Did you know that the "Early Church" did not have what we know
today as the "New Testament" Books?
According to the Open Bible, the consensus is that the crucifixion took place
in the range of 30-36 A.D. A frequently suggested date is A.D. 33. Now
take a look at when the New Testament Books were written. We will use
the year 33 A.D. for calculating the number of years between the crucifixion
and the New Testament Books.
The Gospel according to Matthew – Likely time frame for this book is A.D.
58-68. This is many years after the crucifixion. This Gospel appeared 25-35
years after the crucifixion.
The Gospel according to Mark - Probable range of this book is A.D. 55-65.
This Gospel appeared 22- 32 years after the crucifixion.
The Gospel according to Luke - Luke was not an eyewitness of the events in
his gospel, buy relied on the testimony of eyewitnesses and written sources.
it is believed to have been written in the early A.D. 60's. This Gospel
appeared 27-37 years after the crucifixion.
The Gospel according to John - Probable range for this work is A.D. 60-90.
This Gospel appeared 27-57 years after the crucifixion.
The Book of Acts - Suggested dates for the writing of Acts range from A.D.
62 to the middle of the second century. Twentieth century archaeological
discoveries have strikingly confirmed the trustworthiness and precision of
Luke as a historian and show that his work should be dated in the first
century. This book appeared 29-117 years after the crucifixion.
Epistle to the Romans - Paul did not found the church at Rome, and the
tradition that Peter was its founder is contrary to the evidence.
Paul wrote Romans in A.D. 57, near the end of his third missionary journey.
This Epistle appeared about 24 years after the crucifixion.
First Epistle to the Corinthians - Paul was planning to leave Ephesus (16:58), indicating that First Corinthians was written in A.D. 56. This Epistle
appeared about 22 years after the crucifixion.
Second Epistle to the Corinthians - There in Macedonia Paul wrote Second
Corinthians and sent it with Titus and another brother (8:16-24). This took
place in A.D. 56. This Epistle appeared about 22 years after the crucifixion.
Epistle to the Ephesians- Paul wrote the "Prison Epistles" (Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon) during his first Roman imprisonment
in A.D. 60-62. This Epistle appeared about 27-29 years after the crucifixion.
First Epistle to the Thessalonians - After Silas and Timothy met Paul in
Athens (3:1,2) he sent Timothy to Thessalonica (Silas also went back to
Macedonia, probably Philippi), and his assistants later joined him in Corinth
(Acts 18:5; cf. 1 Thess. 1:1 where Silas is called Silvanus). There he wrote
this epistle in A.D. 51 as his response to Timothy's good report. This Epistle
appeared about 18 years after the crucifixion.
Second Epistle to the Thessalonians – This Epistle is believed to have It is
believed that this Epistle was written a few months after the first epistle to
the Thessalonians in A.D. 51. This Epistle appeared about 18 years after the
crucifixion.
First Epistle to Timothy - Paul wrote 1st Timothy from Macedonia in A.D.
62 or 63 while Timothy was serving as his representative in Ephesus and
perhaps in other churches in the province of Asia. This Epistle appeared
about 29-30 years after the crucifixion.
Second Epistle to Timothy – This Epistle was written by Paul from prison,
in the fall of A.D. 67. It was the cruel and unbalanced Nero, emperor of
Rome from A.D. 54 to 68 who was responsible for the beginning of the
Roman persecution of Christians. This book appeared about 34 years after
the crucifixion.
Epistle to Titus – is believed to have been written by Paul A.D. 63. This
Epistle appeared about 30 years after the crucifixion.
Epistle to the Hebrews - Place of writing unknown, but a reasonable estimate
of the date can be made, Hebrews was quoted in A.D. 95 by Clement of
Rome, but its failure to mention the ending of the OT sacrificial system with
the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 indicates that it was written prior to
that date. Timothy was still alive (13:23), and persecution was mounting.
All this suggests a date between A.D. 64 and 68. This Epistle appeared 3135 years after the crucifixion.
The Epistle of James - Epistle of James Believed to be the first of the NT
Books written A.D. 46-49. See Messianic Judaism, which is how the early
"ecclesia" was described. The church was patterned after the "early
synagogue". However, the origin of the “synagogue” was of Babylonian
origin, about the time of the return of the exiles. This Epistle appeared 1316 years after the crucifixion and is believed to be the first of the New
Testament Books. The early church met in their homes.
According to Josephus, James was martyred in A.D. 62 (Hegesippus, quoted
Eusebius, fixed the date of James’s death at A.D. 66). Those who accept
him as the author of this epistle have proposed a date of writing ranging
from A.D. 45 to the end of his life. However, several factors indicate that
this letter may have been the earliest writing of the New Testament (c.
A.D. 46-49). There is no mention of gentile Christians or their
relationship to Jewish Christians as would be expected in a later epistle.
