What does all this prove to us? It proves that we possess the background of the compilation of the Gospels.
A Second and even more significant piece of historical evidence is the discovery of ancient Biblical manuscripts and fragments.
Some of these are:
Codex Vaticanus, dated earlier than year 350, containing the whole Bible up to Hebr.9:15
Codex Sinaiticus, dated around year 350, containing the entire New Testament of the Bible
Bodmer Papyri, dated year 175, containing almost the full Gospel of John, and large parts of the Gospel of Luke chapter 3 up to John 15
Chester Betty Papyri, dated year 90-300, with the Four Gospels and Acts dating 150-200, and the epistles of the apostle Paul by some dated between year 90 and 100
The Death Sea Scrolls (Cave Seven) the findings of several New Testament fragments, e.g. the Gospel of Mark (fragments from chapters 4, 6 and 12), also fragments from the book of Acts, Romans,
Romans, 1 Timothy, 2 Peter and James.
The Magdalen Papyrus (P64), which is Matthew 26:7-8, 10, 14-15, 22-23 and 31, dated before 66 A.D
Dead Sea Scroll (MSS 7Q5) which is Mark 6:52-53, dated 68 A.D, some would even say 50 AD
Dead Sea Scroll (MSS 7Q4), which is 1 Timothy 3:16-4:3, dated before 68 A.D.
The Barcelona Papyrus (P67), which is Matthew 3:9, 15 and Matthew 5:20-22, 25-28, dated before 66 A.D.
The Paris Papyrus (P4), which is Luke 3:23, 5:36, dated 66 A.D.
The Bodmer Papyrus (II) (Johannine Codex P66), which is the Gospel of John, "a near complete manuscript, dated 125 A.D
Therefore according to Historical evidence, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John can be dated historically 150 AD, and not only dated separately but dated to be collected into one collection (Chester Betty Papyrus).
Other collections, such as Bodmer Papyrus, usually dated 175 but possibly much earlier, also reveals this collection.
Still however, these are only copied collections of other earlier collections, which points out that the Gospels existed in a collection even before 150.
This can be attested by Chester Betty Papyrus it self, but also from individual manuscripts and fragments dated even earlier than Chester Betty.
As seen above some of these fragments, such as Matthew, Mark and Luke can be dated down to the middle of the first century, only twenty years after Jesus death.
These fragments reveal writings on both sides, which correspond exactly to the Gospel writings of today.
Thus we cannot claim that these Gospels are written even near to the end of the first Century.
These simply confirm that the Bible and Gospel we read to day has virtually been the same since the very beginning.
Thirdly, there are the evidence from the Early Church Fathers and their quotations of the New Testament:
Second historical lines of evidence are the writings of early Christian theologians.
It is not unusual to hear such ignorant claims that the New Testament (Christian Biblical writings) were simply developed over a period of centuries with a final compilation in the fourth century.
However such a claim needs first to be weighed against the manuscript evidence and secondly against the writings of early Christian theologians, for example:
Justin Martyr (writing year 133 AD) refers to the four Gospels, the Book of Acts and the epistles 330 times
Irenaeus (living late second century) refers to the Gospels 1038 times, Acts 194 times, Paul’s epistles 499 times, the other epistles 23 time and the Book of Revelation 65 times, with a total of 1819 times
Clement of Alexandria (living 150-212) refers to the Gospels 1017 times, Acts 44 times, Paul 1127 times, Revelation 11 times, the other epistles 207 times, with a total of 2406 times.
Origin (living 185-254) refers to the Gospels 9231 times, Acts 349 times, Paul 7778 times, other epistles 399 times, Revelation 165 times, with a total of 17.922 times.
If the critic is correct in concluding that the New Testament books were merely fabrications up to middle fourth century, then how come (1) Clement of Alexandria (year 150-212) cites from all New Testament writings except three books.
Or to take an even earlier example, (2) that of Ignatius (year 70-110 AD) who wrote seven letters containing quotes from: Matthew, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Galatians, Colossians, James, I and II Thessalonians, I and II Timothy and I Peter.
This proves (just to mention two cases) the whole of the New Testament to be in the hands of theologians based in various places in the first and second century.
Secondly this gives additional evidence to the reliability of the New Testament Biblical text.
It has been estimated that the quotations of the early theologians of the New Testament text up to the fourth century covers the whole of the New Testament except eleven verses.
Funny that none of these refer to the so called Gospel which is missing out of the Muslim picture
Funny this Gospel is not to be found among any of these early manuscripts, why?
Funny that there is not even a trace of the Muslim Gospel
From this point of view, the Muslim religion is historically, totally debunked.