The Anonymous Gospel Manuscripts

[The Grand Nudger]

We would agree (I think) that the later copies of the book now known as Matthew would clearly state, "The Gospel According to Matthew". But if the book was published anonymously

On that count it was...we -don't- know who published these initial manuscripts anymore than we know the authors of these stories, until the church got their hands on them.  Once the church got their hands on them....we have a pretty good idea that they were publishing them.  The book predates the cannon, does it not?

or its author was unknown to the early Church,

the "early church" wasn't in any better a position to know the author than we are now...

then it would simply be a book with no name.

no...it would be the book of matthew missing attribution.

Where are the copies of that nameless book that do NOT have a title page?

 You mean torn copies, incomplete or defective copies?  

It is more probable than not that the gospels were written very early.
It is more probable than not that they were written by the men whose names are commonly assigned to them today.
It is more probable than not that these men were either eyewitnesses or hearers of eyewitnesses.
It is more probable than not that the gospels contain an historically accurate depiction of the life of Jesus.
etc, etc.

You seem to be spinning wildly out of control with your probabilities there. Sounds more like you're listing the articles of your faith than you've done any math to me.

You are correct. The early Church knew who the authors were, and that played a huge role in determining their canonical status.

We just wasted alot of time for question begging didn't we?

Now, if it is your position that the gospels were published with the names of the authors included, my next questions would be:

1. Do you think that Matthew actually wrote Matthew, that Mark actually wrote Mark, etc?

No, I don't, but I don't think it matters an iota. The story remains, and it is what it is regardless of who wrote it.

2. When did the publishing of these gospels happen? Were they published together or separately over time?

Surely this a question which is one google click away? You are again asking for the history of the church as though it doesn't exist for no reason apparent to me. We have no disagreement between us about who published these stories or when, or how. Save for one. You think the "first edition" came from the pen of matthew, as it were. Scribes are allowed. I simply can;t see why I should believe that to be the case? Because the early church fathers thought so? You might have noticed that the early church fathers and I have a wide range of disagreements of opinion.