Excavating the Evidence for Jesus: The Archaeology and History of Christ and the Gospels

by Titus Kennedy

Examine the Evidence Surrounding Jesus

No other figure has impacted history like Jesus. Yet today, he’s often seen as a mythical character whose legend increased over time. So what does the historical and archaeological evidence say about Jesus?

Archaeologist Dr. Titus Kennedy has investigated firsthand the discoveries connected to Jesus’ birth, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. He has visited and excavated where Jesus walked, and examined the artifacts connected to Jesus’ life. Here, he presents an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the research and findings that illuminate the historicity of Christ as presented in the Bible.

Excavating the Evidence for Jesus progresses chronologically through the Gospels, noting the many relevant archaeological, historical, geographic, and literary findings. As you read, you’ll be able to decide for yourself whether the evidence confirms the existence and story of Jesus, and determine whether the Gospels are worthy of being approached not as legends, but as history. Further, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the historic basis of Christianity, a richer knowledge of the ancient world, and an evidence-based perspective on the reliability of the Bible.

Genres: History, Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, Religion, Archaeology, Ancient History

304 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2022

Reviews

[Sharon Huether · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the cities that Jesus visited during his ministry were all around the Sea of Galilee. They were all in walking distance. Example: Bethany where Lazaras lived was 1 1/2 miles from Galilee.
After Jesus's death and resurrection Christianity spread over to Rome.
Nero and Hadrian used their energy to stop Christianity.

In 300 A.D. Christianity was spread by Emperor Constantine.
In the first century historians and philosophers mentioned Jesus Christ.

All in all, this book was very informative. The Gospels were found in print in the first and second centuries further evidence of Jesus Christ.

[Will Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kennedy explores the evidence for Jesus, examining the relevant archaeological record, biblical data, and extra biblical information. He contends for the reliability of the New Testament testimony about Jesus by demonstrating its coherence and confirmation with and in Greco-Roman sources.

Kennedy is measured with his arguments. He gives possible difficulties or other interpretations to the evidence. He is also extremely thorough. This can make for a slower read, but for readers with a historical bent, thus is the strength of the book.

This work is excellent for those interested in whether the New Testament reliably depicts Jesus of Nazareth. It would also be excellent to have as a reference resource for Pastors as the information about Jesus is thorough and easy to access as Kennedy divides his work according to the different periods of Jesus’s life. It is also an excellent resource for those interested in diving deeper into the question as there are a plethora of primary and secondary source citations.

[Brandon Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a pretty good overview of the archeological and textual history of the New Testament. It doesn’t cover everything in the gospels but covers the big events of Jesus’s life, namely his birth and infancy, baptism, arrival into Jerusalem, his death, and his resurrection. I found that certain topics didn’t have strong evidence at all and I wondered why they were even discussed. I also struggle to think who the target audience is for this book. I would assume laypeople who are just interested in the subject, but some of the sections feel like very brief primers on complicated issues that will probably just confuse many people instead of informing them.

To further explain my critiques, an example of a section not particularly well done is the Sermon on the Mount. He basically just briefly explains the sequence of events as told in Matthew (and slightly different in Luke) and then gives 2 or 3 options as to which mountain the sermon could’ve been delivered on but leaves it there. Basically saying we don’t know where it was delivered but it was on a hill or small mountain somewhere in the Galilee area. That doesn’t feel compelling enough at all to be in the book. The other point about the target audience is highlighted by a section like the census in Luke 2. Only devoting a few pages to a very complicated issue like this is only going to confuse people who are unfamiliar or act as a primer for people who may want to read more on the subject. Volumes that are thousands of pages have been written on that topic alone (see Raymond Brown) that are fascinating and allow for a deep dive look into all the specifics of Herod’s death, Quirinius, the differences between Matthew and Luke, etc.

