The Church Fathers are clear that Matthew wrote first: "External evidence is absolutely demonstrative that St. Matthew the Apostle himself wrote the Gospel of Matthew, wrote first, and wrote well before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70. This is attested to by Bishop Saint [[Papias]], who knew St. John the Apostle; [[Tertullian]] in [[Africa]]; Saint [[Irenaeus]], who was bishop of Lyons in [[Europe]] but well acquainted with the Tradition of the East, having spent a significant time in Asia; and several other witnesses. Thus we have the unanimous witness of three whole continents and virtually the entire early Christian world that Saint Matthew the Apostle is the first of the Evangelists and wrote his Gospel well before 70 A.D." <ref>https://onepeterfive.com/matthew-first-dates-gospels/</ref> | The Church Fathers are clear that Matthew wrote first: "External evidence is absolutely demonstrative that St. Matthew the Apostle himself wrote the Gospel of Matthew, wrote first, and wrote well before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70. This is attested to by Bishop Saint [[Papias]], who knew St. John the Apostle; [[Tertullian]] in [[Africa]]; Saint [[Irenaeus]], who was bishop of Lyons in [[Europe]] but well acquainted with the Tradition of the East, having spent a significant time in Asia; and several other witnesses. Thus we have the unanimous witness of three whole continents and virtually the entire early Christian world that Saint Matthew the Apostle is the first of the Evangelists and wrote his Gospel well before 70 A.D." <ref>https://onepeterfive.com/matthew-first-dates-gospels/</ref> |