A Christian Response by Stephen J. Bedard
A Literary, Linguistic, and Historical Overview The first century CE stands at a crossroads in Jewish history. It marks the final decades of the Second Temple, its destruction in 70 CE, and the beginning of new Jewish trajectories under Roman rule. Jewish authors responded to these conditions with an extraordinary range of literary activity: historical … Read More “Jewish Texts Written in the First Century CE” »
I asked ChatGPT to list all of the First Century Jewish texts that we have. I generally agree with this list, although I would put the Gospel of Thomas in the Second Century. The first century CE was a pivotal period for Jewish literature, as it marks the time of the Second Temple’s destruction in … Read More “What First Century Jewish Texts Do We Have?” »
Some Jesus Mythicists in their attempts to discredit a historical Jesus look at the first century Jewish texts and their supposed silence on Jesus. The Gospels portray Jesus and his disciples interacting with other Jews, especially the Pharisees and Sadducees. If these Jewish leaders really had a conflict with Jesus, then surely they would have … Read More “Why Do All of the First Century Jewish Texts Ignore Jesus?” »