With that said, for people who are interested you will learn a good amount from the book and it’s mostly very well presented and well written. The pages are fully colored with plenty of maps, images, illustrations, etc that help visualize what is being explained. The introduction section on the Roman Empire was well done, he explained the reigns of a few Roman emperors well, the section on the Sea of Galilee was interesting, the parts on each of the towns bordering the Sea of Galilee were good as well. I thought his discussion of the money tables in the temple was well done from a historical perspective, the pools of Bethsaida and Siloam were great, then everything dealing with Jesus’s passion. My favorite part of the book was the discussion of the church of the Holy Sepulchre - as it makes a compelling case for being the location of the tomb of Jesus. His debunking of the garden tomb is good and then I learned about the Nazareth Inscription for the first time, which makes the resurrection from Rome’s perspective quite interesting.


As an aside, it was cool to see Dr. James Tabor and Dr. Shimon Gibson used in the book as both were professors at Charlotte at the time I was there. The lengthy discourse on the family tomb of Jesus was good even though he very much disagrees with Tabor’s ideas.

I would recommend this for people interested in the subject matter with the caveat that some sections will seem light/incomplete and others only really serve as a basic introduction. There are plenty of great things to learn from this book though, Kennedy did a good job with it!

[Ellie Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think if more people knew that first and second-century Romans didn’t even deny Jesus’s existence and miracles (despite persecuting Christians) then the world would be a better place. I also think that the historical lack of denial surrounding his life among Roman society in those first AD centuries is such a testament to the way his teachings and life completely disrupted Roman beliefs and religious ideals. I love this book.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would highly recommend this book to unbelievers. As a Christian, I found parts too thorough and detailed. I understand why it's all important, but it was not a "page turner." It reads more like a history book or a commentary than I was hoping. Despite all that, I'm glad I read it.

[Alana Amunrud-Sharp · Rating 2 out of 5]

One review I saw for this book questioned who the intended audience was, and I echo that. It isn't super easy reading, but it also isn't really bringing up much new for more academic readers. I think maybe it would be most useful for someone to use to check if a claim they had heard had much support or not. It's not the best book for just reading straight through.

I did read the book straight through, and I found it rather off-putting at times. (Small disclaimer: I read it through the hoopla app, and some of the issue I had may have been lessened had I read a physical copy.) In general it seemed to both jump around in a way that seemed somewhat random, and also to repeat itself.

I think the book was meant to be organized somewhat chronologically, which works okay for the beginning and end of the life of Christ, but wasn't great for the middle. I'm not sure how the author choose which order to go in - was he following a generally accepted chronology, was he following one of the gospels more than the others, or some other choice? Either way, it made for some disjointed reading. One paragraph he would be discussing the possible locations of a place mentioned in the gospels, and the next he would be talking about the ruler(s) of that region and quoting ancient sources that referenced them. Next he would be mentioning archaeological finds, and then back to locations. It made hard to understand where he was going - if he was trying to make a case for something or just providing all possible information that could related to that time period.

I also had some issue with his method of citation. If he quoted an ancient source, he would put the citation in parentheses after the quotation, but nothing else was specifically cited. He had a helpful bibliography after each chapter, with what looked like mostly reputable sources, but none of them were cited directly in respect to a find or a claim made.

This resulted in several times him making claims of dates or locations that seemed unsupported. For example, he stated that Mary and Joseph left Bethlehem after Jesus was presented at the temple, and therefore the wiseman visited them in Nazareth. I have never heard anyone else suggest that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were anywhere other than Bethlehem when the wisemen arrived. He may have had corroborating opinions or evidence, but he never quoted or cited them. There was some vague allusion to textual issues, but he didn't even expand on what he meant there. This coming at the start of the book made me more leery of believing other things he said.

He also seemed strangely tied to some things, like the traditional date of Christ's birth (Dec. 25th) and the year of his death (33 AD). He argued strongly for both of these, and I'm not quite sure why he thought they were so important - especially when so many other have argued well against those traditional views.

I think the biggest strength of the book was his familiarity with and citation of ancient sources (Josephus, the Mishnah, Tacitus, Eusebius, etc.) His citations there seemed helpful and fairly exhaustive, though those are more outside my area of expertise, and others who are more familiar may have more critiques.

