Are the Gospels Reliable?

by

Dr. F. David Farnell

Professor of New Testament

at The Master’s Seminary

Are the gospels reliable? The answer to this question is an unqualified, firm YES!  The gospels are the very unique treasure bequeathed as an enduring testimony from the first-century church to the rest of mankind leaving an unfailing historical record that God loved the whole world and demonstrated His love by sending his Son to save mankind from alienation to Him (John 3:16-18).  The four canonical Gospels—Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John—are unique historical accounts set apart from ancient history writing. No historical ancient account is like them or comparable.  How so? Today, classical scholars recognize ancient historians of the past, especially during the Greek and Greek era, often admitted to writing history that they were not eyewitnesses to events that they reported (Thucydides, Plutarch).[i]  None of them were truly accurate in details that they reported. Indeed, they even acknowledge that in the writing of their records they invented speeches of main characters, created out of thin air things about characters they wrote about to make these people larger than life.  No ancient human historian can ever measure up to the record that the Gospel writers left as a witness to Jesus’s life as they were empowered by God’s “Spirit of Truth.”

The Testimony of the Very Early Church as tothe Reliability of the Canonical Gospels

Many factors affirm the absolute reliability of the Gospels.  At the outset, one must know that the consistent testimony of the early church in the beginning centuries of its existence stands as a firm, inviolable witness to the absolute truthfulness, accuracy, and reliability of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, especially the four Gospels of Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John.  Importantly, the testimony of the early church stands in direct contradiction to the negative, modern criticism of the Gospels that developed so much later in the eighteenth century to the twenty-first century.  What can we learn when we examine these early church records? Those who lived closest to the time of Jesus knew with certainty of the assuredness of the Gospel record.  What can we learn from this early Christian testimony?

First, the four canonical Gospels, Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John were unanimously affirmed by the earliest orthodox or “catholic” Christian communities throughout the Roman Empire, wherever Christianity had spread, as thoroughly investigated, wholly undisputed, and never doubted in any manner.[1]  The first great church historian, Eusebius (ca. AD 260-341), as well as many other very early church fathers, leave us a thrilling record about the genuineness Gospels from which the church derives its information.  Eusebius called the four canonical Gospels “the holy four Gospels” that were never once doubted by anyone whatsoever in the orthodox church as coming from the Apostles whose names they bore.[2] The early fathers knew that the Gospel of Matthew was written by Levi the tax collector,3 that Mark, the companion and interpreter of Peter, took Peter’s preaching and made it into the Gospel that bears Marks name, that Luke, Paul’s personal traveling companion as seen in the “we” sections of Acts (e.g Acts16:10-18; ), composed a two-part series known as Luke-Acts (Luke 1:1-4)[4]; and John the Apostle wrote the Gospel that bears his name. [5] Eusebius tells us that an unbroken chain of custody in the early church, just like modern legal forensics, consisting of orthodox bishops throughout the entire Roman world, from the AD first to the fourth centuries, affirmed these four Gospels, and only these four Gospels, as genuinely from the men whose names they bore.

Second, from the earliest times (AD 125), these Gospels, while anonymous in their text, actually bore titles on all their manuscripts, “The Gospel according to Matthew,” “the Gospel According to Mark,” “The Gospel According to Luke,” “the Gospel According to John.”  No other names ever appeared on any manuscripts.  From the earliest beginnings, the orthodox church was very, very careful to guard these four Gospels as the only true witnesses to Jesus’s life.  They firmly rejected all other gospels as false, so that the anonymous nature of these four Gospels are actually a strong testimony to whose names they bear. The earliest fathers authoritatively quoted these four Gospels, demonstrating their unwavering belief in the full trustworthiness and accuracy of these four Gospel records of Jesus’s life.  About these four gospels, the early church knew with certainty that they were written testimonies by the first-century disciples of Jesus whose names were attached to them.

Third, the early fathers even left a clear record even of the chronological order in which they were written.  Clement of Alexandria (AD 150-215) wrote that the Gospels with genealogies (Matthew and Luke) were written before the Gospels without (Mark and John).[6] They tell us always without fail that Matthew wrote first.  Moreover, Irenaeus tells us that John the Apostle wrote his Gospel last.  So, the chronological order of the Gospels is Matthew wrote, then Luke, then Mark, and finally John wrote his testimony.[7]

Finally, and most importantly, the summary impact of the certain testimony of the early church as they testified to the canonical Gospels cannot be overstated.  Matthew, Luke, Mark, John were written either by direct apostolic eyewitnesses (Matthew, John) or based on apostolic eyewitness testimony (Mark—based on Peter’s preaching and Luke [Luke 1:1-4) based on interviewing eyewitnesses and as a companion of Paul [Acts]).  When any Christian reads these four Gospels, they are literally “sitting at the feet” of Jesus, as well as listening to eyewitness reports of men and women who knew him directly, intimately, accompanying Him from his birth (Matt 1-3; Luke 1-3) through his ministry (Matt 4-27; Luke 3-23; Mark 1-15; John 1-19) to his resurrection and ascension to heaven (Matt 28; Luke 24; Mark 16; John 20-21; Acts 1).

