Dragar

There's a pretty good case going around for the authors of the Gospels not being Jesus' apostles (assuming Jesus really existed).

Assuming for the moment this is the case (I think it's the most likely scenario), how did the names currently attributed to the Gospels get attached?

Any resources would be appreciated.

Dragar

Amaleq13

The traditional view only contends two were written by original disciples (Matthew and John) though Mark is claimed to have been Peter's secretary. Even the Catholic Study Bible acknowledges there are legitimate reasons to question these views.

I think the books recommended in the sticky at the top of the forum will take you in the right direction, particularly Koester's Ancient Christian Gospels. Kirby (http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/) is a good online source.

edited later to add:

Papias is the earliest evidence that the names "Mark" and "Matthew" were attached to some sort of written work. However, neither of the texts Papias describes are thought to depict our Gospels. IIRC, Irenaeus (180-200) is the earliest evidence to connect the four names to "our" texts.

Dragar

Thanks for the feedback, Amaleq13!