BIBLE and INTERPRETATION
RETHINKING THE DATES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT The Evidence for Early Composition Jonathan Bernier
This paradigm-shifting study is the first book-length investigation into the compositional dates of the New Testament to be published in over forty years. Jonathan Bernier argues that the majority of the New Testament texts were composed before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE—which, with the notable exception of the undisputed Pau- line Epistles, is twenty to thirty years earlier than typically supposed by contemporary biblical scholars. Bernier also considers several early Christian texts that are often dated around the same time as the New Testament—namely, 1 Clement, the Didache, the Epistle of Barnabas, and the Shepherd of Hermas. Whereas these texts are usu- ally dated to the late first through the mid-second century, Bernier argues that most should be dated to the first century. What emerges is a revised view of how quickly early Christians produced what became the seminal texts for their new movement. New Testament scholars, professors and students of the New Testament, pastors, and church leaders will value this work. “Bernier’s study on the dating of early Christian literature is bold and disruptive in a field that has become compla- cent on such matters. Bernier aims to replace and im- prove on Robinson, and he has.” —CHRIS KEITH, St. Mary’s University; University of Notre Dame Australia “This book is a major contribution to the study of Christian origins. It not only needs to be read; it needs to be reckoned with.” —BRANT PITRE, Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology “Bernier has written the go-to book on dating the collection of texts now known as the New Testament (and some of the Apostolic Fathers).” —ISAAC T. SOON, Crandall University “A must-read for anyone interested in historical approaches to the New Testament or early Christianity.” —JORDAN J. RYAN, Wheaton College
Jonathan Bernier (PhD, McMaster University) is assistant professor of New Testament at Regis College, University of Toronto, where he also serves as ex- ecutive director of the Lonergan Research Institute. He has written several books, including The Quest for the Historical Jesus after the Demise of Authenticity . MAY 2022 • 336 pp. • paper • $29.99 • 9781540961808
CONTENTS
PART 4: HEBREWS AND THE LETTERS OF JAMES, PETER, AND JUDE 7. Hebrews and James 8. 1 and 2 Peter and Jude PART 5: EARLY EXTRA- CANONICAL WRITINGS 9. 1 Clement and the Didache 10. The Epistle of Barnabas and the Shepherd of Hermas Conclusion Indexes
Introduction PART 1: THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS AND ACTS 1. Synchronization 2. Contextualization and Authorial Biography PART 2: THE JOHANNINE TRADITION 3. The Gospel of John 4. The Epistles of John and Revelation PART 3: THE PAULINE CORPUS 5. Critical Matters in Dating the Pauline Corpus 6. The Compositional Dates of the Pauline Corpus
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