RedHanded Podcast — ShortHand: Did Jesus Exist?

Date: March 31, 2026
Hosts: Skeptical Historian & Moderate Historian

Episode Overview

This episode of RedHanded's "ShortHand" series dives into the provocative question: Did Jesus really exist? The hosts investigate the shifting landscape of historical belief, analyzing scholarly consensus, biblical sources, and external references to address whether Jesus of Nazareth was a real historical figure or a mythical construction. Along the way, the conversation unpacks arguments from both sides with skepticism, wit, and a touch of irreverence.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Question at Hand: Separating Myth from History

• The hosts immediately clarify the episode's aim: not whether Jesus was the miracle-working Son of God, but rather if a preacher named Yeshua (Jesus) lived, taught, and was executed in 1st-century Palestine.
  • “The question is, is there reliable evidence that a man named Jesus of Nazareth lived in Palestine about 2,000 years ago, preached about Galilee and drew a loyal following for his teachings?” – Moderate Historian [04:16]

2. The Skeptic’s Corner: Arguments for Doubt

• The 19th-century rise of the "Jesus Myth" theory, detailed in three main skeptical positions:
  1. The New Testament as History: The New Testament is not an unbiased historical record; relying on it is “like using Netflix to prove the existence of Squid Game.” – Skeptical Historian [05:41]
  2. The Silence of Contemporaries: Jesus is not mentioned in any non-Christian writings until decades after he allegedly died; no eyewitness accounts are available, despite other extensive records for that era.
  3. Dependent & Thin External Mentions: References that do exist in later Roman and Jewish sources are brief, second-hand, or potentially influenced by Christians.

3. The Evidence: What Actually Exists?

• Archaeology: Largely a dead end; famous relics (Shroud of Turin, Holy Grails) are not serious historical evidence.
• Biblical Sources:
  • Pauline Epistles: Earliest Christian texts, written ~20 years after Jesus's death; emphasize theology but almost nothing about Jesus’s life. However, Paul claims contact with Jesus’s brother James—a strong, if indirect, hint toward historicity. [07:44]
  • Gospels: Written for Christians, reflect current events in 1st-century Palestine and are thus somewhat valuable as historical context, even if biased and embellished.

Notable Quote

"Events that happen in and around the stories in the Gospels accurately match up with other accounts of goings on in Palestine at the time. And that is a big tick for historians." – Skeptical Historian [08:42]

4. Embarrassment as Evidence

• "Why make your hero embarrassing?"
  • Many early Christians included unflattering stories about Jesus and his followers, such as failed miracles, embarrassing executions, or bickering disciples.
  • Historians argue this points to authenticity—why invent a flawed messiah for your new religion?
  • But the hosts call this a sophisticated narrative move, not proof of real events:

    “It is a far more sophisticated story to tell it in this way.” – Moderate Historian [11:56] “You can have an infallible God. They already do. He’s up there. The whole point of Jesus being literally the Son of Man is that he’s fallible, just like you and me.” – Skeptical Historian [10:28]

5. Non-Christian Witnesses: Josephus, Tacitus, and Others

• Flavius Josephus (Jewish historian, c. 90 AD):
  • Mentions Jesus twice, one passage likely altered by Christian editors, but still likely based on an original, neutral reference.
  • Quotes: "There lived Jesus, a wise man ... a doer of startling deeds ... Pilate had condemned him to be crucified." – Skeptical Historian [16:36]
• Tacitus (Roman historian, 116 AD):
  • Describes “Christus executed by Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius,” aligning with Gospel timelines; considered hostile and thus useful as an outside reference.
• Others:
  • Mara Bar-Serapion refers to "executing their wise king" (believed to be Jesus) [18:58]
  • Pliny the Younger observes early Christians worshipping "Christ as a God"
  • Early Jewish rabbinic sources describe Jesus as an illegitimate sorcerer

6. Counter-Arguments from Mythicists

• All external references are late and might just repeat Christian claims (no independent, contemporary confirmation)
• Gospel accounts often contradict each other
• The evidence bar is simply too low for certainty

7. Consensus in Academia

• Most modern historians, regardless of religious belief, agree Jesus was very likely a real historical person, though miraculous elements are not taken as facts.

