When Was the New Testament Written? (Dates for All 27 Books)

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily match my own. - Dr. Bart D. Ehrman

The New Testament presents a fascinating paradox. On one hand, it’s a single book — one of the two distinct parts of the Christian Bible — giving the foundational authority for Christian thought and practice worldwide for centuries. 

On the other hand, it’s a collection of 27 different books, each reflecting the diverse views of early Christians living in various times and places.

The New Testament’s dual nature has challenged scholars and believers alike since its inception, but it also gives numerous opportunities for exploration. By studying these texts, we can uncover intriguing insights into the origins of Christianity and how the first Christians lived.

When was the New Testament written? Knowing the answer in the appropriate context is crucial, not just for determining the historical context of these writings but also for appreciating their cultural significance within the broader history of the Western world. 

Having that in mind, with this article, we aim to provide estimated dates for each of the 27 books in the New Testament based on the views of critical scholars as depicted in widely acknowledged commentaries and scholarly studies. 

However, it's important to note that these dates are not set in stone, as there is ongoing debate among scholars regarding the exact dates and authorship of particular books.

Still, you might be surprised by what you find! For instance, many people find it surprising that although modern New Testament editions begin with the Gospel of Matthew, it wasn’t the earliest New Testament text written. In fact, the earliest writings are Paul’s letters, which predate the Gospels by several decades.

For those interested in exploring related topics, our previous articles delve deeper into questions such as “How Many Books Are There in the New Testament?” and “Who Wrote the New Testament?” These discussions provide further context and are valuable resources for understanding the multifaceted nature of the New Testament.

Dating the New Testament: Issues, Problems and Importance

Once I establish the historicity of Jesus in my classroom, one of the first questions students eagerly ask is: “When were the New Testament books written?” 

The dating of the Gospels, in particular, sparks keen interest. It's as if they think that nailing down the date will somehow unlock the mysteries of the universe — or at least give them a leg up in their next historical Jesus debate. 

But, to be honest, their curiosity is well-founded; understanding when was the New Testament written is crucial for piecing together the historical puzzle of early Christianity.

In historical investigation, dating sources are paramount. Imagine trying to reconstruct your family history but not knowing whether a letter from your great-grandmother was written in the 1920s or the 1960s. It makes a big difference!

Scholars employ various methods to determine the dates of ancient texts, including internal evidence (such as references to historical events within the text) and external attestation (how other contemporary sources reference or quote the text). Occasionally, archaeology lends a hand too — although finding a manuscript in an ancient jar is rarer than Indiana Jones would have you believe!

However, this scholarly pursuit of dating the New Testament isn’t just a dry academic exercise; it’s also a battleground of ideas, particularly when apologists get involved. These folks are often eager to push for earlier dates for the New Testament documents, especially the Gospels, in the hope that earlier dating might prove they were written by eyewitnesses of Jesus.

The underlying assumption here is that if, for instance, Matthew had front-row seats to the Sermon on the Mount (a scene from “Life of Brian” immediately comes to mind!), his accounts must be inherently reliable. 

But as Bart D. Ehrman points out in his excellent book Jesus Before the Gospels, this assumption doesn’t hold water. Even if Jesus’ disciples penned these texts (which I don’t believe at all), it doesn’t automatically make them factually accurate. Memories fade, perspectives shift, and, frankly, even eyewitnesses can get their stories mixed up — especially when recounting events years or decades later. (Affiliate Disclaimer: We may earn commissions on products you purchase through this page at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our site!)

And let's entertain for a moment the idea that these Gospels were written earlier, even by the apostles themselves. Would that be enough to conclude their historical reliability? Not by a long shot. The Gospels are riddled with discrepancies and outright inaccuracies — take the infamous Census of Quirinius as just one glaring example.

These issues underscore why critical scholars continue to peel back the layers of myth and tradition to uncover the historical core beneath — a process that began in earnest during the Enlightenment and remains as vibrant as ever today.

Moreover, the push to date the New Testament documents earlier rests on another shaky assumption: The belief that legendary material about a person requires a long time to develop. This, in my opinion, is flat-out wrong.

As the renowned orientalist Ernest Renan wisely noted in the book The Apostles: “It is the greatest of errors to suppose that legendary lore requires much time to mature; sometimes a legend is the product of a single day.” 

Dale C. Allison Jr. further emphasizes this by asking: “How long does it take to re-tell a story?” Legends can form in the blink of an eye, especially in a time when oral tradition was the primary mode of sharing stories.

With that in mind, let’s now turn our attention to the estimated dates of the New Testament documents, starting with the Gospels.

