The four canonical Gospels were most likely written as follows:
- The Gospel of Mark was probably written around AD 66 to 70, shortly after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple.
- The Gospels of Matthew and Luke were likely composed a bit later, around AD 75 to 90.
- The Gospel of John was probably written last, around AD 90 to 100.
These dates are based on scholarly consensus and the theory of Marcan priority, which sees Mark as the earliest Gospel that influenced Matthew and Luke. Most scholars agree that all four Gospels were written within the first century and likely within the lifetimes of eyewitnesses to Jesus's life, though none are thought to have been written by direct eyewitnesses themselves. Some traditions and early church leaders suggest Matthew may have originally written his Gospel as early as AD 40-55 in Aramaic, but the Greek version dates likely fall later as noted. The Gospels were composed not as biographies but as evangelistic narratives for early Christian communities spreading through the Roman Empire.
In summary:
Gospel| Approximate Date Written
---|---
Mark| 66-70 AD
Matthew| 75-90 AD
Luke| 80-90 AD
John| 90-100 AD
These dates reflect the scholarly consensus based on historical, linguistic, and textual evidence.
