The earliest dates of the earliest writings we have about the life of Jesus come over a decade after he was crucified, we don't have eyewitness accounts or any timely ledgers, letters or news clippings, yet the stories go back to his birth and not written by family or acquaintances.
Here's the list of biblical, apocryphal, and secular writings that speak of Jesus, ordered from earliest to latest approximate date of composition. Dates are scholarly estimates and can vary.
Mid-1st Century CE (c. 45-65 CE)
* James: c. 45-48 CE (potentially the earliest NT writing)
* Paul's Undisputed Letters: c. 50s-early 60s CE (e.g., Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon)
* 1 Peter: c. 62-64 CE
* Hebrews: c. 64-69 CE
Late 1st Century CE (c. 65-100 CE)
* Gospel of Mark: c. 65-75 CE
* Jude: c. 40-80 CE (though often placed later, some scholars suggest an early date)
* Didache: Late 1st century CE
* Gospel of Luke: c. 60-80 CE
* Acts of the Apostles: c. 80-90 CE
* Gospel of Matthew: c. 70-100 CE (often placed c. 80-90 CE)
* Josephus (Jewish Historian): Antiquities of the Jews (completed c. 93 CE)
* 1 Clement: c. 96 CE
* Gospel of John: c. 90-110 CE (with some origins possibly dating back to 70 CE or earlier)
* Revelation: c. 95-96 CE
Early to Mid-2nd Century CE (c. 100-150 CE)
* Epistle of Barnabas: c. 70-135 CE
* Gospel of Thomas: c. 60-140 CE (depending on the version and interpretation)
* Pliny the Younger (Roman Governor): Letters (Letter to Trajan, Book 10, Letter 96, c. 112 CE)
* Tacitus (Roman Historian): Annals (c. 115-120 CE)
* Suetonius (Roman Biographer): Lives of the Caesars (c. 121 CE)
* 2 Peter & Johannine Letters (1, 2, 3 John): Late 1st to early 2nd century CE
* Gospel of Mary: Early 2nd century CE
* Shepherd of Hermas: Late 1st to mid-2nd century CE
* Justin Martyr (Christian Apologist): First Apology (c. 155-157 CE - though slightly later than mid-2nd century, it often refers to earlier traditions and sources.)
Mid- to Late 2nd Century CE and Beyond
* Gospel of Judas: c. 100-180 CE
* Infancy Gospel of Thomas & Protevangelium of James: Mid- to late 2nd century CE
* Gospel of Philip: c. 150-300 CE
Here's the list of biblical, apocryphal, and secular writings that speak of Jesus, ordered from earliest to latest approximate date of composition. Dates are scholarly estimates and can vary.
Mid-1st Century CE (c. 45-65 CE)
* James: c. 45-48 CE (potentially the earliest NT writing)
* Paul's Undisputed Letters: c. 50s-early 60s CE (e.g., Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Philemon)
* 1 Peter: c. 62-64 CE
* Hebrews: c. 64-69 CE
Late 1st Century CE (c. 65-100 CE)
* Gospel of Mark: c. 65-75 CE
* Jude: c. 40-80 CE (though often placed later, some scholars suggest an early date)
* Didache: Late 1st century CE
* Gospel of Luke: c. 60-80 CE
* Acts of the Apostles: c. 80-90 CE
* Gospel of Matthew: c. 70-100 CE (often placed c. 80-90 CE)
* Josephus (Jewish Historian): Antiquities of the Jews (completed c. 93 CE)
* 1 Clement: c. 96 CE
* Gospel of John: c. 90-110 CE (with some origins possibly dating back to 70 CE or earlier)
* Revelation: c. 95-96 CE
Early to Mid-2nd Century CE (c. 100-150 CE)
* Epistle of Barnabas: c. 70-135 CE
* Gospel of Thomas: c. 60-140 CE (depending on the version and interpretation)
* Pliny the Younger (Roman Governor): Letters (Letter to Trajan, Book 10, Letter 96, c. 112 CE)
* Tacitus (Roman Historian): Annals (c. 115-120 CE)
* Suetonius (Roman Biographer): Lives of the Caesars (c. 121 CE)
* 2 Peter & Johannine Letters (1, 2, 3 John): Late 1st to early 2nd century CE
* Gospel of Mary: Early 2nd century CE
* Shepherd of Hermas: Late 1st to mid-2nd century CE
* Justin Martyr (Christian Apologist): First Apology (c. 155-157 CE - though slightly later than mid-2nd century, it often refers to earlier traditions and sources.)
Mid- to Late 2nd Century CE and Beyond
* Gospel of Judas: c. 100-180 CE
* Infancy Gospel of Thomas & Protevangelium of James: Mid- to late 2nd century CE
* Gospel of Philip: c. 150-300 CE