The New Testament & Authorship

Question: Is the authorship of the New Testament anonymous?

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Overview

Muslims often claim that the New Testament cannot be trusted because its authorship is anonymous. However, a book is strictly anonymous when the author does not identify themselves by name within the book. This is true even when the book’s authorship is widely known and accepted. Large portions of the Quran are technically anonymous when it is remembered that Muhammad is not mentioned by name as the author or recipient of the various chapters of the Quran. It is through tradition that these chapters (which were apparently received as distinct and separate revelations) are attributed to Muhammad and Muhammad's name occurs on only four occasions in the Quran.

Nine out of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament are anonymous (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Hebrews, First John, Second John & Third John). This means that nine books of the New Testament do not specify the name of the author within the book. Out of these nine, however, two authors identify themselves as eyewitnesses of the events related (Acts & First John), three specify the recipient (Luke, Acts & Third John), and one reports that an eyewitness provided the information comprising the book (John). Fifteen of the remaining eighteen books identify both the author and the recipient (Romans, First Corinthians, Second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, First Thessalonians, Second Thessalonians, First Timothy, Second Timothy, Titus, Philemon, First Peter & Revelation) and three identify the author without specifying the recipient (James, Second Peter & Jude).

The following is a brief summary of the authorship of each book.

Matthew: The authorship of ‘Matthew’ is anonymous. This means that the author does not identify themselves by name within the book.

Mark: The authorship of ‘Mark’ is anonymous. This means that the author does not identify themselves by name within the book.

Luke: The authorship of ‘Luke’ is anonymous. This means that the author does not identify themselves by name within the book. However, the author names Theophilus as the recipient and states that the information related has been provided by those who were eyewitnesses of the life and ministry of Jesus (1:1-4).

John: The authorship of ‘John’ is anonymous. This means that the author does not identify themselves by name within the book. However, an editorial comment states that it was written by 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (21:24-25). This disciple was reclining next to Jesus during the last night that Jesus spent with his disciples (13:21-30), was present at the crucifixion of Jesus and was given the responsibility of caring for Jesus' mother (19:25-27), saw the empty tomb along with the Apostle Peter (20:1-10), and interacted with Jesus after Jesus had risen from the dead (21:1-23). Early Christian tradition says that this disciple was the Apostle John.

Acts: The authorship of ‘Acts’ is anonymous. This means that the author does not identify themselves by name within the book. However, the author names Theophilus as the recipient and states that this is the second letter that Theophilus has received (1:1-3, see Luke 1:1-4). Furthermore, the author includes himself in some of the events narrated and claims to be an eyewitness of the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul (16:6-18, 20:7-16, 21:1-19, 27:1-29 & 28:1-16).

Romans: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘Romans’ and the Christians in Rome as the recipients (1:1-7). Tertius identifies himself as Paul’s scribe (16:22) and Phoebe from Cenchreae was likely responsible for delivering Paul's letter to Rome (16:1-2). Paul also sends greetings to Priscilla, Aquila and the church that meets at their house (16:3-5), Epenetus (16:5), Mary (16:6), Andronicus and Junia (16:7), Ampliatus (16:8), Urbanus and Stachys (16:9), Apelles (16:10), those who belong to the household of Aristobulus (16:10), Herodion (16:11), those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord (16:11), Tryphena and Tryphosa (16:12), Persis (16:12), Rufus and his mother (16:13), Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them (16:14), Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them (16:15). Greetings are also sent from Timothy, Lucius, Jason and Sosipater (16:21) as well as Gaius, Erastus and Quartus (16:23).

First Corinthians: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘First Corinthians’ and the Christians in Corinth as the recipients. Paul also names Sosthenes as a co-author (1:1-3).

Second Corinthians: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘Second Corinthians’ and the Christians in Corinth as the recipients. Paul also names Timothy as a co-author (1:1-2).

Galatians: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘Galatians’ and the Christians in Galatia as the recipients. Paul also names the brothers and sisters with him as co-authors (1:1-5).

Ephesians: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘Ephesians’ and the Christians in Ephesus as the recipients (1:1-2).

Philippians: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘Philippians’ and the Christians in Phillippi as the recipients. Paul also names Timothy as a co-author (1:1-2).

Colossians: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘Colossians’ and the Christians in Colossae as the recipients. Paul also names Timothy as a co-author (1:1-2). Tychicus and Onesimus were responsible for delivering Paul's letter to Colossae and Paul sends greetings from Aristarchus, Mark (the cousin of Barnabas), Jesus (also called Justus), Epaphras, Luke and Demas (4:7-14).

First Thessalonians: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘First Thessalonians’ and the Christians in Thessalonica as the recipients. Paul also names Silas and Timothy as co-authors (1:1).

Second Thessalonians: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘Second Thessalonians’ and the Christians in Thessalonica as the recipients. Paul also names Silas and Timothy as co-authors (1:1-2).

First Timothy: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘First Timothy’ and Timothy as the recipient (1:1-2). Timothy was in Ephesus when Paul wrote to him (1:3-4).

Second Timothy: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘Second Timothy’ and Timothy as the recipient (1:1-2). Paul also sends greetings to Priscilla, Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus and greetings from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters (4:19-21).

Titus: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘Titus’ and Titus as the recipient (1:1-4). Titus was in Crete when Paul wrote to him (1:5).

Philemon: The Apostle Paul names himself as the author of ‘Philemon’ and Philemon as the recipient. Paul also names Timothy as a co-author and Apphia, Archippus as well as the church that meets at their house as co-recipients (1:1-3).

Hebrews: The authorship of ‘Hebrews’ is anonymous. This means that the author does not identify themselves by name within the book. However, the author provides news that Timothy has been released from prison and that both may visit the recipients soon (13:23). The greetings sent from those in Italy suggest the author's location when writing (13:24).

James: James names himself as the author of ‘James’ (1:1).

First Peter: The Apostle Peter names himself as the author of ‘First Peter’ and the Christians in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia as the recipients (1:1-2). Peter also names Silas as a co-author (5:12) and mentions that Mark is with him in Babylon - a likely reference to Rome (5:13). Peter further states that he is an eyewitness of the sufferings of Jesus (5:1-4).

Second Peter: The Apostle Peter names himself as the author of ‘Second Peter’ (1:1-2). Peter also states that he is an eyewitness of the life and ministry of Jesus and specifically recalls being present (along with others) when Jesus was glorified on the mountain and God the Father spoke from heaven (1:16-18, see Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8 & Luke 9:28-36).

First John: The authorship of ‘First John’ is anonymous. This means that the author does not identify themselves by name within the book. However, the author states that he is an eyewitness (along with others) of the life and ministry of Jesus (1:1-4).

Second John: The authorship of ‘Second John’ is anonymous. This means that the author does not identify themselves by name within the book.

Third John: The authorship of ‘Third John’ is anonymous. This means that the author does not identify themselves by name within the book. However, the author names Gaius as the recipient (1:1).

Jude: Jude names himself as the author of ‘Jude’ (1:1-2).

Revelation: John names himself as the author of ‘Revelation’ and the Seven Churches in Asia as the recipients (1:4-5). These are the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea and John also states that he wrote while imprisoned on the island of Patmos (1:9-11). An editorial comment confirms that John was the author and that he received the revelation via an angel (1:1-3).