What was the purpose of putting into writing the words and deeds of Jesus?

Answer 1

A:It is traditionally assumed that the apostles decided to put the words and deeds of Jesus into writing when they were beginning to become too old to pass those messages on reliably by word of mouth. This view assumes the gospels were probably written some time around the fifties of the first century.

It is now recognised by biblical scholars that the first gospel to be put in writing was Mark's Gospel and that it was written approximately 70 CE, around forty years after the traditional date of the crucifixion of Jesus. The other gospels were written later in the first century and into the second century. Clearly, the original disciples would never have anticipated living this long, so the reason for putting the gospels into writing must be found elsewhere.

As the authorship of the first gospel coincided with the destruction of the Temple at the end of the First Roman-Jewish War, it would seem likely that that event triggered the reason for writing Mark's Gospel. The Jews were in cultural shock, they could no longer perform their traditional sacrifices in the Temple, the priesthood without a purpose, and the Sadducees would soon disappear from history. It could be that Mark's Gospel was intended to show that Christianity was the natural successor to Judaism. The Gospel also showed that the Christians were loyal to the Roman Empire and that the Romans had nothing to fear from them.