Historical Jesus

Bart Ehrman argues in Did Jesus Exist? (2012) that Jesus was a first-century Jewish peasant from Nazareth in Galilee, an itinerant apocalyptic preacher, and that he was crucified by Roman authorities outside Jerusalem.

• Very strong conclusions: Jesus existed, was Jewish, was associated with Nazareth/Galilee, preached apocalyptically, had followers, and was crucified by Rome under Pontius Pilate.
• Probable but less certain details: his baptism by John the Baptist, his execution specifically under Pilate, aspects of his teaching, and the post-crucifixion experiences reported by his followers.
• Much less certain or disputed details: the precise circumstances of his birth, many individual sayings and stories, the chronology of his ministry, and the theological claims made by later Christian writings.
• More cautious wording: “associated with Nazareth” or “a man from Nazareth” is better supported than the stronger claim that he was born there.