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Jesus' death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate is as…

“Jesus' death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate is as sure as anything historical can ever be. For if no follower of Jesus had written anything for one hundred years after his crucifixition, we would still know about him from two authors not among his supporters. Their names are Flavius Josephus…” quote by John Dominic Crossan
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“Jesus' death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate is as sure as anything historical can ever be. For if no follower of Jesus had written anything for one hundred years after his crucifixition, we would still know about him from two authors not among his supporters. Their names are Flavius Josephus and Cornelius Tacitus.”

John Dominic Crossan

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Non‑Christian sources like Josephus and Tacitus confirm Jesus' execution, showing historical corroboration beyond Christian texts.

In simple terms: External sources confirm Jesus' death.

Key Takeaway

Consider multiple perspectives in history.

Themes

history evidence critical thinking

Mood

analytical inquisitive

Type

academic historical

When to use this quote

  • academic research
  • faith discussions
  • educational curricula
  • public debates

Key Concepts

Historical methodology source criticism

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does external corroboration mean for faith?
  • How do we assess reliability of ancient sources?
A Different Perspective

Historical records may be fragmentary or biased.

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