James | 45-48 A.D. |
Galatians | 48-50 A.D. |
Gospel of Matthew | 50 A.D. |
1 and 2 Thessalonians | 50-54 A.D. |
1 Corinthinans | 54-55 A.D. |
2 Corinthinans | 56-57 A.D. |
Romans | 58 A.D. |
Gospel of Mark | 57-59 A.D. |
Gospel of Luke | 58-60 A.D. |
Ephesians | 60 A.D. |
Colossians | 60-61 A.D. |
Philemon | 62 A.D. |
Acts of the Apostles | 60-62 A.D. |
1 John, 2 John, 3 John | 60-65 A.D. |
1 Timothy | 63-66 A.D. |
Titus | 63-66 A.D. |
1 Peter | 64 A.D. |
2 Peter | 64-68 A.D. |
PETER IS MARTYRED | 68 A.D. |
2 Timothy | 67 A.D. |
PAUL IS MARTYRED | 68 A.D. |
Hebrews (author unknown) | 68-69 A.D. |
Jude | 67-80 A.D. |
Gospel of John | 85-95 A.D. |
Revelation | 95-96 A.D. |
From the Codex Canonum Ecclesiae Africanae:
16 It was also determined that besides the Canonical Scriptures nothing be read in the Church under the title of divine Scriptures. The Canonical Scriptures are these: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua the son of Nun, Judges, Ruth, four books of Kings, two books of Paraleipomena, Job, the Psalter, five books of Solomon, the books of the twelve prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezechiel, Daniel, Tobit, Judith, Esther, two books of Esdras, two Books of the Maccabees.
17 Of the New Testament: four books of the Gospels, one book of the Acts of the Apostles, thirteen Epistles of the Apostle Paul, one epistle of the same [writer] to the Hebrews, two Epistles of the Apostle Peter, three of John, one of James, one of Jude, one book of the Apocalypse of John.
Book | Author | Occupation | Witness | Year | Audience |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Matthew | St. Matthew | Apostle | Himself | 50 | Jewish Christians |
Mark | St. Mark | Scribe | Peter | 59 | Jewish Christians |
Luke | St. Luke | Physician | Paul | 60 | Jews and Gentiles |
John | St. John | Apostle | Himself | 95 | Gentiles |
The term "Synoptic Gospels" refers to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The word "synoptic" (like the "synopsis" of a story) is a relating of events, from one event to the next, much like you would read in a news report. Who, what, where, when, and why are the meat and potatoes of what is written.
Matthew wrote to the Christian community in Jerusalem, so his gospel contains a lot of imagery related to Hebraic tradition and fulfillment of the Law of Moses. Mark was the scribe of St. Peter, and it is believed he also wrote to Jewish-Christians based, in part, on the eye witness accounts of our first pope. Mark is also believed to have transcribed the Letters of 1 and 2 Peter. Luke was a Syrian gentile, Greek-speaking physician who was a disciple of St. Paul. Luke tells us in the gospel that his work was investigative, and involved interviewing many witnesses of Christ. Given the amount of Marian material at the beginning, it is not unreasonable to conclude the Blessed Mother was one of his sources, or perhaps even John. Luke also wrote Acts of the Apostles, which details not only the Church after Pentecost, but the travels and mission of St. Paul, which Luke was an eye witness to.
The Gospel of John is *not* a "Synoptic" gospel. Whereas the first three gospels are interested in reporting things like geneaologies and the specific actions (especially miracles) of Christ, John's gospel is interested in telling us "who" Jesus Christ is as the "Word of God" -- the "Logos" in the gentile Greek, to whom John was writing. John's gospel is steeped in symbolism and theological content that emphasizes not His miracles, but His teachings. John only highlights Jesus' activity in Judea and Jerusalem, with little mention of Galilee. Pay close attention to the ways in which John frames Our Lord as "king", as the Cross as His throne, and His unparalleled majesty as Redeemer.