Thank you for the question on the authenticity of the New Testament, “Which scripture of the New Testament is considered the most authentic both chronologically and scientifically?”
As I read this question, it feels like it is a trolling question. It is asking for Scriptures that is “most authentic both chronologically and scientifically.” It is implying as some respondents has already stated that Scriptures is inauthentic and neither chronological and scientific as with archaeological evidences. Am I reading into this question? I admit that I may be but also what is the motivation in posing the question in its wording?
Having said that, I will attempt to show that the Gospel of Luke is most chronological and archaeological accurate.
A. The author cites/claims that other writers have written about the events that happened in Israel (Luke 1:1–2).
The Gospel of Matthew, Mark, and John, and other writings that has been categorized as Pseudepigrapha do show that others believed Jesus Christ existed. The Didache date to about 150 CE which instructs how Christians are to live as followers of Jesus. Josephus and Tacitus both mentions Jesus or the Christ, dating about 110 CE.
I am fully aware that scholars assert that Josephus and Tacitus citations of Christ or Christus was asserted into his writings. My response is that if Christians were to make a statement from Josephus’ writing about Jesus or the Christ that they would say a lot more and lot more clearer about Jesus than what is written!
B. The author asserts that he has investigate carefully from the beginning and give an orderly account of it (Luke 1:3).
The Gospel of Luke is an orderly or chronological account of what the author carefully investigated by the author. The author has no reason to lie to Theophilus of the things that he has already been taught. The letter was written to one man, not a church. Papyrus 75 which a portion of Luke is dated between 175 to 225 CE (History of Information).
C. The author asserts that Augustus was Caesar over the Roman Empire (Luke 2:1).
Historians date Caesar Augustus reign from 31 BCE to 14 CE. No historian questions the existence of Caesar Augustus. This dating of the birth of Jesus is within the rule of Augustus Caesar. There is a dispute on the census given by Qurinius who was governor of Syria. Is it possible that the author got the dates incorrect or were there two census. The person Qurinius is not in question, but the dating of it is in question (Luke 2:2).
D. The author asserts the civil and religious leaders of and over Israel (Luke 3:1–2).
The author lists civil and religious leaders over Israel. The list includes Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Berea and Traconitia, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene with Annas and Caiaphas as high priests. The listing of the civil and religious leaders of and over Israel is generally not contested by historians.
E. The author asserts a genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:21–38).
This genealogy is different from Matthew’s account. Is this a contradiction? At the time of the writing of the genealogy, Joseph has already died. The author could not asked for Joseph’s lineage, but he was able to write Mary’s genealogy and her recollection of the birth of Jesus.
F. The author asserts that Jesus was crucified (Luke 23).
The method of execution by non-Romans were by crucifixion. Throughout Roman history, crucifixion was used by them for criminals to set an example for others. Whether the cross was an X or T is not a crucial point, but the person was crucified.
There are other citations that has been confirmed that denarius is a coin with Caesar’s image on it. The cities cited are real as Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, Bethany, Tyre, Sidon. They are not fictitious cities. The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus in 70 CE.
One may question the events in the Gospel of Luke as being true or fable as to the healing of individuals, walking on water, multiplying of bread, casting out of evil spirit, or even the resurrection of Jesus. Who knows whether our modern technology may discover the means of regeneration of tissues or food, the detecting of the “spirit” of a person or evil spirit by scanning them.
SUMMARY: The Gospel of Luke is both chronological with its people and places having been authenticated by archaeologists or historians.
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