We need to start by exploring the reliability of the NT documents. If they are reliable, we can use them for our study although of course we will keep in mind possible biases that might be present (descriptions of miracles etc.). The NT documents were written either by eyewitnesses of Jesus' life and death, or by people who were in direct contact with eyewitnesses. All of the documents of the NT were finished within one generation of the life of Jesus. Jesus died in 32 C.E. (A.D. 32).
*table adapted from The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell, 1999, Thomas Nelson Publishers, page 52. While the dating of when the manuscripts were written is obviously approximate, the consensus of scholars is that the manuscripts were written within a generation following the death of Jesus. Many people who had direct knowlege of the described events were alive, and could have presumably challenged anything written. Furthermore, the writings were widely disseminated as we'll see on the next page ... |
||||||||||||||||||
