The New Testament was written over roughly the second half of the first century, from about AD 45 to AD 100. Its 27 books did not appear all at once but were composed across several decades, all within the lifetime of the first generation of Christians — people who had known Jesus or the apostles directly.
Paul’s letters came first
The earliest New Testament writings are the letters of the apostle Paul, most of them written in the AD 50s and early 60s. His first letter to the Thessalonians is often regarded as the earliest of all, written around AD 50, only about twenty years after the crucifixion. Paul’s major letters — Galatians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Romans — followed through the 50s, with the prison letters such as Philippians and Colossians coming a little later. This means that some of the New Testament was in circulation before the Gospels were written down.
The Gospels and Acts
The four Gospels were most likely committed to writing between about AD 65 and AD 100. Mark is commonly regarded as the earliest, written around AD 65 to 70. Matthew and Luke are usually dated to roughly AD 70 to 85, and the book of Acts, Luke’s second volume, belongs to the same period. The Gospel of John is generally placed last, around AD 90 to 100. Before these written Gospels, the accounts of Jesus circulated by word of mouth among those who had witnessed the events.
The remaining letters and Revelation
The general letters — Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, the letters of John, and Jude — were written across the second half of the century. Revelation, the final book, is usually dated to around AD 95. By roughly the year 100, all the books that make up the New Testament had been written, though it took the church some time afterward to recognize and gather them into the single collection we now have.
Dates that stay close to the events
It is worth noting that these are scholarly estimates, and some dates are debated; a few scholars argue for earlier dates across the board. But even on the standard reckoning, the whole New Testament was written within living memory of Jesus and the apostles — a strikingly short span for documents of the ancient world. The writer of Hebrews reflects this closeness when he says the message “was confirmed to us by those who heard” the Lord (Hebrews 2:3).
How the dates are worked out
These dates are not guesses but are reconstructed from a range of evidence. Some come from events named in the text itself — Paul’s letters mention rulers, cities, and travels that can be lined up with known history, such as his time before the Roman official Gallio, which historians can date fairly precisely. Others come from how the books quote and depend on one another, and from the earliest surviving manuscripts and quotations in later Christian writers, which set a limit on how late a book could have been written. Before the Gospels were written, there was a period of perhaps two or three decades in which the words and deeds of Jesus were carefully passed on by those who had witnessed them.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the New Testament written?
The New Testament was written over roughly the second half of the first century AD, from about AD 45 to AD 100, within the lifetime of the first generation of Christians.
What is the oldest book in the New Testament?
Paul’s letters are the earliest writings, and 1 Thessalonians is often regarded as the oldest, written around AD 50 — earlier than any of the Gospels.
When were the Gospels written?
Most scholars date Mark to about AD 65–70, Matthew and Luke to roughly AD 70–85, and John to about AD 90–100. Before they were written, the accounts of Jesus were passed on by word of mouth.
When was the last book of the New Testament written?
Revelation is usually dated to around AD 95, making it among the last of the New Testament books to be written. By about AD 100 all 27 books had been composed.
Are these dates certain?
They are careful scholarly estimates, and some are debated, with a few scholars arguing for earlier dates. Even so, the whole New Testament was written within living memory of the events it describes.