Many scholars over the past century have claimed that John’s Gospel is the least historically reliable since it was written in the late first century. Essentially, they’ve argued that this text tells us more about the beliefs of the church in that period than it does about the historical Jesus. On this episode, Shane talks with New Testament scholar Daniel Wallace about evidence that points to a much earlier date, along with other matters related to the historical reliability and faithful transmission of the Fourth Gospel.
John 5:2 “There is in Jerusalem…”
Are we beginning to see a paradigm shift taking place related to the dating of the Fourth Gospel? In his 2019 book, Jesus Mirrored in John, Princeton scholar James Charlesworth writes:
John is not a late composition…I am convinced that the earliest edition of John—the first edition—may antedate 70 CE. Why? It is because the author knew Jerusalem intimately, providing many architectural details which only thirty years ago we imagined were literary inventions…All the reasons that require a late date for the Gospel of John (sometime after 90 CE) have vanished. There is no longer a consensus regarding the date of John…Is it possible, then, to observe a paradigm shift…? Yes.
To see an exhaustive list of scholars who have argued for an early date for John’s Gospel from Johann Bengel to George van Kooten, click below. The quotes presented primarily interact with John’s present tense language in John 5:2, and I also feature comments from a variety of scholars who remain unconvinced.
SHOW NOTES
Recommended Books
Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament, Daniel Wallace
Redating the New Testament, John A.T. Robinson
The Priority of John, John A.T. Robinson
Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament, Jonathan Bernier
Redating Matthew, Mark & Luke, John Wenham
NICNT Commentary on The Gospel of John (1995), Leon Morris
Concordia Commentary: John 1:1-7:1, William Weinrich
Can We Trust The Gospels? Peter J. Williams
The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple, Richard Bauckham
Jesus & The Eyewitnesses, Richard Bauckham
Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics, Daniel Wallace
Recommended Articles
John 5:2 & The Date of The Fourth Gospel, Daniel Wallace
John 5:2 (Part 2) & John 5:2 (Part 3), Daniel Wallace
The Gospel of John: An Introduction, Daniel Wallace
The Authenticity & Genuineness of the Fourth Gospel, J.B. Lightfoot
The Four Gospels as Authentic Testimony, Richard Bauckham
Water Into Wine? Shane Rosenthal
Authenticating The Fourth Gospel, Shane Rosenthal
The Identity of the Beloved Disciple, Shane Rosenthal
Joanna: Luke’s Key Witness? Shane Rosenthal
John 5:2 “There is in Jerusalem…”, Shane Rosenthal
A Paradigm Shift on the Date of John’s Gospel? Shane Rosenthal
Other Related Resources
Has the Bible Been Miscopied or Mistranslated? Daniel Wallace, WHI #1377
The Gospels As Eyewitness Testimony, Humble Skeptic #48 with Richard Bauckham
Questioning The Fourth Gospel, Humble Skeptic #49 with Richard Bauckham
Which John Wrote John? Humble Skeptic #50
Stories of Jesus: Can They Be Trusted? Humble Skeptic #61 with Peter J. Williams
Simply Genius, Humble Skeptic #62 with Peter J. Williams
The Jesus of History, with John Dickson Humble Skeptic #12
New Evidence for the Gospels, Peter J. Williams (video)
Are the Gospels Reliable? Peter J. Williams & Bart Ehrman (video)
Write a Positive Review
If you’re a fan of the show, consider writing a brief review to let others know what you like about it (preferably via the Apple Podcast app since their reviews can be seen in other podcast portals). The more positive reviews we get, the more exposure we get!
We Need Your Help!
Consider supporting The Humble Skeptic podcast by making a one-time gift or upgrading to a paid subscription via Substack ($5.95 per month, $59 per year). Use the button below for more information about giving options
Share this post