The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are foundational texts for the Christian faith, documenting the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The question of whether the Bible has been changed over time is a common concern among skeptics and believers alike. In an age of increasing information and misinformation, understanding the integrity of the biblical texts is essential. Many critics argue that the Bible, especially the Gospels, has been altered, edited, or even fabricated to fit theological agendas. >[!Failure] False Theories >- [[Were The Gospels Anonymous]] > - [[Jesus Is A Copy Of Pagan Stories]] >- [[Were The Disciples Illiterate]] >- [[The Forgeries Of The New Testament]] However, a closer examination of the historical and textual evidence reveals a different story—one that reveals the reliability and preservation of the original words of the Gospel writers. # About The Gospels The Gospels fit the genre of ancient Greco-Roman biography, which aimed to record factual histories about individuals, rather than fictional stories. > [!NOTE]- Genre of the Gospels: > ![[Are The Gospels Historical Sources]] > [!question]- When Were The Gospels Written? > ![[The Dating Of The Synoptic Gospels]] # Who Wrote The Gospels? A modern myth is that the Gospels were [[Were The Gospels Anonymous|Anonymous]], and that we can not know who wrote them. However the Gospels have been validated and accepted as credible accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. --- ## **Short Answer, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!** --- ### Internal Evidence For Authorship > [!todo] Firsthand eyewitness accounts > #### The Writing Style Matches The Named Disciples > The internal writing have always supported the Matthew, Mark, Luke/Acts and John have been written by the named individuals. > > > [!abstract] See [[The Internal Evidence For The Gospels]] ### External Evidence #### Early Church Tradition > [!example] Early Church Evidence > > >This validation comes from early Church figures, who confirmed the authenticity of these Gospels and their conveyed message of salvation. In addition to the manuscript evidence, the writings of early church fathers provide a further testament to the reliability of the Gospels. Figures like Ignatius, Polycarp, and Irenaeus quoted extensively from the Gospels in their own writings, often within a few decades of their composition. These references not only affirm the existence of the Gospels but also indicate that they were recognized and accepted as authoritative texts in the early church. > >>[!info] See More: [[The Early Church On The Gospels]] #### The Gospels Trace Back To The Apostles Themselves > [!example] Apostolic Authorship Evidence > > There is evidence that the Gospels trace their origins directly to the apostles or their close associates though Papias and Polycarp. These two primary sources provide compelling evidence that traces the Gospels' origins directly back to the apostles, particularly the Apostle John. Papias of Hierapolis, writing in the early 2nd century, offers a direct link to the apostolic circle. His testimony, preserved by Eusebius, affirms the apostolic authorship of the Gospels of Matthew and John. Papias' account is further corroborated by Polycarp, a prominent early Christian bishop of Smyrna, who was a direct disciple of the Apostle John. Irenaeus, also highlights this connection. Both Papias and Polycarp's testimonies reinforce the authenticity of the Gospels as direct reflections of the apostles' teachings.The close association between the apostles and the authors of the Gospels lends strong credibility to the claim that these texts reflect the authentic teachings and events of Jesus' life. > >>[!info] See More: [[The Gospels Trace Back To The Apostles Themselves]] #### Authenticity through Embarrassing Details > [!caution] Criterion of Embarrassment > > The criterion of embarrassment suggests that details potentially uncomfortable or disadvantageous to the early Christian movement would be unlikely to be fabricated. The Gospels include instances such as Peter’s denial of Jesus, the disciples’ frequent misunderstandings, and the women as the first witnesses to the Resurrection—at a time when women’s testimonies were culturally undervalued. These accounts add credibility to the narrative, as it’s improbable that the Gospel authors would invent details that could undermine their message. Such inclusions point toward a commitment to historical accuracy over embellishment. > >> [!info] See More: [[Criterion Of Embarrassment]] #### The Disciples Accurately Remembered The Words Of Jesus Coming Soon Memory in Ancient Culture Reliable Oral Tradition Jesus Taught In Easy To Remember Sayings ### Historical Evidence >[!important] Manuscript Evidence > > > ## We Have The Original Authenticated Texts One of the strongest arguments for the authenticity of the Gospels lies in the sheer volume of manuscript evidence. Thousands of Greek manuscripts, along with translations in various languages, provide a robust framework for textual criticism. For instance, the New Testament boasts over 5,800 Greek manuscripts, with some dating back to within a century of the original