Due to the scope of this article, our presentations will be brief, but — rest assured — if you're eager for more detailed discussions, we’ve got you covered with separate articles on the dating of various New Testament books, all available on our amazing blog!

When Were the Gospels Written?

When was the New Testament written? Almost every discussion on the matter begins with the Gospels. These texts are theologically driven biographies, penned by four individuals whose names are lost to history, each addressing different communities of Jesus’ followers.

As Mark A. Powell notes in his book Introducing the New Testament:

When it comes to dating these theologically rich texts, most scholars agree that the Gospel of Mark is the earliest, likely composed around 70 C.E. Mark’s Gospel seems to have been completed near the end of the Jewish War and the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple — an event that appears to have influenced some of Mark’s apocalyptic themes. 

One key argument for this dating is Mark's reference to Jesus predicting the Temple's destruction, which many scholars believe reflects knowledge of the actual event, thus suggesting the Gospel was written shortly afterward.

Following Mark, both Matthew and Luke independently wrote their accounts, probably between 80 and 90 C.E., drawing on Mark as one of their primary sources. These three Gospels are often referred to as the “Synoptic Gospels” because they share a similar narrative framework and exhibit literary dependence. 

Then, there’s the Gospel of John — a text that stands apart as a theological deep dive into the nature of Jesus. 

With its distinct perspectives and a portrayal of Jesus that is markedly different from the Synoptics (John is the only Gospel where Jesus explicitly claims divinity!), it presents a new layer to the understanding of Jesus. Scholars believe John was written toward the end of the 1st century, around 95 C.E.

As Bart D. Ehrman aptly summarizes in Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium: “These Gospel writers were relatively highly educated, Greek-speaking Christians writing between 65 and 95 C.E.”

When Was the Book of Acts Written?

The Book of Acts is the second volume of a two-part work by the same author who penned the Gospel of Luke. While its title might suggest a detailed account of all the apostles' activities, that’s a bit of a misnomer. Instead, the book offers a theologically rich narrative focused primarily on the spread of Christianity after Jesus’ death.

The apostle Peter dominates the first half (chapters 1-12), while the newly converted apostle Paul takes center stage in the second half (chapters 13-28). However, the true central figure behind all the events is the Holy Spirit, who orchestrates the unfolding of the early Christian mission. 

What about the issue of the date? When was Acts written? Most scholars believe that Acts was composed shortly after the Gospel of Luke, thus placing its date of writing between 85 and 95 C.E. In contrast, some conservative scholars believe that Luke-Acts were written in the early 60s — a view that hasn’t caught the attention of the majority in academia.

The commonly accepted timing is significant because it situates the Book of Acts in a period when the early Christian movement was becoming more established, and its narratives were likely being shaped to address the theological and social concerns of that era.

When Were the Pauline Epistles Written?

Every time we ask ourselves the question “When was the New Testament written?,” we need to start by looking at Paul's epistles, as they are our earliest New Testament documents. But let’s just step back for a second and think about the social and living conditions in the ancient world! 

Imagine, for a moment, the challenge of sending a message in the ancient world. Today, you can fire off a text in seconds and know it’s reached its destination almost instantly. 

In contrast, when Christianity first emerged in the Roman world, communicating was a far more cumbersome affair. There were no computers, no internet, not even typewriters or ballpoint pens. Producing a letter involved a lengthy process, and getting it to its intended recipient required navigating a complex and unreliable system of couriers.

Yet, despite these challenges, twenty-one of the twenty-seven books in our New Testament take the form of letters — a testament to the early Christians’ determination to keep in touch! 

Of these twenty-one letters, thirteen claim the Apostle Paul as the author. However, modern scholarship suggests Paul himself likely penned only seven of them. The others — known as the disputed letters — were probably written by later followers who “adopted” Paul’s name to lend authority to their writings. 

Nevertheless, for the sake of providing a comprehensive overview, we’ll consider the estimated dates of all the letters traditionally attributed to Paul, regardless of whether he actually wrote them. 

The Letter to the Hebrews is also included in this list, although it’s internally anonymous. Some early church fathers, such as St. Augustine, claimed Paul wrote it, although virtually all contemporary scholars reject this attribution. 

Scholars generally agree that the earliest of Paul’s letters is 1 Thessalonians. It was likely written around 50 C.E. This makes it the oldest surviving Christian document that is a direct glimpse into the thoughts and concerns of early believers. 

The last of the letters attributed to Paul are the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy, Titus), which most scholars believe were written much later, possibly as late as the early 2nd century C.E., though they are traditionally placed between 80-120 C.E.

