The Evidence Base
Every claim on this site links back to a source here. We tell you what's strong, what's debated, and what remains uncertain. You shouldn't have to take our word for anything.
Roman historian, c. AD 116. References the execution of "Christus" under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius. Independent of Christian sources and broadly regarded as authentic.
Where to read it: available in any scholarly edition of Tacitus; public-domain translations are online. Add source link ↗
Jewish historian, c. AD 93. Two passages mention Jesus. The shorter (Book 20) is widely accepted; the longer (the "Testimonium Flavianum") is generally thought to contain later Christian additions to an authentic core. We flag this honestly rather than overclaim.
Note: scholars dispute the exact wording, not whether Josephus mentioned Jesus. Add source link ↗
Roman governor, c. AD 112. Describes early Christians worshipping Christ "as to a god." Evidence of the movement's early spread and practice, not of any miracle claim.
Thousands of Greek manuscripts survive, far more than for most ancient texts. Their number is not in dispute; what scholars debate is what the variations between copies mean. We link to both confident and critical assessments.
Some questions — whether the resurrection happened, whether God exists — cannot be settled by historical documents alone. Those are matters of evidence and faith, and we mark them in rust above. We will never dress a faith claim up as a proven fact.