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.
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