Matthew is traditionally believed to have written his Gospel around 70-80 AD.
If you want a detailed answer, read below
Matthew is traditionally believed to have written his Gospel around 70-80 AD. This dating is based on historical and textual evidence, as well as the consensus among scholars. The specific date of authorship for Matthew’s Gospel is a topic of ongoing debate, but the general consensus places it within the first century.
One interesting fact about the dating of Matthew’s Gospel is that scholars often refer to it as written within “the post-war period” since it was composed after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD. This historical event had significant implications for the Jewish people and the early Christian community, which is reflected in Matthew’s Gospel.
To provide some additional context, here is a quote from renowned New Testament scholar Craig S. Keener on the dating of Matthew’s Gospel: “The marked emphasis on the devastation of Jerusalem in Matthew 24:15-28 and 27:51-53, in contrast with the largely unfulfilled eschatological expectations of Acts 1:6-8 (cf. Luke 21:5-35), confirms that Matthew’s Gospel probably postdates 70 C.E., which the information and tone suggest may have been at some distance in the author’s past.”
Additionally, here are some interesting facts about Matthew’s Gospel:
- Matthew’s Gospel is one of the four canonical Gospels in the New Testament, alongside Mark, Luke, and John.
- Traditionally, the author of Matthew’s Gospel is identified as Matthew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus.
- Matthew’s Gospel is often referred to as the “Gospel of the Kingdom” due to its emphasis on Jesus’ teachings about the kingdom of heaven.
- It is widely believed that Matthew’s Gospel was originally written in Greek, although some scholars suggest that an earlier version in Aramaic may have existed.
- The structure of Matthew’s Gospel is organized thematically, highlighting five major discourses of Jesus, commonly known as the “Five Discourses of Matthew.”
- Matthew’s Gospel includes various unique accounts and teachings not found in the other Gospels, such as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and the Parables of the Kingdom (Matthew 13).
- The Gospel of Matthew has had a profound influence on Christian theology, shaping key doctrines such as the divinity of Jesus, his messianic identity, and the teachings on discipleship and the church.
Table:
| Name | Gospel of Matthew |
|---|---|
| Author | Matthew |
| Date | 70-80 AD |
| Language | Greek |
| Key Themes | Kingdom of Heaven, Five Discourses, Teachings of Jesus |
| Influence | Significant impact on Christian theology and doctrine |
See the answer to your question in this video
The 1-paragraph summary discusses three objections to the traditional authorship of Matthew’s Gospel, as presented by Bart Ehrman, and counters them. The first objection is that Matthew refers to himself in the third person, but Augustine argues that ancient writers often used such constructions. The second objection is that Matthew was likely illiterate, but evidence suggests he had the necessary skills. The third objection is why Matthew would use Mark’s Gospel if he was an apostle, but ancient biographies often utilized testimonies of others. The presenter argues that these objections are not strong enough to doubt Matthew’s authorship. Additionally, the presenter addresses the argument that Matthew’s limited presence in his Gospel does not diminish his authorship, as other disciples also had limited presence in their respective Gospels and were not witnesses to everything that happened in Jesus’ life. The presenter suggests further addressing the claim that Mark makes historical errors in a future discussion.
See additional response choices
About 15 years after Mark, in about the year 85 CE, the author known as Matthew composed his work, drawing on a variety of sources, including Mark and from a collection of sayings that scholars later called "Q", for Quelle, meaning source. The Gospel of Luke was written about fifteen years later, between 85 and 95.
Matthew’s Gospel was traditionally attributed to St. Matthew the Evangelist, one of the 12 Apostles. However, most modern scholars hold that it was written anonymously in the last quarter of the first century by a male Jew who stood on the margin between traditional and nontraditional Jewish values and who was familiar with technical legal aspects of scripture being debated in his time. It is generally accepted that Matthew composed his Gospel in or around Antioch of Syria in the 50s.
It has traditionally been attributed to St. Matthew the Evangelist, one of the 12 Apostles, described in the text as a tax collector (10:3). The Gospel According to Matthew was composed in Greek, probably sometime after 70 ce, with evident dependence on the earlier Gospel According to Mark.
Most modern scholars hold that it was written anonymously in the last quarter of the first century by a male Jew who stood on the margin between traditional and nontraditional Jewish values and who was familiar with technical legal aspects of scripture being debated in his time.
It is certainly reasonable to accept that Matthew was written in the 50s due to the reasonable assumption that Acts was finished before AD 64, with Luke coming before Acts, and Matthew writing his Gospel before Luke’s. Scholars generally hold that Matthew composed his Gospel in or around Antioch of Syria.
Facts on the subject
I am sure you will be interested in this
While there is disagreement about where Mark wrote, there is a consensus about when he wrote: he probably composed his work in or about the year 70 CE, after the failure of the First Jewish Revolt and the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple at the hands of the Romans. That destruction shapes how Mark tells his story.