RedHanded ShortHand: Did Jesus Exist?
Mar 31, 2026
They probe the claim that Jesus of Nazareth never existed and outline the 19th century mythicist movement. They explain how historians build probabilistic pictures from fragmentary evidence and why the Gospels and Paul matter. They weigh non-Christian references like Josephus and Tacitus against mythicist objections and conclude on the mainstream scholarly stance about a historical Jesus.
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19th Century Jesus Myth Movement Summarised
- The hosts recount the 19th-century emergence of the Jesus myth theory with three central claims: mistrust of the New Testament, scarcity of non-Christian mentions, and weak later sources.
- They illustrate the movement's structure and common skeptic arguments.
Embarrassing Details Strengthen Historicity Argument
- Scholars argue Christians would unlikely invent an embarrassing, fallible Messiah, which supports historicity.
- Stories of doubt, failed prophecies, and disciples' cowardice make fabrication less plausible to many historians.
Josephus Provides Independent Early References
- Several non-Christian writers mention Jesus within decades of his death, providing external attestation.
- Josephus refers to Jesus as a "wise man" executed by Pilate, and a later passage references James, brother of Jesus.