Century Quote by Bart D. Ehrman
“In the entire first Christian century Jesus is not mentioned by a single Greek or Roman historian, religion scholar, politician, philosopher or poet. His name never occurs in a single inscription, and it is never found in a single piece of private correspondence. Zero! Zip references!”
About This Quote
Source Book: Jesus, Interrupted by Bart D. Ehrman, 2009
Historical evidence for Jesus is absent in contemporary secular records, highlighting reliance on later religious texts.
In simple terms: No contemporary secular mentions of Jesus.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of historical sources.
Themes
history
religion
evidence
skepticism
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
scholarly
informative
When to use this quote
- academic research
- faith discussions
- education
- media reporting
Key Concepts
source criticism
historical methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we assess historical claims with limited sources?
- What role should faith play when evidence is scarce?
A Different Perspective
Absence of evidence is not proof of non‑existence; gaps may be due to record loss.
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