Episode description

On this episode, Shane interacts with statements made on a History Channel documentary about the reference to Jesus in the writings of Josephus. Some claim that the passage is a complete forgery, while others argue that the passage was mildly interpolated. So, outside the Gospels, what can we really know about Jesus from history? Do the Gospels qualify as history, or should they be set aside as works of religious propaganda?

SHOW NOTES• For further reading on this topic, check out Shane’s articles: “On Faith & History,” “Why Should We Believe the Bible?”, and “Authenticating the Fourth Gospel.”

• If you’d like to listen to other interviews related to this episode, check out Shane’s interview with John Dickson (author of A Doubter’s Guide to Jesus), as well as his conversation with Daniel Boyarin (author of The Jewish Gospels). If you’d like to hear the full discussion related to Josephus, here’s a link to the complete interview with Paul Maier.

• The clips featuring Simcha Jacobovici originally appeared on this episode of The Naked Archaeologist. We Need Your Help!Consider supporting The Humble Skeptic podcast by making a one-time gift or by upgrading to a paid subscription via Substack ($5.95 per month, $59 per year). Use the button below for more information about giving options.