Reading the New Testament chronologically

[Ziploc Surprise]

Beginning with seven of Paul's letters illustrates that there were vibrant Christian communities spread throughout the Roman Empire before there were written Gospels. His letters provide a "window" into the life of very early Christian communities.

Well, that's the story but in order to believe it you have to accept their own traditions.

As has been noted before, the earliest xtian apologist, Justin Martyr, never heard of Paul, his letters or the named gospels c 160 AD. Xtians like to scoot right by that fact but it does suggest that xtianity ( at least what came to be the orthodox version of it ) was cobbled together in the late 2d and early 3d centuries.

Whoever wrote what book, it should have been written in the context of the time it was written in. I thought context is one things they used to date texts. Whoever wrote the stories, the order in which they were written shows a developing theology. In fact a book series (any book series) written over a number of years shows things like the author's developing skill, descent into madness, the changing times and or attitudes, or the author's maturing process. Even with just a single author you can kind of tell which book was written first.

Is this not correct?

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It's also good to read the Narnia and Wizard of Oz series in chronological order too.

Yes, I agree, It's hard to follow a story when it's out of order. BTW very funny comment there.