Catholic Bible Study Lectio The Case for Jesus: Were the Gospels Anonymous?
12 snips
May 30, 2024 
Dr. Brant Pitre discusses the credibility of the Gospels, challenges the idea of anonymous authorship, and delves into the evidence supporting traditional authorship. He explores the unique companionships between biblical figures, defends John as the writer of the fourth Gospel, and hints at a deeper investigation into acceptance of other Gospels.
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Anonymous Gospels Theory
- The theory that the Gospels were originally anonymous and falsely attributed to authors arose in the last 100 years.
- This theory suggests titles like Matthew or John were added later to give the Gospels authority.
Telephone Game Analogy Anecdote
- Dr. Brant Pitre recalls being taught as an undergraduate that the Gospels were anonymous and not eyewitness writings.
- His professor used the telephone game analogy to illustrate how Gospel stories might have changed over time.
Manuscript Evidence Against Anonymity
- No known ancient manuscripts of the Gospels exist without titles attributing authorship.
- This absence of anonymous copies contradicts the anonymous Gospel theory and supports traditional authorship.