Our modern New Testaments are not arranged chronologically, which sometimes causes misunderstandings. While the Gospels discuss the events of Jesus’ life (the crucifixion took place in 30 or 33 A.D.), the earliest Gospel probably was not written down until the 60s. The Apostle Paul wrote many of his letters before the Gospels. This historical perspective is helpful when assessing arguments over material that some scholars may deem a “later theological development” in the early church. For example the “kenotic hymn” of Philippians 2 exhibits a very high view of Christ, despite Paul most likely writing Philippians before the Gospel writers completed their writings.  Note the exalted status afforded to Christ in Philippians 2:5-8:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:5-8 NAU)

Some scholars believe these verse were a pre-existing hymn that Paul incorporated into his letter. If this theory is correct, then the high view of Christ can be traced to an even earlier time. Arguments, therefore, that assume a high view of Christ (i.e. his divinity) always reflects a later church development contain an invalid presupposition.

The table below arranges the NT books by their likely date of composition. Most NT books are difficult to date with precision, which is why discussions about dating can often be lengthy and still not definitive. The dating of the various writings depends on views of authorship, so I have included two columns of dates. The books are listed chronologically, according to their earlier, more conservative dating, but the right hand column provides dates from a more skeptical view. Of course, these dates are further debated within their respective “conservative” and “skeptical” camps, but I have tried to give the most common views from my own subjective survey of the data. For the most part, I have disregarded the “outliers” of either camp. I hope readers find the following table helpful.

Earlier, more conservative dating	NT Book (Listed Chronologically)	Later, more skeptical dating
Early 50s	1 Thessalonians	Early 50s
Early 50s	2 Thessalonians	Early 50s (later if forged)
Early 50s	Galatians	Mid 50s
55-57	1 Corinthians	Mid 50s
55-57	2 Corinthians	Mid 50s
Approximately 57	Romans	Approximately 57
Approximately 60	James	70s or later
Early 60s	Philemon	60s
Early 60s	Philippians	60s
Early 60s	Colossians	Early 60s (70-90 if forged)
Early 60s	Ephesians	70-100
Early 60s	1 Timothy	90-110
60s	Gospel of Mark	Late 60s
Mid 60s	Titus	90-110
Mid 60s	2 Timothy	90-110
Mid 60s	1 Peter	80s
Late 60s	Hebrews	60-95
Late 60s	2 Peter	80-110
Approximately 70	Gospel of Matthew	80-95
70s-80s	Gospel of Luke	85-95
70s-80s	Acts	85-95
Approximately 80	Jude	Approximately 80?
Approximately 90	Gospel of John	Approximately 100
Early 90s	1 John	100-125
Early 90s	2 John	100-125
Early 90s	3 John	100-125
Approximately 95	Revelation	100-125