  “It’s considered actually to be a pretty fringe theory [to deny Jesus’s existence]. ... I don’t know any mainstream scholar who doubts the historicity of Jesus. Myers likens the Jesus myth theory to climate change denial.” – Moderate Historian [30:38]

• Even key Roman figures like Pontius Pilate have limited evidence, though slightly better than Jesus.

8. Comparing Existometers: How Does Jesus Stack Up?

| Figure | Historical Evidence | |--------------------|-------------------------| | Julius Caesar | Overwhelming: writings, coins, statues [26:50] | | Muhammad | Strong: biographies, independent references, inscriptions | | Socrates | Moderate: pupil accounts, no writings of his own [28:09] | | Homer | Doubtful: legendary status, likely a collective name | | Boudicca/Spartacus| Weak: dramatic stories, few accounts, decades later [29:40] | | King Arthur | Almost none: 400+ years later references [30:19] |

“Compared to them, you could argue that the evidence Jesus existed is stronger.” – Skeptical Historian [29:40]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Mythicist Position:
  "It's like using Netflix to prove the existence of Squid Game." – Skeptical Historian [05:43]

• Summing Up the Scholarly View:
  "History is all about probabilities ... if you strip away any claims of Jesus’s importance ... you have a man called Yeshua Bar Joseph ... who lived in Palestine ... gained close followers before being executed ... and that I could believe." – Skeptical Historian [24:50]

• On Why Jesus’ Story Endures:
  "Whether you believe it or not, it’s why it’s so enduring." – Moderate Historian [12:13]

• Irreverent Banter:
  “He has to be of us as well as the divine for him to matter, and everybody doubts their faith.” – Moderate Historian & Skeptical Historian [11:32]

• On Comparing Resistance Religions:
  “People living under Roman occupation in and around the time of Jesus ... all over the world, religions ... pop up as resistance.” – Skeptical Historian [28:58]

• Skeptical Humour:
  “No one’s crusading over Homer, you know.” – Skeptical Historian [28:23]

Important Timestamps

• [01:31] — Warm (and irreverent) intro framing the big question
• [03:51] — “No one knows for sure”: The limits of ancient history
• [05:41] — Three core arguments for Jesus mythicism
• [07:44] — Evaluating Paul and the Epistles as sources
• [08:42] — The Gospels: biased but useful for context
• [09:17] — “Embarrassment” argument for authenticity
• [15:37] — Josephus and Tacitus: external “evidence”
• [18:58] — Additional non-Christian references
• [20:40] — Pagan sacrifice and the logic of martyrdom
• [22:30] — Probability in history and illiteracy issues
• [26:50] — Contrast with other historical figures
• [30:38] — Modern scholarly consensus
• [31:46] — End reflections: “So why do I feel so empty?”

Tone and Style

The hosts blend skeptical inquiry with dark humour, dry asides, and lively debunking. Their irreverence adds colour to the historical analysis, keeping the episode both insightful and highly accessible.

Final Takeaways

• While direct evidence is elusive, and all sources are partial or late, the overall academic consensus still leans heavily toward Jesus of Nazareth having been a real historical figure.
• His life, stripped of miracle and myth, fits plausibly within 1st-century Palestine, bolstered by multiple layers of indirect references.
• The more radical mythicist position is now generally seen as a fringe view, akin (in one quote) to climate denial.
• Ultimately, history deals in probabilities, not certainties—especially when it comes to ancient provincial figures—yet Jesus’s existence is more likely than not by the standards applied to comparable historical characters.

Endnotes & Fun Facts

• The episode ends on a lighter note, discussing oddities about Easter’s dating and “Fig Tuesday”—when, allegedly, Jesus cursed a fig tree.
• Skeptical Historian closes: “The mass has ended. Go forth in peace.” [33:02]