Gospels Sources for the historicity of Jesus

p52, papyrus fragment codex (c. 90–160), 1 of earliest known new testament manuscripts.

the 4 canonical gospels, matthew, mark, luke, , john, main sources biography of jesus life, teachings , actions attributed him. 3 of these (matthew, mark, , luke) known synoptic gospels, greek σύν (syn ) , ὄψις (opsis view ), given display high degree of similarity in content, narrative arrangement, language , paragraph structure. presentation in fourth canonical gospel, i.e. john, differs these 3 in has more of thematic nature rather narrative format. scholars agree impossible find direct literary relationship between synoptic gospels , gospel of john.

the authors of new testament showed little interest in absolute chronology of jesus or in synchronizing episodes of life secular history of age. gospels written theological documents in context of christianity chronological timelines secondary consideration. 1 manifestation of gospels being theological documents rather historical chronicles devote 1 third of text 7 days, namely last week of life of jesus in jerusalem. although gospels not provide enough details satisfy demands of modern historians regarding exact dates, scholars have used them reconstruct number of portraits of jesus. however, stated in john 21:25 gospels not claim provide exhaustive list of events in life of jesus.

scholars have varying degrees of certainty historical reliability of accounts in gospels, , 2 events historicity subject of universal agreement among scholars baptism , crucifixion of jesus. scholars such e.p. sanders , separately craig a. evans go further , assume 2 other events in gospels historically certain, namely jesus called disciples, , caused controversy @ temple.

ever since augustinian hypothesis, scholars continue debate order in gospels written, , how may have influenced each other, , several hypothesis exist in regard, e.g. markan priority hypothesis holds gospel of mark written first c. 70 ce. in approach, matthew placed @ being sometime after date , luke thought have been written between 70 , 100 ce. however, according competing, , more popular, q source hypothesis, gospels not independently written, derived common source called q. two-source hypothesis proposes authors of matthew , luke drew on gospel of mark on q.

the gospels can seen having 3 separate lines: literary line looks @ textual perspective, secondly historical line observes how christianity started renewal movement within judaism , separated it, , theological line analyzes christian teachings. within historical perspective, gospels not used establish existence of jesus sources in own right alone, content compared , contrasted non-christian sources, , historical context, draw conclusions historicity of jesus.