The Jesus Archive
  1. I AD 54The earliest testimonyPaul’s First Letter to the Corinthians
    Papyrus 46: 1 Corinthians 2:11–3:5, University of Michigan Library
  2. II c. AD 50Paul meets Peter and JamesPaul’s Letter to the Galatians
    Papyrus 46: the opening of Galatians, University of Michigan Library
  3. III c. AD 70The first GospelThe Gospel of Mark
    Codex Alexandrinus: Mark 6:27–54, British Library, London
  4. IV AD 26–36The governor’s stoneThe Pilate inscription (Caesarea Maritima)
    The Pilate Stone, Israel Museum, Jerusalem
  5. V 1st century ADThe high priest’s familyThe Caiaphas ossuary
    “Joseph son of Caiaphas”, the ossuary inscription, Israel Museum, Jerusalem
  6. VI c. AD 93A Jewish historianJosephus, Jewish Antiquities, Book 18: the Testimonium Flavianum and John the Baptist
    Josephus, Jewish Antiquities (Latin), opening page, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence
  7. VII c. AD 93His brother JamesJosephus, Jewish Antiquities, Book 20: the death of James, brother of Jesus
    Josephus, Jewish Antiquities (Latin), Cathedral Library, Cologne (Ms. 162)
  8. VIII c. AD 112A Roman governor’s reportPliny the Younger and Trajan, Letters 10.96–97: on the trials of Christians
    Pliny the Younger, Letters, Biblioteca Malatestiana, Cesena
  9. IX c. AD 116Rome’s historianTacitus, Annals 15.38–44: the Great Fire and Nero’s punishment of the Christians
    Tacitus, Annals: the Second Medicean manuscript, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Florence
  10. X c. AD 500A hostile traditionBabylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 43a: the baraita on Yeshu
    The Munich Talmud, copied by Solomon ben Samson, Bavarian State Library, Munich (Cod. hebr. 95)
  11. XI c. AD 110The faith of the next generationIgnatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans
    The martyrdom of Ignatius, Menologion of Basil II, Vatican Library
  12. XII 2026What history can establishWhat the evidence can and cannot establish