient world. In short, the evidence makes the idea that the New Testament was “made up three hundred years after the fact”, laughable. In terms of early evidence, the New Testament is the Champion of ancient books.
Keith Deltano uses interactive Christian comedy to address many challenging topics. He is also one of the Nations most requested youth speakers . He uses comedy to mantain a unique bond with his audience, teen or old.