Not So Anonymous: Evidence for the Early Existence of the Titles of the Gospels

The end of the Gospel of Luke with the title of the Gospel of John.

June 4, 2022June 4, 2022 ~ Matthew Mangum ~ Leave a comment

An observant reader of the New Testament will note that all four of the Gospels are formally anonymous. The Synoptics do not give any hint concerning authorship, while John’s Gospel only hints at the author’s identity in the cryptic title of the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”[1] The question naturally arises about where the titles of … Continue reading Not So Anonymous: Evidence for the Early Existence of the Titles of the Gospels

Different Gospels: Quotations from Apocryphal Gospels

April 25, 2022April 25, 2022 ~ Matthew Mangum ~ Leave a comment

There is a fascination with the idea of “lost Gospels” or “secret Gospels” that were “suppressed” by the “theological winners.” The canon of the Bible is only in the form it is because a certain group won out, so the reasoning goes. Such reasoning may be seen from Bart Ehrman: But where did this book … Continue reading Different Gospels: Quotations from Apocryphal Gospels

Where Did the Names of the Gospels Come From?

March 20, 2020July 22, 2020 ~ Matthew Mangum ~ Leave a comment

Have you ever wondered why we speak of the Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John? If you have paid attention, you will have noticed that they are all anonymous works; the first three never identify an author, while the fourth only hints at the author as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (see John … Continue reading Where Did the Names of the Gospels Come From?