The Testimony of the Gospels Themselves as to Their Reliability

When the Gospels are examined, one can readily see the eyewitness elements in them that affirm their reliability.  Luke says that he interviewed many eyewitnesses of Jesus life.  One must read the opening four verses of Luke that indicates his reliance on eyewitness accounts,

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, ² just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, ³ it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

Luke 1:1-4 ESV

From Luke, Christians can learn how “carefully” the gospel writers “investigated” Jesus life “from the beginning” based on direct “eyewitnesses” of His life.  In Acts, Luke even accompanied Paul on his missionary journeys as the “we sections” (see above) indicate.  Luke, being a physician, would most likely have been a very good researcher and conducted a careful investigation due to his medical training.  Matthew, being a trained-tax collector and, of necessity, a keeper of records would have been well-qualified by profession to be the first selected to testify of the promised Jewish Messiah.

In John, we learn that John has amazing information about things that went on in Jesus’s life.  He is mindful of the minutest details regarding the person, time, number, place that could only come from direct, eyewitness experience.  He knows the very hour “(the 10^th hour—John 1:39) that Jesus’s disciples accompanied Him to his house.  He knew when Judas slipped out of the last supper with Jesus (John 13:16).  John even remembers how many fish they caught when Jesus, after His resurrection, told them to cast their nets into the sea of Galilee (“153”!—John 21:11).  He knew the very thoughts and feelings of the apostles (2:11, 17, 22; 4:27; 6:19, 60; 12:16; 13:22, 28; 20:9; 21:12).  He knows his fishing partner, Peter, will die when Jesus told them in a personal conversation with Peter and John (John 1:18). Throughout his gospel and writings, John uses “we” many times to tell of his personal witness to the life of Jesus (for example, John 1:14—“we have seen His glory” 1 John 1:1-3—“from the beginning,” “we have heard”; “we have seen with our eyes”; “we have looked upon”; “have touched with our hands”).  He speaks of “testimony” or “witness” over and over again throughout his Gospel to let the reader know they are directly seeing Jesus’s life when they read the Gospel (For example, John 19:35).

John’s descriptive details of the Gospel events are as one who walked with Jesus in the land, He is acquainted with Jewish feasts such as Passover (2:13, 23; 6:4; 11:55; 12:1; 18:28); Tabernacles (5:1?; 7:2); Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah—10:22); He is acquainted with Jewish customs such as arranging of the water pots (2:1-10); burial customs of the Jews (11:38, 44, 19:40); he knew well the feeling between the Jews and the Samaritans (4:9). He knew the minutest geographical details, such as He that Jacob’s well is deep (4:11; he distinguishes Bethany (1/2 mile east of Jerusalem) from Bethany beyond the Jordan (21 miles east of Jerusalem) (1:28; 11:18).

We learn from the Gospels that Peter and John, along with James, were the three closest disciples of Jesus, being especially privileged to see directly many things that were amazing (For example, Matt 17:1-1 where Jesus was transformed into glorious light; Luke 8:51).  We learn from Acts that all the Apostles had seen not only Jesus’ ministry from the beginning of John’s interaction with Jesus to the very day that Jesus was resurrected and ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:21-22).  In 2 Peter 1:16, Christians learn that Peter boldly proclaimed his role as an eyewitness, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Often ancient historians of the Greco-Roman tradition were prone to the invention of “tales” or “myths” about a major character whom they wrote a “Life” about, but Peter firmly distances himself from such ancient practices in the writing of “histories” declaring the eyewitness status of those who produced the Gospels.

The Testimony of Jesus Christ as to the Certain Reliability of

The Eyewitnesses Who Wrote the Gospels

The accuracy and reliability of the Gospels are, most importantly, anchored to the certainty of the promises of Jesus himself to those men who were eyewitnesses of His life and teachings.  In John 14:26, Jesus promised the Gospel writers, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” From this verse, we learn that the writers of the Gospels would have Spirit of God-empowered, energized minds that would bring everything that Jesus taught and did to their minds.  In John 16, Jesus promised,

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

John 16:13-15

Here are direct promises from Jesus that what the Gospel writers proclaimed in their eyewitness testimony would not be merely based on their on human memories but they would have a miraculous ability to remember “all things” and “all the truth.”  While human memories might be faulty, the power of God guided, controlled, governed these eyewitnesses in their composition of Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John.  Indeed, because God’s Spirit is “the Spirit of Truth” (John 16:13; 1 John 4:6), the Gospels are the four historical documents that stand uniquely as eyewitness accounts that may be considered inerrant as well as reliable. 

