Final answer:
The big defining line for determining the date of a gospel's writing involves historical, linguistic, and textual analysis. The gospels were composed approximately 60 years after Jesus's death, around 90 CE. Scholars use references to historical events, textual analysis, and material study to estimate composition dates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The big defining line for determining when a gospel was written involves analyzing historical context, linguistic and textual evidence, and manuscript dating. The four canonical gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - were written by different authors, each providing a unique account of Jesus's life and teachings. These texts were transmitted orally before being formally recorded in text. The precise dating of the gospels is determined by scholarly research, which suggests that the written versions were produced around 90 CE, some 60 years after Jesus's death. Scholars look at a variety of factors, including references to historical events, stylistic analysis, and citations by other ancient texts, to estimate the time of composition.
Manuscripts like the Gospel Book of Charlemagne and the Armenian Gospel manuscript by T'oros Roslin, with their elaborate decoration and historical context, also provide insights into the reverence and treatment of gospel texts throughout history. Meticulous craftsmanship and the use of luxurious materials such as gold ink and purple-dyed vellum indicate the significance placed on these texts. From the early days of Christianity, where there was an abundance of debate over Christ's message, to the establishment of the definitive version of the Bible by the Western Church in 1442, the process of determining the gospels' chronology is an intricate blend of theological, historical, and textual research.