Papias: Reliability of Mark & Matthew's Gospels.

A bishop named Papias, who lived in Heirapolis (modern Turkey), wrote a document known as An Exposition of the Lord's Sayings. It doesn't exist anymore, but it is quoted in other early Christian writings that we do have today. One of these quotations, in the writings of the church historian Eusebius, mentions that Mark wrote down things that Peter taught about Jesus, and that Matthew compiled reports about Jesus "in a Hebrew dialect" (Eusebius, History, 3.39.15-16). Though the precise meaning of this passage from Papias isn't clear, it seems likely that he is referring to what we know as the gospels of Mark and Matthew. If so, then we have a reliable latest possible date for the writing of these two gospels: prior to 130 A.D., when Papias died. Moreover, what Papias says about these gospels dates their authorship into the first century. Rev. Mark D Roberts.

It needs to be noted, however that a date post AD 70 for Mark's Gospel is extremely unlikely and recent investigations into scrolls as opposed to 'books' suggest a date which is much earlier. Current theologians work to a date circa AD64 but this is beginning to appear far too late.