When was the fourth gospel written?

Answer 1

Matthew, written in Palestine, was completed around 41 CE

Mark, written in Rome, was completed between 60-65 CE

Luke, written in Caesarea, was completed around 56-58 CE

John, written in (or near) Ephesus, was completed in 98 CE

Answer 2

The fourth gospel was written anonymously, but is now known as John's Gospel, having been attributed to the disciple John later in the second century. That attribution is considered dubious by biblical scholars, who say that the fourth gospel could not have been written by an eyewitness to the events it portrays.

Conservative Christians believe that John's Gospel was written in the 50s of the first century. Other Christians accept a later date, but generally in the first century - perhaps the 90s.

The best way to establish when the Gospel was written is to identify what the author's probable sources were and when these sources were written.

Mark is said to be the earliest gospel. Because of internal evidence, including a reference to the destruction of the Temple, there is a near consensus among biblical scholars that it was written about 70 CE.

Luke was the third gospel to be written and used Mark as its main source. There is good evidence that Luke also relied on the writings of the Jewish military leader and historian, Josephus. This reliance probably includes extracts from Antiquities of the Jews, published in 93 CE, making a date much before 100 CE fairly improbable for Luke's Gospel. Many consider it to have been written in the 90s CE, but early in the second century is also possible.

The Gospel According to St. John appears to have sourced some of its material from Luke's Gospel, so must have been written somewhat later. It was probably written in the first or second decade of the second century. Some say that chapter 21 of John's Gospel may be a later addition and that verses 21:20-24 were added later than the beginning of chapter 21 - although possibly by the same author as the original.