The records of Jesus Christ, primarily found in the New Testament Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are among the most contemporaneous historical writings about a figure from the first century when compared to other historical figures of that time. The Gospels were written within a generation or two of Jesus’ earthly ministry, which most scholars date from about AD 27-30 to AD 30-33.

1. Dating the Gospels: Most scholars agree that the Gospel of Mark was written first, around AD 65-70, followed by Matthew and Luke, which were composed between AD 80-90. The Gospel of John is generally considered to have been written last, around AD 90-110. These dates place the Gospel accounts within 30 to 80 years of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
2. Comparison with Other Historical Figures: When comparing this to other historical figures of the time, such as the Roman Emperors or philosophers, the records of Jesus are relatively contemporary. For example, the writings of Tacitus, a Roman historian who mentions Jesus indirectly when discussing the persecution of Christians under Nero, were written around AD 116. Similarly, the Jewish historian Josephus mentions Jesus briefly in his “Antiquities of the Jews,” written around AD 93-94.
3. Reliability and Quantity of Manuscripts: Another factor to consider is the quantity and quality of manuscript evidence. The New Testament is unparalleled in ancient literature regarding the number of manuscripts and the closeness of these manuscripts to the time of the original writings. There are thousands of New Testament manuscripts, with some fragments dating back to the early 2nd century. This is significantly closer to the original writing than most other ancient texts.

“For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” (2 Peter 1:16)

This verse reflects the claim within the New Testament itself that its accounts of Jesus are based on eyewitness testimony, not mere stories or legends developed over time.

While the Gospels are theological documents intended to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, their proximity in time to the events they describe, the consistency among the various accounts, and the early date of the manuscript evidence contribute to their consideration as significant historical sources for understanding Jesus’ life and ministry within the context of first-century Judea.