Jesus in History: Looking at Evidence

How can people find out the truth about Jesus - or anyone else in history? They have to look at different kinds of evidence and decide.

What kinds of evidence?

history detective link
 Be a history detective!
magnifying glass

Eyewitness accounts

The person was there and saw it happen. Are they reliable? Do they tell only one side of the story?
eyewitness accounts link
 Eyewitness Accounts
have the stories changed link
 Have the stories been changed?

Written records

How did they know - do they tell us? How long after it happened was this written? Have the facts been changed or added to?
josephus link
 Josephus - Jewish Zealot
tacitus link
 Tacitus - Roman Historian
pliny link
 Pliny - Roman Governor

Archaeology

Have things been discovered at the place where it happened that support the story? Archaeology can tell us about places, what happened there and when - but rarely who led the army or built the building.
pilate link
 The Pilate Inscription
johanan link
 Johanan - The Crucified Man
can you proove it link
 Go to 'Can you prove it?'


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