13. The earliest editions of the canonical gospels of Christianity have been lost to history
Dating from the latter half of the first century of the Common Era, the three synoptic gospels, attributed to Matthew, Mark, and Luke but anonymously authored, as well as a fourth canonical text by John, provide the foundational basis of the Christian doctrine. The first to be written, the Gospel of Mark most likely dates from between 66-70, whilst Matthew and Luke are believed to originate around 85-90 and John 90-110. Despite providing first-hand accounts, none of these religious writings were penned by actual eyewitnesses to the events detailed, due in large part to a belief by the earliest of Christians that Jesus’ return would be imminent and thus there was no need to record for future generations.
Consequently only appearing a generation after the death of Jesus of Nazareth, as his followers settled into a longer wait and living memory began to fade demanding enduring written accounts, in spite of the presumed age of the religious texts the oldest surviving copies of the canonical gospels date to only the second century of the Common Era. As is known concerning future revisions and selective inclusions of subsequent Christian texts, with several alternative gospels excluded from the canon by religious authorities for various (and often political) reasons, the loss of these first drafts has precluded access to the definitive and least politicized or manipulated versions.