zachhanke

In my never ending quest to find the truth, I have stumbled across many sites that mention that the Gospels were never actually written by their supposed authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).

I approached a priest in my town about this, and he told me that it would be impossible for this to be true. He said that if it was true it would damage the integrity of the Bible and that it was probably just "some kid trying to ruffle a few feathers"...

So, is there any proof for or against this argument?

Amaleq13

More importantly, there is no credible evidence for the names connected to specific texts prior to the middle to late 2nd century.

Papias, in the early 2nd century, is the earliest evidence for the claim that mean named "Matthew" and "Mark" wrote about Jesus but he offers no quotes and his descriptions of what they wrote do not appear to correspond with the extant Gospels.

Peter Kirby

You don't know that.

best wishes,
Peter Kirby

Chris Weimer

True, he is reported as having no quotes...but why wouldn't those who read Papias had reported these things?

Peter Kirby

I think you mean, "he is not reported as having no quotes."

I don't have to answer that (i.e. speculate). If someone makes an argument, they have to show that they (primarily just Eusebius) would have reported that Papias quoted a Gospel.

best wishes,
Peter Kirby

Amaleq13

True.

Papias, in the early 2nd century, is the earliest evidence for the claim that men named "Matthew" and "Mark" wrote about Jesus but we have no quotes of the texts from him and his descriptions of what they wrote do not appear to correspond with the extant Gospels.

Haran

The authors of the gospels are often said to be anonymous. This is often spun into, but does not equate to, "the Gospels were never actually written by their supposed authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)".

Vorkosigan

Coupled with the evidence of the texts themselves, that is a legitimate spin.

Vorkosigan

nattybumpo

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Gospel of Luke was written no earlier than the fourth quarter of the second century. In fact, an earlier form of it, under the name Gospel of the Lord, much shorter and without the addition of many miracle stories as well as the entire passion narrative, appeared in Rome to which it had been brought by Marcion in the year 135 CE.

fta

Which edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia are you referring to? The online version argues for the traditional view that "Luke the Physician" wrote the gospel before the fall of Jerusalem, and that Marcion's gospel was merely a mutilated version of Luke's gospel.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09420a.htm