Dating the New Testament

The New Testament is a collection of 27 documents written over a period of about fifty years. Knowing when each document was written, by whom, and to whom is essential for reading them historically. This page lays out the dating and provenance of each document.

The Undisputed Pauline Letters (AD 48–62)

Seven Letters Accepted by Nearly All Scholars

1 Thessaloniansc. 50 AD. Written from Corinth.

Galatiansc. 48–55 AD. Place of writing disputed.

1 Corinthiansc. 53–54 AD. Written from Ephesus.

2 Corinthiansc. 55–56 AD. Written from Macedonia.

Romansc. 57 AD. Written from Corinth.

Philippiansc. 60–62 AD. Written from prison, probably Rome.

Philemonc. 60–62 AD. Written from prison.

The Disputed Pauline Letters (AD 60–100)

Letters Attributed to Paul but Disputed

Ephesiansc. 60–90 AD. Many scholars regard it as written by a follower of Paul.

Colossiansc. 60–90 AD. Disputed but often accepted as Pauline.

2 Thessaloniansc. 51–100 AD. Disputed.

1–2 Timothy, Titusc. 80–100 AD. Most scholars regard the Pastorals as written by a later follower of Paul.

The Gospels (AD 65–100)

Four Accounts

Markc. 65–70 AD. Written for a Roman audience.

Matthewc. 80–90 AD. Written for a Jewish-Christian audience.

Lukec. 80–90 AD. Written for a Gentile audience.

Johnc. 90–100 AD. Written last, more theological.

The Other Documents

Acts, General Epistles, Revelation

Actsc. 80–90 AD. By the author of Luke.

Hebrewsc. 60–90 AD. Author unknown.

Jamesc. 45–60 AD. Traditionally by James the Just.

1 Peterc. 60–64 AD. Traditionally by Peter, written via Silvanus.

2 Peterc. 65–90 AD. Disputed.

1–3 Johnc. 90–100 AD. By the author of the Fourth Gospel (or the same community).

Judec. 60–90 AD. Author disputed.

Revelationc. 90–96 AD. Traditionally by John, from Patmos.

The Earliest Christian Creed

The earliest datable Christian text is not a New Testament document. It is the creed Paul quotes in 1 Corinthians 15:3–7. Most scholars, including sceptics, date this creed to AD 31–36 — within three to five years of the crucifixion. Gary Habermas has catalogued more than 1,400 scholarly publications affirming this early dating.

Why Dating Matters

The dating of the New Testament is central to the historical case for Christianity. If the Gospels were written centuries later, the argument for legend would be strong. If they were written within the lifetime of the eyewitnesses, the argument is much weaker. The dates presented here are the consensus of critical scholarship — not the earliest dates that could be defended, but the middle-of-the-road dates that most scholars accept.

See the Historical Reliability page for the method, and the Reading Guide for how to read the documents once you know their dates.