As Hebrews 6:18 reminds, “it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. Since the Gospels record our hope in Jesus, they give us the promised strong encouragement. Since the Gospels rest for their foundation in the nature of God Himself, the Gospels are not only reliable, they originated and are sustained in their certainty by the Living God Himself.  Moreover, not even the most cunning, non-human intelligence created in the history of the Universe (known under many names as “Satan,” the Adversary”; Lucifer the “god of light” or the “illumined one”; the “Devil”) has never been able to defeat or destroy God’s Word though he has often tried, nor will he ever able to do so.  In the thousands of years since God’s written Word existed, from Moses to Jesus, the most cunning human intellects controlled by the adversary, Satan, who constantly arrays themselves with vile hatred against the Word, have never been able, nor ever will be able, been, to defeat God’s Word.  Why?   The Gospels demonstrate the supernatural intelligence of the Living God himself who is actively sustaining his Word from all who dare try. Why? The Gospels rest foundationally on the character of God Himself.  Although copies of the Gospels have been destroyed, the Gospels are still here in abundance.  God’s Apostles were killed who wrote them; their record of the Gospels are still here.

Finally, one promise of Jesus deserves special mention in this discussion.  Jesus gave an amazing promise to His followers in Matthew 24:35 about the record of His mission on earth, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”  The earth and all of its records will one day be gone, but not Jesus’s Words.  While mere human accounts might decay and disappear, the Gospels are a unique genre; nothing is like them in human history, for their existence stands on a central promise of Jesus as well as the unfailing power of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth Himself.  No ancient record is comparable to them.  Are the Gospels reliable? Most assuredly they are because God promises His people that they are empowered by His Spirit of Truth (Heb 4:12)!

You may read all of Dr. Farnell’s Defending Inerrancy articles here, watch his lectures here, and download his book The Jesus Quest for free here!

Bibliography

Holden, Joseph M., Ed., The Harvest Handbook of Apologetics. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2018. This article was adapted from Chapter 19 (“Are the Gospel Accounts Reliable?”) by F. David Farnell in https://defendinginerrancy.com/hha-review/The Harvest Handbook of Apologetics.

Bruce, F.F. The New Testament Documents Are They Reliable? Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1981.

_________. The Defense of the Gospel in the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1959.

Dungan, David L. Constantine’s Bible. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2007.

Eusebius Ecclesiastical History, vol. I. Loeb Series. Translated by Kirsopp Lake. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, 1926.

Eusebius Ecclesiastical History, vol. II. Loeb Series. Translated by J. E. L. Oulton. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, 1926.

Farnell, F. David, Gen. Ed. Vital Issues in the Inerrancy Debate. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2016.

Geisler, Norman L. Ed. Explaining Biblical Inerrancy: Official Commentary on the International Council of Biblical Inerrancy Statements. Matthews, NC: Bastion, 2013 (1980, 1983).

Geisler, Norman L. Preserving Orthodoxy: Maintaining Continuity with the Historic Christian Faith on Scripture. Matthews, NC: Bastion, 2017.

Geisler, Norman L. and F. David Farnell. The Jesus Quest: The Danger from Within. Maitland, FL: Xulon, 2014.

Geisler, Norman L. and William E. Nix. A General Introduction to the Bible. Chicago, IL: Moody, 1986.

Lindsell, Harold. The Battle for the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1976.

_____________. The Bible in the Balance. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1979.

Linnemann, Eta. Historical Criticism of the Bible Methodology or Ideology? Reflections of a Bultmannian Turned Evangelical. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 1990.

Thomas, Robert L. and F. David Farnell. The Jesus Crisis. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 1998. Torrey, R. A. The Fundamentals. 4 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1972.

End Notes

[1] Eusebius Ecclesiastical History 6:14.5-7.

[2] Eusebius Ecclesiastical History 6.14.7.

[3] Read the thrilling account of David Laird Dungan’s Chapter 5, “Eusebius’s Defense of Catholic Scripture,” in Constantine’s Bible (Minneapolis: Fortress, 2007) 54-93.

[[4] Eusebius Ecclesiastical History 3.25.1.

[5] Eusebius Ecclesiastical History 3.36.15-16

[6] For example, Irenaeus Against Heresies 3.1.

[7] For example, Irenaeus Against Heresies 2.22.5; 3.1.1.

[8] For example, see Thucidydes comments on his writing of history in History of the Peloponnesian War, 1.22.1. Charles Fornara lamented that ancient historians “invented speeches” and “unintentional perjury” into their works.  Charles William Fornara, The Nature of History in Ancient Greece and Rome (Berkley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California, 1983), 167-68. Another example is Plutarch who displays imperfect understanding and faulty memory (“historically inaccurate” and “sacrificing the truth” many times in works; see Christopher Pelling, Plutarch and History Eighteen Studies [London: Gerald Duckworth, 2002], 156.