When Was the New Testament REALLY Written? (Why the Consensus Is Outdated)

How do we actually date the New Testament? It’s a question that lies beneath a large number of debates, because if the texts are early, the writers could have known Jesus or those who did. If they’re late, the picture changes. In this video, I work through the dating of the New Testament (not the Bible as a whole), examining why the long-standing scholarly consensus is overdue for reexamination, and where I think both sides of a recent online debate miss the mark. Along the way, I look at Gospel authorship, the case for an early date for Mark (around 40 AD), the role of oral tradition and community authorship in the ancient world, and why “internal evidence” matters more than people give it credit for. I also respond directly to Dan McClellan, whose argument leans heavily on appeals to the consensus rather than engaging the actual evidence. 📚 Sources & scholars referenced: Jonathan Bernier - Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament James Crossley & Maurice Casey - on the early dating of Mark and the Olivet Discourse Richard Bauckham - Jesus and the Eyewitnesses (discussed, not endorsed) 🔑 Key ideas covered: Early, middle (majority), and late dating models Why “it’s the consensus” isn’t an argument on its own Mark 13, the “abomination of desolation,” and the Caligula crisis of ~40 AD Markan priority, the shared Matthew/Luke source, and the John “community” question How geography, names, and local detail point to a first-century Levantine origin Why setting written records above oral sources is a bias worth dropping #NewTestament #BiblicalScholarship #HistoricalJesus #GospelOfMark #BibleHistory