The Humble Skeptic Is John's Gospel Late & Unreliable?
Many scholars over the past century have claimed that John’s Gospel is the least historically reliable since it was written in the late first century. Essentially, they’ve argued that this text tells us more about the beliefs of the church in that period than it does about the historical Jesus. On this episode, Shane talks with New Testament scholar Daniel Wallace about evidence that points to a much earlier date, along with other matters related to the historical reliability and faithful transmission of the Fourth Gospel.
John 5:2 “There is in Jerusalem…”Are we beginning to see a paradigm shift taking place related to the dating of the Fourth Gospel? In his 2019 book, Jesus Mirrored in John, Princeton scholar James Charlesworth writes:
John is not a late composition…I am convinced that the earliest edition of John—the first edition—may antedate 70 CE. Why? It is because the author knew Jerusalem intimately, providing many architectural details which only thirty years ago we imagined were literary inventions…All the reasons that require a late date for the Gospel of John (sometime after 90 CE) have vanished. There is no longer a consensus regarding the date of John…Is it possible, then, to observe a paradigm shift…? Yes.
To see an exhaustive list of scholars who have argued for an early date for John’s Gospel from Johann Bengel to George van Kooten, click below. The quotes presented primarily interact with John’s present tense language in John 5:2, and I also feature comments from a variety of scholars who remain unconvinced.
SHOW NOTES
Recommended BooksRevisiting the Corruption of the New Testament, Daniel WallaceRedating the New Testament, John A.T. RobinsonThe Priority of John, John A.T. RobinsonRethinking the Dates of the New Testament, Jonathan BernierRedating Matthew, Mark & Luke, John WenhamNICNT Commentary on The Gospel of John (1995), Leon MorrisConcordia Commentary: John 1:1-7:1, William WeinrichCan We Trust The Gospels? Peter J. WilliamsThe Testimony of the Beloved Disciple, Richard BauckhamJesus & The Eyewitnesses, Richard BauckhamGreek Grammar Beyond the Basics, Daniel Wallace
Recommended ArticlesJohn 5:2 & The Date of The Fourth Gospel, Daniel WallaceJohn 5:2 (Part 2) & John 5:2 (Part 3), Daniel WallaceThe Gospel of John: An Introduction, Daniel WallaceThe Authenticity & Genuineness of the Fourth Gospel, J.B. LightfootThe Four Gospels as Authentic Testimony, Richard BauckhamWater Into Wine? Shane RosenthalAuthenticating The Fourth Gospel, Shane RosenthalThe Identity of the Beloved Disciple, Shane RosenthalJoanna: Luke’s Key Witness? Shane RosenthalJohn 5:2 “There is in Jerusalem…”, Shane RosenthalA Paradigm Shift on the Date of John’s Gospel? Shane Rosenthal
Other Related ResourcesHas the Bible Been Miscopied or Mistranslated? Daniel Wallace, WHI #1377The Gospels As Eyewitness Testimony, Humble Skeptic #48 with Richard BauckhamQuestioning The Fourth Gospel, Humble Skeptic #49 with Richard Bauckham Which John Wrote John? Humble Skeptic #50 Stories of Jesus: Can They Be Trusted? Humble Skeptic #61 with Peter J. WilliamsSimply Genius, Humble Skeptic #62 with Peter J. WilliamsThe Jesus of History, with John Dickson Humble Skeptic #12New Evidence for the Gospels, Peter J. Williams (video)Are the Gospels Reliable? Peter J. Williams & Bart Ehrman (video)
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