This web site is dedicated to the proposition that the first Gospel, Matthew, was published within a decade of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Is there a case to be made that the church published a Gospel within a decade of the resurrection? I believe that there is. Naturally, Matthean priority, the presumption that Matthew was the first Gospel to be published, best aligns with this scenario. I also contend that the earlier that we can establish that the first Gospel was published, the more trustworthy we will inherently find all of the Gospels.
On this site, discover the concerns of ancient authors concerning memory reliability, the needs of the early church for written Gospels, the testimony of the church fathers concerning the early publication of Matthew, and the historical champions of an early publication of Matthew.
Must we accept the popular modern theory that the disciples of Jesus were unable or unwilling to publish a Gospel within the earliest years of the church?
- Would the earliest audiences have found the gospel message more trustworthy if published early?
- Read ancient concerns over the reliability of aging memories.
Did the early church value written materials?
- Recall that the early church sent many a letter, beginning with the Jerusalem council, the letter of James, of Galatians, etc.
- Consider the needs of the early church for a published Gospel.
Can the church fathers be read as supporting an early Gospel?
- Hear the testimony of the church fathers that Matthew was published first.
- Consider how we might understand the ancient assertion that Matthew was published while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome as supporting an early Gospel.
Was there support for an early Matthew over recent centuries?
- Recent champions include Bernard Orchard, John Wenham, and David Alan Black.
- Survey the claims of historical champions for an early Matthew.
Select the appropriate items from the menu above to explore the proposition that the apostles were motivated to publish a Gospel early—Matthew’s Gospel.