Posted by Seeker [Seeker] on November 30, 1999 at 08:33:46 {JEfy6n1mcItDlUsHAETc79YAW9JMpc}:
In Reply to: *****Questions for creationist posted by WW on November 29, 1999 at 17:46:42:
It is off-topic and I wanted to clarify part of your answer to my post.
Oh, OK.
Sometimes ones who promote atheism use any means to cast doubt on the Bible.
Not something I agree with, btw.
One of these ways is to contend that the Gospels are NOT representative of Jesus' life and words since 'none were written before the beginning of the 2nd century' citing 'higher critics' arbitrary dating of documents.
I am not familiar with these critics.
have you not wondered yourself if the Gospel accounts are TRULY works by scribes working with Paul, Mark, Luke and Matthew as early as the '30s and '40s A.D.?
I've read that they were written a few decades later, but before the end of the first century.
The book that I mentioned has some well-thought out ideas about the Magdalen fragments of Matthew, some found in Alexandria (codex) and others in Qumran (papyrus scroll). It is CODEX which was an early form of 'book' not previously believed to be made until the 3ird century, proven here to have existed as early as 42 a.d. The fragments were originally dated at 3ird century but since have been redated by scholars, with the new evidence, at no later than 68 a.d.
Somewhat consistent with what I heard. Again, a decade here, a decade there. This isn't an angle I find particularly interesting, to be honest. But thanks for clarifying.
Seeker