Apart from references to the person of Christ, there is practically no
distinctive theology in James, suggesting an early date when
Christianity was viewed in terms of Messianic Judaism. The allusions to
the teachings of Christ have such little verbal agreement with the synoptic
Gospels that they probably preceded them. James uses the word
"synagogue" (assembly 2:2) in addition to "church" and indicates a very
simple organization of elders and master, that is, teachers (3:1; 5:14), which
was patterned after the early synagogue. James does not mention the issues
involved in Acts 15 Council of Jerusalem (A.D. 49)
First Epistle of Peter - Probably written shortly before the outbreak of
persecution under Nero in A.D. 64. This Epistle appeared about 31 years
after the crucifixion.
Second Epistle of Peter - Peter wrote this epistle in response the spread of
heretical teachings, which were all the more insidious because they emerged
from within the churches. These false teachers perverted the doctrine of
justification and promoted a rebellious and immoral way of life. This epistle
was written just before the apostle's death (1:14), probably from Rome. His
martyrdom took place between A.D. 64 and 66 (if Peter were alive in 67
when Paul wrote Second Timothy during his second Roman imprisonment,
it is likely that Paul would have mentioned him). This Epistle appeared
about 31- 33 years after the crucifixion.
First Epistle of John - Probably written in Ephesus after the Gospel of John,
but the date cannot be fixed with certainty. No persecution is mentioned
suggesting a date prior to A.D. 95 when persecution broke out during the
end of the Domitian's reign (A.D. 81-96).
Second Epistle of John - Judging by the content and circumstances of
Second John it was evidently contemporaneous with First John or was
written slightly later. It was probably written about A.D. 90. This Epistle
appeared about 57 years after the crucifixion.
Third Epistle of John - The parallels between Second and Third John suggest
that these epistles were written at about the same time (A.D. 90). This
Epistle appeared about 57 years after the crucifixion.
The Revelation - Likely that John wrote this book in A.D. 95-96. This book
appeared about 62-63 years after the crucifixion.
What did the early church have for Scriptures? The early church did not
have the New Testament books we have in our canon of Scripture today.
The only Scriptures they had were the “Law and the Testimony”. Take a
look at these Scriptures.
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his
lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God,
persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and
out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 1
Acts 28:23
The Apostle Paul was teaching from the “Law and the Prophets,” not the
New Testament canon, it did not yet exist.
No mention of the New Testament books in this verse either, only
“Scriptures” of the prophets.
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and
The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2009 (Electronic Edition of the 1900
Authorized Version.) (Ac 28:23). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
1
the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery,
which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made
manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the
commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the
obedience of faith: 2 Romans 16:25-26
There were no New Testament Scriptures when Paul was preaching.
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I
raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might
be declared throughout all the earth. 3 Romans 9:17
This New Testament verse is citing Exodus 9:16, which is the “Law and the
Testimony.” They did not have any New Testament Scripture yet. The
early church was reading Torah, proving that the “Law/Torah” had not been
done away with as is taught in the churches today. The Apostle Paul was
not teaching that the law had been done away with as he was keeping the
Law/Torah. Here is the Scripture in the Law that is being cited in the New
Testament verse.
And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my
power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. 4
Exodus 9:16
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the
word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so. 5 Acts 17:11
The Scriptures they were searching were none other than the “Law and the
Testimony” aka Torah. There were no New Testament Scriptures yet.
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture
The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2009 (Electronic Edition of the 1900
Authorized Version.) (Ro 16:25–26). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
3 The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2009 (Electronic Edition of the 1900
Authorized Version.) (Ro 9:17). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
4 The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2009 (Electronic Edition of the 1900
Authorized Version.) (Ex 9:16). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
5 The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2009 (Electronic Edition of the 1900
Authorized Version.) (Ac 17:11). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
2
may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against
me. 6 John 13:18
The Scripture HE cited in John 13:18 was from none other than the “Law
and the Testimony” aka the “Law and the Prophets.” HE is here citing
Psalm 41:9.
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted,
Which did eat of my bread,
Hath lifted up his heel against me. 7 Psalm 41:9
There were no New Testament Scriptures yet.
See Luke 24:44.
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I
was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in
the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning
me. 8 Luke 24:44
For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47
But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” 9
John 5:46
As you can now see, when the New Testament speaks of “Scripture,” it is
speaking of the “Law and the Testimony” also known as “TORAH.” The
New Testament writings do not refer to the “New Testament Books” as
Scripture. We are able to use what is written in the New Testament only if it
agrees with what is written in the Law and the Testimony or Torah.
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word,
The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2009 (Electronic Edition of the 1900
Authorized Version.) (Jn 13:18). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
7 The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2009 (Electronic Edition of the 1900
Authorized Version.) (Ps 41:9). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
8 The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2009 (Electronic Edition of the 1900
Authorized Version.) (Lk 24:44). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
9 The New King James Version. 1982 (Jn 5:46–47). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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it is because there is no light in them. 10 Isaiah 8:20
We are told in HIS Word that if it does not speak according to HIS TORAH,
there is no truth in it. YAHUSHAWAH came to fulfill what was written of
HIM, in the “Law and the Prophets.” It was not the Law/Torah that was
fulfilled or abrogated as we have been falsely taught in the churches.
10
The New King James Version. 1982 (Is 8:20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.