Lesson 3: Who wrote the Books of the Bible?
NT: The Gospels
After the close of the OT there is a 400-year silence. No prophecies are uttered, and a people recovering from the heartbreaks of war, invasion, and captivity are putting their lives back together. Yet life is not idyllic, since one oppressor is replaced with another, and the call for the arrival of the Messiah becomes louder and louder.
At the end of that 400-year silence we learn about the appearance of a man, Jesus of Nazareth, who is believed to be the long awaited Messiah. The Messiah of the OT was the agent through which mankind would be re-created and again have access to God. Jesus taught for a short period of time, and was then killed on a request of the Jewish religious authorities to the governing body of the Roman Empire. He died by crucifixion, yet rose again from the dead. Appearing to His frightened and scattered disciples, He gave them the proof they needed of His Messiahship and sent them out into the world, commanding them to carry the story of His mission and His work to all nations of the earth. The disciples followed His orders and preached the message throughout Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome. The NT closes with a warning to stay faithful in light of the Messiah’s final return to earth someday.
The Gospels (5)
The Gospel of Matthew is attributed to Matthew, the apostle, a Jew from Capernaum. He was a wealthy man because of his profession as a tax collector. The book itself was probably written sometime between 55 AD and 75 AD.
The Gospel of Mark is attributed to John Mark, who is known as an evangelist. He is thought to have had a close relationship with the apostle Peter. The book itself was probably written before 70 AD, and possibly before the books of Matthew or Luke were composed.
The Gospel of Luke is attributed to Luke, the evangelist and doctor from Antioch. A fellow traveler of Paul, he also penned the book of Acts. The Gospel of Luke was written quite possibly before 60 AD.
The Gospel of John is attributed to John, the apostle. He was considered closest to Jesus, as he is referred to as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.“ He was a fisherman by profession. The book itself was written between 85 AD and 90 AD.
The gospels all retell the story of Jesus of Nazareth, emphasizing alternately Jesus, in His role as Messiah, as a son of man, as the son of God, and as God in the flesh.