Referring to the author of the Pastoral Epistles, Delbert Burkett notes in his Introduction to the New Testament: 

In sum, in considering when was the New Testament written, Paul's letters are essential, as some of them represent the earliest written expressions of Christian theology. As such, they provide invaluable insights into the development of the first Christian communities.

As we continue to unravel the question of when was the New Testament written, we now arrive at the so-called “General Epistles” — a term that, despite what it might sound like, has nothing to do with military correspondence or vague advice to “keep up the good work”.

When Were the General Epistles Written?

The General Epistles are a group of letters in the New Testament that stand apart from the Pauline Epistles. 

In The New Testament: A Historical Introduction, Bart D. Ehrman explains: “They are called “general” or “catholic” epistles — based on a Greek word that means “universal” — because they were traditionally thought to address general problems experienced by Christians everywhere, rather than specific issues within particular communities.”

The General Epistles include the Epistle of James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude. When it comes to dating these letters, scholars generally place their composition between the late first century and the early second century C.E., roughly 80-130 C.E.

Among these letters, 2 Peter stands out for its particularly late date, with most scholars placing its composition in the early second century, around 120-130 C.E. So, any debate on when was the New Testament written can easily end with 2 Peter — likely the last book of the New Testament.

This dating is largely based on the content and concerns of the letter. As Bart D. Ehrman points out in Forgery and Counterforgery: 

This concern with the delayed return of Christ suggests that 2 Peter was written at a time when early Christian communities were grappling with the realization that the promised Second Coming wasn’t as imminent as they had originally believed.

Just as 2 Peter’s late date has been a subject of considerable scholarly debate, so, too, has the dating of the Epistle of James. A lot of ink has been spilled over this issue, particularly because it’s closely tied to questions of authorship.

Some scholars have argued that if James, the brother of Jesus, was indeed the author, the letter must have been written before he died in 62 C.E. This early dating would make James one of the earliest New Testament writings. 

However, this notion has been met with skepticism by many critical scholars who propose a later date, detached from the apostolic authorship. In his highly acclaimed Commentary on James, Dale C. Allison provides a thorough examination of the evidence and concludes that the letter was likely written well into the first century, or even the early second century.

He notes: 

Before we dive into the last part of our article, let's continue showcasing our expertise with these timelines — because, really, who doesn't love a good table?

After all, nothing says "We've got this covered" like a well-organized comparison of the suggested composition dates. So, here's the table summarizing the General Epistles:

As our pursuit of finding an answer to the question of when was the New Testament written continues, we now arrive at the final section of our article, where we explore one of the most enigmatic and debated documents in the New Testament: the Book of Revelation.

When Was the Book of Revelation Written?

The Book of Revelation is a unique and complex New Testament work known as an apocalypse. This type of writing is characterized by its vivid, symbolic visions, meant to reveal divine truths about the future and the ultimate fate of the world.

The content of Revelation is as striking as its form. The book is filled with rich, often bewildering imagery — beasts with multiple heads, angelic messengers, and a final, cataclysmic battle between the forces of good and evil. 

Furthermore, Revelation wasn’t the last New Testament text to be written — not by a long shot. We’ve seen how 2 Peter was composed around 130 C.E. However, Revelation’s position as the New Testament’s last book aptly reflects its content: A revelation from Jesus to John about what will happen when the world ends. 

When it comes to dating the Book of Revelation, our earliest external attestation comes from bishop Irenaeus at the end of the 2nd century. He claims that Revelation was written near the end of the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian, around 95. C.E.

Most contemporary scholars agree with that statement. After analyzing all the available evidence, Adela Y. Collins concludes:

Conclusion: When Was the New Testament Written?

The New Testament, a collection of diverse texts, offers a fascinating glimpse into the early Christian world. Understanding when the New Testament was written not only helps us grasp the historical context of these writings but also deepens our scholarly appreciation for the development of the first Christian communities. 

From Paul's earliest epistles, likely penned around 50 C.E., to the later writings, such as 2 Peter, composed in the early second century, this culturally important collection spans decades of Christian thought and experience.

As we continue to explore the origins of these foundational texts, it's essential to approach them with a nuanced understanding of their historical context.

For those eager to delve deeper into the intricate distinctions between myth, tradition, and authentic history within the Gospels, I highly recommend Dr. Bart D. Ehrman’s online course, “The Unknown Gospels”. In this course, Dr. Ehrman offers a historical perspective that sheds light on the fascinating world of early Christian writings.