Helen Bond Just Broke the Historical Jesus Myth
Helen Bond
50.37
29 May 2026
8 June 2026
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Helen Bond books (affiliate links):
The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0567033171?tag=logosleaper-21
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0567033163?tag=logosleaperbo-20
Jesus: A Very Brief History
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0281075999?tag=logosleaper-21
US: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Jesus+A+Very+Brief+History+Helen+Bond&tag=logosleaperbo-20
The First Biography of Jesus
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0802874606?tag=logosleaper-21
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0802874606?tag=logosleaperbo-20
Did Jesus really exist?
And if so… how do historians actually know?
In this episode, I sit down with Professor Helen Bond to explore one of the most debated questions in biblical scholarship: the historical Jesus.
We discuss the evidence for Jesus’ existence, the reliability of the Gospels, Paul’s letters, Josephus, Mara bar Serapion, mythicism, oral tradition, gospel authorship, and whether modern scholarship sometimes mistakes consensus for evidence.
We also explore larger questions surrounding the origins of Christianity:
Who actually wrote the Gospels?
How educated were the Gospel authors?
Are “Markan” and “Matthean communities” real historical entities — or scholarly constructions?
Did Jesus claim divinity in the canonical texts?
How fragmented was early Christianity?
And what assumptions in New Testament scholarship most need rethinking?
0:00 Introduction & Did Jesus Exist?
1:54 Why Was Jesus Crucified?
4:20 Was Jesus' Burial Unique?
5:32 Best Sources for the Historical Jesus
6:43 Dating the Gospels
7:42 Who Wrote the Gospels?
10:14 Can the Gospels Lead Us to the Historical Jesus?
12:06 How Reliable is Q?
14:24 Scholarly Consensus and Historical Jesus Research
15:45 Josephus and the Testimonium Flavianum
19:54 Mara bar Serapion and Pagan Sources
22:18 Paul and the Historical Jesus
25:38 Richard Carrier and Mythicism
30:12 Why Write About the Historical Jesus?
34:24 Jesus, Paul, and the End Times
38:31 Is John's Gospel Historically Reliable?
40:40 Did Jesus Claim to be God?
43:43 The Most Important Discovery in Biblical Studies
45:05 Common Misunderstandings About Early Christianity
48:45 Helen Bond's Favourite Topic to Teach
49:26 Biblical Time Machine Podcast
This is one of the most fascinating conversations I’ve had on the historical Jesus and the origins of early Christianity.
Listen to Biblical Time Machine:
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7cNljZzhe4w3zL9t0MaOZH
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/biblical-time-machine/id1648738323
Official Website:
https://www.biblicaltimemachine.com
Subscribe for more conversations on:
Historical Jesus studies
Early Christianity
Biblical scholarship
Christian origins
New Testament history
If you enjoyed this, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGsYFCWuD18&t=449s
