Source: “On the Resurrection: volume 1”: Evidences, 2024 by Gary Habermas Published by B&H Academic Brentwood, Tennessee.
Death_of_Jesus_Scholarship.mp4
The Historical Death of Jesus.pdf
9a. Excursus 1- Contemporary Scholarship On Death of Jesus.mp3
This podcast examines the historicity and theological implications of Jesus's crucifixion through the lens of contemporary scholarship. It first establishes that the crucifixion is an exceptionally well-attested historical event, with widespread agreement among even skeptical researchers. The discussion then moves to the likely date of the crucifixion, narrowing down the possibilities to AD 30 or 33, before exploring the medical cause of Jesus's death, with asphyxiation identified as the most prominent factor among scholars. Finally, the text delves into the reasons for Jesus's execution and the theological significance of his death, highlighting a divide between conservative views emphasizing religious reasons and liberal views focusing on political motives, and discussing the debate around whether Jesus himself understood his death as an atoning sacrifice.
The crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth is arguably the most famous death in human history. Its story, depicted in art, scripture, and film, is a cornerstone of Western culture. But for many, the details are a blend of childhood lessons, cinematic portrayals, and religious tradition. What might be surprising is that when modern critical scholars—historians and researchers from across the ideological spectrum, including atheists and skeptics—examine the event, their conclusions are often more historically concrete and startling than most people realize.
This isn't about faith claims, but about historical inquiry. Far from dismissing the crucifixion as a myth, contemporary scholarship has established a core set of facts and fierce debates that paint a complex, brutal, and compelling picture of Jesus's final days. This article explores four of the most impactful takeaways from this modern scholarship, revealing what we can actually know about an event that changed the world.
The single most certain fact about the life of the historical Jesus, accepted by a vast majority of critical scholars, is that he was executed by crucifixion under the authority of the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate. This consensus is so overwhelming that in the field of historical Jesus studies, the crucifixion is considered a "given"—the bedrock starting point for any further investigation. The agreement here is staggering: atheists like Bart Ehrman and Gerd Lüdemann, skeptics like John Dominic Crossan and James Tabor, Jewish historians like Geza Vermes, and even the highly critical Jesus Seminar co-founder Robert Funk all land on the same unshakeable conclusion.
This is surprising because a belief so central to Christian faith is affirmed with such certainty by its most prominent academic critics. The reason, they argue, is simple: the evidence is exceptionally strong, and it is not the kind of story early followers would have invented for their revered leader. A humiliating death reserved for rebels and low-class criminals was a public relations disaster, not a triumphant narrative. The fact that this "offensive" death is at the very center of the story is one of the strongest indicators of its authenticity.
Atheist New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman summarizes the consensus: