Questions tagged [dating]
used for questions seeking to clarify when a particular biblical text was composed.
38 questions
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On the premise of an early Matthew, how does the intertextual relationship with Matthew 20:20–28 inform our understanding of 1 Timothy 2:1–15?
I have previously articulated my perspective that Matthew was written early, coincident with the events of Acts 10-11, and was employed by Paul during his missionary journeys (here, here, and here). ...
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To what do the "books" refer in 2 Tim 4:13?
In 2 Timothy 4:13, the text says:
Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. (NKJV)
Τὸν φαιλόνην [or φελόνην] ὃν ἀπέλιπον ἐν Τρῳάδι παρὰ ...
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To What Prior Writing (proegraphē) Was Paul Referring in Galatians 3:1 Which Speaks of Christ as Crucified?
On the premise that Galatians was written after Paul's first missionary journey, when he visited the lower region of the province of Galatia (Acts 14), but before the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15):
To ...
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Is Acts 19:19–20 demonstrating the supremacy of Scripture over magic books?
On the premise that Matthew was published within five to ten years of the resurrection (ref. How would an early Matthew, written before Paul's writings, change our understanding of Paul's writings?), ...
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How would an early Matthew, written before Paul's writings, change our understanding of Paul's writings?
In biblical studies it is often important, when exegeting a New Testament passage, to first determine whether the passage includes any Old Testament citations or allusions, and if so, then to ...
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Is the textual evidence to the missing ending to Mark evidence of Mark being the earliest Gospel?
Mark 16:8 seems much too abrupt for an ending to the Gospel of Mark. The textual evidence indicates that none of the four endings we now have after Mark 16:8 are original, in other words the original ...
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Would 1 Peter Be The Oldest Letter In The New Testament?
I was reading this book by Craig S. Keener 1 Peter: A Commentary and he believes that the apostle Peter is the author of the letter. If his assertion is correct would that make 1 Peter the oldest ...
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How can there be Babylonian ideas in the Samaritan Torah if the Samaritans were never exiled?
In the Torah, the first five books of the bible, there are various narratives that bear strong resemblance to various Babylonians myths. Notably the story of creation, Adam and Eve, and the flood all ...
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Is Mark 12:13-17 a reference to the Fiscus Judaicus?
Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do ...
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When was the Book of Micah written?
Micah 1:1 indicates the author & the timing of his life:
The word of the Lord that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning ...
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When was Deuteronomy written?
I am interested in the theories on when Deuteronomy was composed, and how it relates chronologically to Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers.
As discussed elsewhere on this site, some consider ...
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What evidence is used to support the claim that Isaiah was written before the reign of King Cyrus?
I'm studying the book of Isaiah at the moment and have been trying to understand the prophecy of the reign of Cyrus from Isaiah 45-52.
Here's a sample that refers to him:
Cyrus, God’s Instrument
Thus ...
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Does Hebrews 10 indicate the temple was still standing when Hebrews was written?
Hebrews chapter 10 makes multiple references to the Levitical sacrifices, and argues that they have been superseded by the sacrifice of Christ.
Q1
Does the author intend to refer to Levitical ...
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Which Thessalonian epistle came first?
The text of Paul's letters to the Thessalonians does not identify one as "first" and the other as "second".
External evidence
None of the quotations of the epistles by the ...
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Evidence for the unity of Daniel
I understand that the book of Daniel is comprised of two languages: Aramaic from chapter 2:4 to 7:25, the narrative part, and Hebrew in chapters 8 to 12, the prophetic and apocalyptic part. I ...
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Does Song of Solomon 8:1 suggest that kissing before marriage was "despised" in Bible times?
Song of Solomon 8:1 reads thus (NKJV):
Oh, that you were like my brother, Who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised.
In other words, ...
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Dating Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem w/ Only the Bible
I am interested to see if it's possible to obtain an approximate date of when Jerusalem was destroyed (secular sources say 587 BCE using cuneiform tablets, astronomy, etc.) with only the Bible and its ...
