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From our contemporary standpoint, it's easy to lose perspective about human history. The ancient Mediterranean world is a good example. We often think of it as being much a more compressed period in history than it really was.
We live closer to the time of Cleopatra than Cleopatra lived to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. She was more proximate in time to the smartphone than the Great Sphinx. And while Cleopatra is very much a figure of the ancient world, she is not a figure of myth and legend like King Minos of Crete or the hero Odysseus.
In the same way, the works collected into the New Testament were written less than 2,000 years ago. They are more proximate to the modern world than many other revered texts, including the Epic of Gilgamesh or the Vedas. The earliest texts, such as Paul's letters, were likely penned just a couple of decades after the crucifixion of Jesus. The Gospels themselves were composed within the first century.
The special contributions of Luke the Physician
Within the canon of the New Testament, the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles stand out as significant in their historical intent. Authored by the same writer, traditionally identified as Luke (who was a doctor) these two works form a cohesive narrative that traces the origins and early growth of Christianity. The Gospel of Luke begins with the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus, providing a detailed account of Jesus' ministry, teachings, death and resurrection.
The Acts of the Apostles continues the story, detailing the spread of Christianity from Jerusalem to Rome. It highlights the work of key figures such as Peter and Paul, emphasising the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the early Christian community. Luke’s meticulous attention to detail and effort to situate events within the broader historical context reflect his intention to provide a reliable account of the beginnings of the Christian faith as a work of history.
Expected discrepancies and mistakes
Despite this intent, Luke's writings are not without their controversies. There are dubious details. The census that reportedly brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem is an example of something that resists historical validation. However, the existence of central figures like Jesus, Herod and Pontius Pilate is well corroborated by other historical sources (as set out below) lending veracity to the broader narrative arcs of Luke's texts.
Errors and misdescriptions are to be expected and do not detract significantly from the overall historical value of Luke's contributions. He provides crucial insights into the socio-political landscape of Judea under Roman rule, the interplay of Jewish and Greco-Roman traditions and the growing Christian movement.
Looking at the non-Biblical sources too
Those texts of the Testament do not exist in a vacuum, of course, and to the books and letters included in the Bible we can add the writings of early Christian theologians, historians and other contemporaneous sources that help paint a fuller picture of the period and corroborate various details. For instance, the works of the Jewish historian Josephus offer valuable information on figures like Herod the Great and Pontius Pilate, as well as on key events like the Jewish-Roman conflicts.
The Dead Sea Scrolls provide insights into Jewish beliefs and practices in the period during which Christianity emerged. Roman historians such as Tacitus and Suetonius also mention Christians, providing external attestations to the movement's early momentum.
Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor of Bithynia-Pontus, offers further external attestations to the early Christian movement. In his correspondence with Emperor Trajan around 112 CE, Pliny sought advice on handling Christians in his jurisdiction. He described how Christians would meet on a fixed day before dawn to sing hymns to Christ as to a god and bind themselves by an oath not to engage in immoral acts like theft or adultery.
So what do we know?
Taking all of this together, here is what we can ascertain as a matter of historical record:
Existence and Identity: Jesus Christ was a real historical figure who lived in the 1st century in the regions of Judea and Galilee, which were then under Roman rule.
Occupation and Teachings: Jesus was known as a Jewish preacher and teacher, with his teachings including parables and discussions on Jewish law. His teachings included parables, discourses on Jewish law, and exhortations to repentance and ethical living. He emphasised the Kingdom of God and often used vivid imagery and storytelling to convey his messages.
Claims of Miracles and Healings: It was claimed by followers and detractors alike that Jesus performed miracles and healings, attracting large crowds.
Conflict with Authorities: His teachings and actions often put him at odds with the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman authorities, leading to tensions that played a role in his arrest.
Crucifixion: He was crucified under the order of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Crucifixion was a common Roman method of execution for political rebels and criminals, underscoring the gravity of the charges against him.
Claims of Resurrection: His followers claimed that he rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion. This event immediately became a central tenet of Christian faith, giving rise to the belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the saviour of humanity.
The Spread of Christianity: After his death and claimed resurrection, the movement quickly spread beyond Jewish communities to Gentiles across the Roman Empire.
These facts have not always been accepted. For example, it was common to doubt that Pontius Pilate existed as a historical figure due to a lack of corroborating evidence outside of the Bible. However, the discovery of the "Pilate Stone" in 1961, an inscription bearing his name and title as the Roman governor of Judea, provided archaeological confirmation of his historical presence.
Other details given credibility
However, the discovery of the remains of a crucified man named Yehohanan in 1968 challenged this assumption. His bones, found in an ossuary in a family tomb near Jerusalem, bore the marks of crucifixion, including a nail still embedded in his heel bone.
This archaeological find demonstrated that at least some crucifixion victims were given proper burials in accordance with Jewish customs. It aligns with the New Testament account that Jesus was buried in a rock-hewn tomb after being taken down from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea. Despite the general Roman practice of leaving crucified bodies to decompose on the cross or be discarded in mass graves, local customs and religious sensitivities could lead to exceptions.
Does this prove Jesus is God?
No. While the above lends credibility to belief, it does not definitively prove the divinity of Jesus or the miraculous events claimed by his followers. But it does show the continuity of the core beliefs and narratives of Christianity as something rooted in real historical events and claims.
To get to the next point, we need to examine and consider the implications of the empty tomb.