Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament: The Evidence for Early Composition

by Jonathan Bernier

Publisher:

Baker Academic

, 2022

Overview

This paradigm-shifting study is the first book-length investigation into the compositional dates of the New Testament to be published in over 40 years. It argues that, with the notable exception of the undisputed Pauline Epistles, most New Testament texts were composed 20 to 30 years earlier than is typically supposed by contemporary biblical scholars. What emerges is a revised view of how quickly early Christians produced what became the seminal texts for their new movement.

Key Features

• Presents a study that challenges what has been believed about the NT in Christian circles
• Explores the existing evidence for the early composition of NT texts
• Argues that most New Testament texts were composed 20 to 30 years earlier than they are thought to be

Contents

Top Highlights

“This study asks when each of the twenty-seven books that are now collected in the corpus known as the New Testament were written. It will additionally ask when four extracanonical texts (1 Clement, Didache, Epistle of Barnabas, and Shepherd of Hermas) were written. It will conclude that, with the notable exception of the undisputed Pauline Epistles, the majority of the texts that were eventually incorporated into the New Testament corpus were likely written twenty to thirty years earlier than is typically supposed by contemporary biblical scholars.” (Page 1)

“In my understanding, historical method consists of three fundamental steps: identify and define the research question, generate hypotheses that might answer the question, and adjudicate between competing hypotheses in order to determine the best answer.” (Pages 17–18)

“This chapter argues that Mark’s Gospel was written no earlier than 42 and no later than 45; Matthew’s, no earlier than 45 and no later than 59; Luke’s, ca. 59; and the Act of the Apostles, ca. 62.” (Page 69)

“The central question is when the texts later collected into the Christian New Testament were composed. The answer is primarily between the years 40 and 70 of the first century.” (Page 32)

“Robinson’s Redating the New Testament is a failure to explicitly address the matter of method.” (Page 15)

Endorsements

As anyone who has studied New Testament chronology knows, the dates frequently presented to unsuspecting undergraduates as settled 'facts' are often anything but. In Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament, Jonathan Bernier presents a synthetic, comprehensive, and rigorously reasoned case for earlier composition. This book is a major contribution to the study of Christian origins. It not only needs to be read; it needs to be reckoned with.

Brant Pitre, distinguished research professor of Scripture, Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology

In this carefully argued study, New Testament scholar Jonathan Bernier addresses the deceptively simple but exceedingly complex question of when the texts included in the New Testament--as well as 1 Clement, the Didache, the Epistle of Barnabas, and the Shepherd of Hermas--were written. Most scholars routinely accept what has become the majority view regarding these dates without themselves engaging the multiple problems that lurk below the surface. Here we find, for the first time in fifty years, a full monograph dedicated to offering the reader a synthetic treatment of the issues involved. Regardless of whether one accepts Bernier's conclusions, this book is the new must-read volume for anyone who wants to examine the dates of these ancient compositions.

Anders Runesson, professor of New Testament, University of Oslo

Chronology provides us with a window into the history of the earliest followers of Jesus and can help to establish an important piece of the contexts in which the books of the New Testament were written. In this rigorous yet accessible book, Jonathan Bernier presents a compelling case for relatively early dates for the New Testament texts. Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament provides readable, fair, and concise presentations of the central questions, passages, arguments, and debates pertaining to the chronology of the composition of each book of the New Testament. This makes it a fantastic introduction to a key scholarly issue. At the same time, Bernier's arguments are methodologically grounded and careful, resulting in evidence-based conclusions that are reasonable and responsible. The book is engaging and clear, making it a good resource for students, but it is also the sort of historically and logically rigorous work that will make it a must-read for anyone interested in historical approaches to the New Testament or early Christianity.

Jordan J. Ryan, assistant professor of New Testament, Wheaton College

Product Details

• Title: Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament: The Evidence for Early Composition
• Author: Jonathan Bernier
• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Print Publication Date: 2022
• Logos Release Date: 2022
• Pages: 318
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Bible. N.T. › Authorship--Date of authorship; Manuscript dating
• ISBNs: 9781493434695, 9781540961808, 9781540965264, 9781493434671, 9781493434688, 154096180X, 1540965260, 1493434675, 1493434683, 1493434691
• Resource ID: LLS:RTHNKNGDTCMPSTN
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-12-16T18:04:48Z

About Jonathan Bernier

Jonathan Bernier (PhD, McMaster University) is assistant professor of New Testament at Regis College, University of Toronto, in Toronto, Ontario, where he also serves as executive director of the Lonergan Research Institute. He has written several books, including The Quest for the Historical Jesus after the Demise of Authenticity.