Why was Luke's Gospel considered the third gospel?

A:Biblical scholars have established the order in which the New Testament gospels were written, as well as the approximate dates for each. We know that Mark's Gospel was written first, around 70 CE. Matthew and Luke were written after Mark, since the authors relied on Mark for much of the material in their own gospels. John's Gospel is believed to have been inspired by Luke's Gospel, and so comes afterwards, as the fourth gospel. Thus, Mark and John were the first and fourth gospels respectively, and Matthew and Luke were the third and fourth, in whichever order can be established.

One reason for placing Matthew before Luke is the progressive development of anti-Jewish sentiment in Christianity over the second half of the first century. Paul was proud of his Jewish background and reveals no anti-Jewish sentiment in the communities he visited. Mark's Gospel reflects some antipathy agaisnt the Pharisees and scribes, more than against Jews generally. Matthew is moderately anti-Jewish and Lukemuch more so. John's Gospel is clearly antagonistic to the Jews. Thus, Luke's Gospel fits into an evolving pattern as the third gospel.

Scholars believe that Matthew's Gospel was written during the eighties of the first century, although Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) says that several years should be allowed either side of that decade. The consensus is that Luke was written no earlier than 90 CE, and possibly later. Some scholars see a literary dependency on Antiquities of the Jews, published in 93 CE by the Jewish historian Josephus. Acts of the Apostles, written by the same author not long afterwards, seems to show a very clear dependency on the works of Josephus. If so, Luke is unlikely to have been written much before the end of the century. This, again, would place Lukeafter Matthew and therefore the third gospel written.