writings. In comparison, other ancient texts, like those of Homer, survive in far fewer copies and with much later dates. > >>[!info] See More: [[How Many Manuscripts Do We Have Of The New Testament]] > >Textual critics have examined these manuscripts for variations, which are often minor and involve spelling, word order, or synonyms. Importantly, no substantial doctrinal changes arise from these variants. In fact, scholars like Bart Ehrman acknowledge that while there are differences among the manuscripts, "the vast majority of the changes are minor and do not affect the meaning of the text." > > >> [!tip]- Over 99% of the New Testament text remains faithful to the original words of the first Christians. > ![[The Variations Of The New Testament]] ### The Gospels Match Naming Patterns Of The Time > [!success] 1st-Century Name Statistics > > #### Historical Accuracy of Names in the New Testament > The names found in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels and Acts, closely align with name frequencies from 1st-century Palestine, strengthening their historical credibility. The most common male names, like Simon and Joseph, mirror the period’s naming conventions. Rare names also match in rarity, and Greek names are proportionately represented. This alignment indicates that the texts reflect true naming trends of the time. > >> [!info] See More: [[Jewish Names In 1st Century Palestine Match The New Testament Records]] ### Jesus Original Sayings Are Preserved > [!NOTE] Coming Soon- What Language Did Jesus Speak ### The 4 Gospels Match The Beliefs Of The First Christians > [!NOTE] Coming Soon-The Gospels Of The 1st Century ### Multiple Attestation Of The Gospels > [!NOTE] Coming Soon- The Single Narrative Of The Gospels > [!question] Undesigned Coincidences in the Gospels > > #### Subtle Agreements Supporting Gospel Reliability > In Christian apologetics, *Undesigned Coincidences* refer to subtle, incidental agreements between different accounts in the Gospels and other historical records, providing additional evidence for their authenticity. These coincidences occur when one Gospel describes a detail that another Gospel indirectly corroborates, showing a deeper narrative coherence across the texts. Examples include how Mark recounts Herod’s feast and the descriptions by Josephus align, suggesting common traditions within Herod’s family that are based in history. > > Additional examples, like matching place names, local customs, and tax records, further reveal these unplanned harmonies between Gospel accounts and historical sources. These subtle interconnections imply that Gospel authors drew from authentic events and oral traditions, rather than fabrication. > >> [!info] See More: [[Undesigned Coincidences Between The Gospels]] ---- ### Prophecy Validates The Gospels #### Ancient Prophecies Foretelling the Messiah > [!example] The Messiah Was Prophesied Before The New Testament Was Written! Many passages in the Hebrew Scriptures foretell the coming of a Savior, and the Gospels present Jesus as the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies. For example, Isaiah 53 speaks of a suffering servant who would bear the sins of many, a description that matches closely with Jesus' crucifixion (Isaiah 53:3-5, Matthew 27:27-31). Micah 5:2 predicts that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, a prophecy confirmed in the Nativity accounts of Matthew and Luke (Matthew 2:1-6, Luke 2:4-7). Additionally, prophecies like the promise of a descendant of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16) and the role of the Messiah as a king bringing peace (Zechariah 9:9) align with the portrayal of Jesus in the Gospels. These predictions, written centuries before the New Testament texts, offer compelling evidence that the coming of the Messiah was part of a divine plan, fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. > >> [!info] See More: [[Prophecies of the Messiah in the Old Testament]] #### Predictive Accuracy in the Gospels > [!danger] Jesus’ Prophecy of Jerusalem's Fall > > In the Gospels, Jesus is recorded predicting the destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred in 70 AD. Jesus foretold this event decades prior, describing specific details of the city’s downfall that would later be confirmed by historical accounts. For instance, in the Olivet Discourse, Jesus warns of a time when not “one stone will be left on another” regarding the Temple’s destruction, emphasizing both the city’s devastation and suffering for its inhabitants ([Mark 13:1-2](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MRK.13.1-2), [Matthew 24:1-2](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.24.1-2), [Luke 21:6](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/LUK.21.6)). > > First-century historians, including Josephus, later described how Roman forces under Titus besieged Jerusalem, leveled the Temple, and decimated the city, aligning with the prophecy Jesus gave. This remarkable fulfillment is seen by many as evidence of Jesus’ prophetic insight, highlighting both the reliability of the Gospels and their rootedness in real historical events. > >> [!info] See More: [[Jesus Predicted The Fall Of Jerusalem]] (Coming Soon)