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Versions of Daniel not Mentioning Darius in the Sixth or Ninth Chapter
There are three main versions of the Book of Daniel : Masoretic, Old Greek, and Theodotion. However, they all read Darius (but allude to Cyrus) in both their sixth and ninth chapters.
Are there any ...
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How historical-critical biblical scholars calculate the 490 year prophecy in Daniel 9?
Introduction
The accepted date of authorship by critical scholars for the visions in Daniel (7-12) is the second century BC (Maccabean revolt 167-3 BC). The reasoning goes that the predictions in ...
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When is the Septuagint containing manuscript "Codex Sinaiticus" dated?
I would like to know the dating of this particular manuscript that contains Deuteronomy in the Septuagint version.
How do I find that out? I mean was it written before 3rd century BC or was it ...
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Are the words Tartan and Rabshakeh Assyrian titles or proper names in Isaiah?
A recent argument involved two passages from Iasiah, 20:1 and 36:2:
When looking at the most modern translations and comparing them with older ones there is – as a tendency I presume – a glaring ...
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Dating the New Testament [closed]
Can any of the texts of the New Testament, other than Acts, 1 Thessalonians or 2 Peter (for which I already have evidence), be interpreted in such a way that they MUST have been written before the end ...
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When (and where) was the Didache written?
Since it's rediscovery, the Didache has been important to early Christian studies. Between its views on ethics, the Eucharist, and baptism, the Didache has even forced itself into debates on the ...
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When was Psalm 83 composed?
Some scholars date this Psalm to the period of the Judges, because of the many references to their victories (namely: Zevach and Tzalmuna, Sisera). Are there any other reasons why this Psalm should be ...
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What is the earliest manuscript of Amos?
What are the earliest manuscripts of Book of Amos?
user33487
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What time of the year did Jesus raise Lazarus?
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was
dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has
been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to ...
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Do we know that the Enuma Elish came before Genesis? [closed]
Can the text of Genesis be dated before Enuma Elish?
Are there any evidences for or against
I know a common idea is that the Genesis narrative, at the least, takes elements from other Near Eastern ...
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Can the Bible's relative chronology be made an 'absolute' chronology?
Chronology is defined as 'the determination of the proper sequence of past events', in other words, the arrangement of dates, events, etc, in order of occurrence.
The Bible is filled with detailed ...
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conformance of Acts with Pauline epistles
If an early (or possibly orthodox) date for the authorship of the Pauline epistles is posited (ie 50-60 CE), and a late date for Luke-Acts is simultaneously preferred (ie 100-125 CE), how is the ...
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When was Ruth written?
The setting of Ruth is in the time of the Judges:
Ruth 1:1 During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner ...
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Why should we think the Q source was an earlier source than Mark?
While I buy the evidence for Q based on parallels in Matthew and Luke that don't use Mark as a source, I find it curious that Q is often thought to be earlier than Mark. Is there evidence for this? ...
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When was Job written?
My question is when Job was written. I am not necessarily wondering when the events in Job took place, nor am I asking when the bulk of the content was written (in the case of redaction) -- though ...
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Can the final compilation of the Psalms be dated?
It seems reasonable to conclude that the Psalms were written over time by various authors, but can one reasonably date the final compilation of the Psalms? Were they compiled during the exile? Shortly ...
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When was the Torah written or compiled?
Some say the Torah was written much later, most likely during the Babylonian exile.
However, the Torah couldn’t possibly have been written after the split between Israel and Judah. They each got ...
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Revelation: Before or after AD70?
My question is about how the Book of Revelation is dated. Some say it was written before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, and others say it was written later (maybe around AD 96.)
Obviously the ...
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When was the book of Joel written?
The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. Hear
this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath
this been in your days, or in the days of your fathers? Tell ye ...
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Can we date Mark without first committing to an interpretation of the Olivet Discourse?
Most scholars believe Mark is the earliest biography of Jesus. (Paul's writings and perhaps one or two other New Testament letters are earlier, but they include very little biographical material ...
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Arguments for early/late date of authorship of Daniel
What are the most significant arguments for an early date of authorship of Daniel (6th century BC)? What are the primary arguments for a late date (2nd century BC)?
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