Who wrote the Gospels, and when?

The Church receives the Gospels as inspired, historically reliable testimony to Jesus Christ. Ancient tradition identifies their authors as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, though their exact dates and processes of composition are not matters of dogma.

Who wrote them. Matthew was one of the Twelve Apostles and an eyewitness to Christ's ministry. Mark was a companion of St. Peter and recorded the apostolic preaching associated with him. Luke, a companion of St. Paul, carefully investigated the testimony handed down by eyewitnesses (Lk 1:1-4). John was an apostle and is traditionally identified with the beloved disciple whose testimony stands behind the fourth Gospel (Jn 21:20-24). St. Irenaeus gave this fourfold attribution in the second century, drawing on an already established tradition.

When they were written. The Church has not defined exact dates. Common scholarly estimates place Mark around AD 65 to 70, Matthew and Luke around AD 70 to 90, and John around AD 90 to 100. Some scholars argue for earlier dates, especially for Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Catholics may hold different responsible views because the dates are questions of historical scholarship, not articles of faith.

How the Gospels took shape. The Catechism describes three stages: the life and teaching of Jesus, the apostles' oral preaching after the Resurrection, and the written Gospels produced under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (CCC 126). The evangelists selected, arranged, and explained material for the needs of their readers while faithfully communicating the truth about Jesus. The Church firmly holds that the four Gospels faithfully hand on what Jesus truly did and taught for our salvation (CCC 126; Dei Verbum 19).

What authorship means. Divine inspiration does not turn an evangelist into a passive secretary. God worked through each author's memory, research, vocabulary, sources, and pastoral purpose. That helps explain why the Gospels sometimes arrange events differently or report the same saying with slightly different wording. These variations reflect distinct witnesses and emphases, not four different Christs. Scripture teaches faithfully and without error the truth God wished to reveal for our salvation (CCC 105-107).

When reading a Gospel, begin with its human author and audience, then ask what the Holy Spirit reveals through that testimony about Jesus. A good first step is to read one Gospel straight through, with Mark being the shortest.