The Historical Jesus

The first written evidence for Jesus of Nazareth doesn't come from a Gospel, but from letters written just two decades after his death. Around 50 CE, a man named Paul, a zealous follower, wrote to fledgling Christian communities. In his letters, Paul provides almost no biographical details about Jesus's life or teachings. Instead, he focuses on the meaning of his death and resurrection. But he provides one crucial historical anchor. He mentions traveling to Jerusalem and meeting a man named James, whom he calls "the Lord's brother." This casual reference from our earliest source confirms that Jesus was a real person, with a family, and that a community of his followers existed in Jerusalem almost immediately after he died.