Accounts Quote by Bart D. Ehrman
“In terms of the historical record, I should also point out that there is no account in any ancient source whatsoever about King Herod slaughtering children in or around Bethlehem, or anyplace else. No other author, biblical or otherwise, mentions this event. Is it, like John's account of Jesus' death, a detail made up by Matthew in order to make some kind of theological point?”
About This Quote
Source Book: Misquoting Jesus, Bart D. Ehrman, 2005
The claim that Herod killed children in Bethlehem lacks any corroborating ancient source, suggesting it may be a later theological invention.
In simple terms: No ancient source confirms Herod's massacre of children.
Key Takeaway
Question the historicity of biblical narratives.
Themes
history
theology
critical scholarship
Mood
skeptical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic research
- religious education
- public discourse
Key Concepts
source criticism
myth formation
historical methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we assess claims lacking primary evidence?
- What motives might drive later authors to add such details?
A Different Perspective
Historical records are incomplete; some traditions may arise from later interpretation.
![“Luke [the gospel writer] screws up his dating by tactlessly mentioning events that historians are capable of independently checking. There was indeed a census under Governor Quirinius - a local census, not one decreed by Caesar Augustus for the Empire as a whole - but it happened too late in 6 AD…” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5d9/richard-dawkins-115_ads_luke-the-gospel-writer-screws-up-his-dat_1114686.jpg)
