The Jimmy Akin Podcast #050 When Were the Gospels Written? (featuring Adolf von Harnack and Bart Ehrman) - Jimmy Akin
Sep 9, 2025
Explore the fascinating timeline of Gospel writings, uncovering how even liberal scholars like Adolf von Harnack date Matthew, Mark, and Luke to just decades after Christ. Experience the harrowing shipwreck of Paul on his journey to Rome, complete with mutinies and storms. Delve into how key historical events, like the destruction of Jerusalem, shape our understanding of the Gospels. Discover the biases in academic circles regarding these sacred texts and the implications of Paul's final days as he navigates his way to appeal to Caesar.
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Common Scholarly Dating Overview
- Scholarly consensus dates Mark ~70, Matthew/Luke ~80s, John ~90s according to Bart Ehrman.
- Ehrman frames this as the mainstream view among critical university scholars, excluding conservative voices.
Adolf von Harnack's Scholarly Background
- Adolf von Harnack was a leading liberal Protestant scholar active 1851–1930 who influenced theological modernism.
- His 1899 lectures, What Is Christianity, became a liberal Protestant classic with wide impact.
Evidence Can Trump Ideology
- Von Harnack argued evidence can compel liberal scholars toward earlier Gospel dates.
- He used rigorous historical methods rather than ideological presuppositions to reach conclusions.
