The Gospel of Matthew was likely written between about 50-90 C.E., with some variation in scholarly opinion.
- The traditional view, supported by early Church figures like Irenaeus and Papias, holds that Matthew, a direct disciple of Jesus, wrote the Gospel relatively early, around 50-60 C.E., before the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 C.E.
- Most modern critical scholars, however, place the composition of Matthew's Gospel later, between 80-90 C.E., because the Gospel appears to use the Gospel of Mark as a source, which is itself usually dated shortly after 70 C.E. This and other literary evidence suggest a date after 70 C.E.
- Some scholars still argue for an earlier date (40s-50s C.E.), but the consensus tends toward the last quarter of the first century.
In summary, the writing date of Matthew is debated, but the main scholarly consensus is that it was written sometime between 80 and 90 C.E., while traditional views support an earlier date around 50-60 C.E.
