What can history tell us about Jesus?
The Historical Jesus Project is a collection of articles on what scholars know about Jesus of Nazareth, how they know it, and where they disagree. It is written for readers of every faith and none.
Most Asked Questions
Did Jesus Actually Exist?
Almost certainly. Nearly all historians, religious or not, agree he was a real person.
Read the answerWhat Did Jesus Look Like?
Probably like other Jewish men of his time and place: olive-brown skin, dark hair, about 5 foot 5.
Read the answerWho Wrote the Gospels?
We don't know for sure. The names were added later, and most scholars think none was written by an eyewitness.
Read the answerWhat Is the Historical Jesus?
The person historians can reconstruct from ancient evidence, as distinct from the Christ of faith.
Read the answerWhat Language Did Jesus Speak?
Aramaic, almost certainly. He may also have known some Hebrew and a little Greek.
Read the answerWhy Was Jesus Crucified?
Rome executed him, most likely as a threat to public order around Passover in Jerusalem.
Read the answer
Sources and Evidence
What survives from the ancient world, who wrote it, and how much weight it can bear.
- Did Jesus Actually Exist?Nearly every historian says yes. Here is why, and what that answer does and doesn't settle.
- Sample Headline: Non-Christian SourcesPlaceholder subtitle. A short second beat for the headline goes here.
Historical Method
How scholars move from old texts to careful claims, and where those tools fall short.
- Sample Headline: Reading the GospelsPlaceholder subtitle. A short second beat for the headline goes here.
- Who Wrote the Gospels?Coming soon.
- What Is the Historical Jesus?Coming soon.
The World of Jesus
The Jewish life, Roman rule, and daily realities of first-century Galilee and Judea.
- Sample Headline: Jesus the JewPlaceholder subtitle. A short second beat for the headline goes here.
- What Did Jesus Look Like?Coming soon.
- What Language Did Jesus Speak?Coming soon.
Life and Death
What can be said about the main events of his life, from birth to crucifixion.
- Sample Headline: When Was Jesus Born?Placeholder subtitle. A short second beat for the headline goes here.
- Why Was Jesus Crucified?Coming soon.
The Earliest Sources
Jesus left no writings of his own. This is how soon others wrote about him.
| Date (CE) | Source | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| c. 30 | Jesus is executed | The starting point |
| c. 50–60 | Paul's letters | About 25 years later |
| c. 70 | Gospel of Mark | About 40 years later |
| c. 80–100 | Matthew, Luke, John | 50 to 70 years later |
| c. 93 | Josephus | About 63 years later |
| c. 112 | Pliny the Younger | About 82 years later |
| c. 116 | Tacitus | About 86 years later |