Nature of the Canonical Gospel Accounts

The alleged early authorship of the Gospel of the Hebrews is important due to the later dates when the canonical gospels are thought to have been written. The New Testament letters of Paul can be reliably dated to the 50’s CE and it appears that no Gospel quotes are contained within them; making an argument that the canonical Gospel accounts did not exist in a written form at that time (a competing argument is shown in the collapsible dropdown below). Despite their titles, the four canonical gospels are thought to be written by anonymous authors something so common in Greek literature at the time that there is word for this type of literature – pseudepigrapha.

An argument that Paul quoted a Gospel Account (Luke)

Paul may quote Luke (10:7)

And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

in 1 Timothy 5:18

For the scripture saith, "thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn." And, "The labourer is worthy of his reward."

"The labourer is worthy of his reward." is not found in the Old Testament. 1 Timothy is one of the disputed letters by Paul. Some letters by Paul are thought to be authentically written or dictated by Paul while others are thought to be Pseudepigrapha - i.e they are disputed. Some believe that Paul preferred to confront his Jewish educated critics by quoting from the Septuagint, indicating that Paul would have less of a tendency to quote Gospel accounts.

Gospel of Luke Chapter 10 - NIV English Translation - Embedded

• see Verse 7

1 Timothy Chapter 5- NIV English Translation - Embedded

• see Verse 18