I think the two biggest weaknesses of the book, aside from lack of citations of more modern sources and confusing order are:
1. The title. It lead me to expect more archaeology, and there was some, but the title led me to expect more of an emphasis here than I thought was warranted.
2. The author's geographical knowledge. It's not terrible, but there were a few times when he argued for something that just doesn't fit will with all the geographical data available. For example, he argued that December 25th was a fine date for the birth of Christ - it wouldn't have been too cold for shepherds to still be in the fields. This makes me think that he has never experienced or spoken to anyone who has experience Bethlehem in December. Cold, rainy weather aside, agriculturally, December is when fields are being plowed and planted for a spring harvest, and this is more of the reason scholars suggest December isn't a great date for the birth of Christ. Farmers would not want sheep and goats trampling over newly plowed or planted fields. It doesn't make it impossible, but that is important geographical data that he didn't seem to take into account.

Over all, not a terrible reference book to have around for those interested, if only for the sake of his bibliography. Other than that, not sure I would recommend it.

[Leroy Burkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚓️ though much historical information and many times overwhelming, this was eye opening and encouraging. Will be a repeated resource for years to come. Amazing how GOD validates in His time…

[Barry Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rich resources cited throughout this book are exceptional. The author, a professional archaeologist, professor at Biola University, and a research fellow at Discovery Institute, offers a robust journey through the biblical record of the events surrounding Christ. This journey is presented in 8 powerful chapters – 1) The Birth of Jesus, Bethlehem, and the Magi, 2) Flight to Egypt, Herod, and the Return to Nazareth, 3) Political Context, Baptism, and Galilee, 4) Teaching, Travel, and Miracles, 5) Fame and Opposition, 6) Bethany, the Triumphal Entry, and Gethsemene, 7) The Trial and Execution of Jesus, and 8) The Burial, Tomb, and Resurrection of Jesus. Each chapter closes with an extensive “selected bibliography” of the key references cited for the topic. The number of sources provided are exceptional. Throughout he book, the reader encounters maps and images of the locations and archaeological artifacts to support each event in the life of Christ. Kennedy is biblically faithful even as he includes challenges to the biblical record from secular sources (e.g., the massacre of the innocents under King Herod).

Although there are many fascinating insights in this book, one that I found most interesting was the “Nazareth Inscription” in Chapter 8, a marble slab contemporary to the time that contained an edict instituting the the death penalty for “anyone who has taken away a corpse from a tomb for ‘wicked intent,’ specifically a type or rock tomb that is sealed with a stone…As a result of the location, time period, and content of this inscription, several scholars have argued that this edict was issued by the Romans in reaction to the story of Jesus” (pp. 263-264).

Kennedy closes his work with this words: “Rather than a message invented by the church almost a century after Jesus, the Roman knowledge of Christianity demonstrates that this information was widely known within decades of the time of Jesus, and seemingly due to the dedication of the apostles and various disciples to bring the gospel to the nations, even in a time when communication and travel were relatively limited” (p. 283).

Three appendices are added to this rich work: 1st and 2nd Century Historians and Philosophers Mentioning Jesus Christ, Earliest Gospel Manuscripts About Jesus, and a Timeline of events surrounding the story.

As a Christian, I do not need the support of archaeology to support my faith in the truths of Scripture, but this book is a powerful apologetic for the historicity of the Bible.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archaeologist Titus Kennedy walks through the life of Christ as shared in the Gospels and looks at the people, places, and events mentioned and highlights archaeological finds and historical sources outside of the Gospels that give further insights into those people, places, and times, but also back up the validity of the Gospels as historical documents.

This was a fascinating read. I learned a lot about the historical context of the Gospels, and how many of the sites mentioned in them we can still pinpoint with pretty high accuracy today, how archaeologists can tell ancient Jewish communities from ancient Roman communities, and also some other things I wasn't expecting (like what the "star" the wisemen saw could have been, or that Jesus might have been trained as a stone mason rather than a carpenter...and how translation issues may have led us to misunderstand those things, Kennedy does a occasional original Greek/Aramaic/Latin/Hebrew translation and transliteration deep dives that are illuminating). Kennedy has obviously done a LOT of research. The text is loaded with citations of primary sources outside the Gospels that he references for historical details. Occasionally the text feels a touch repetitive, but I think that's because it is set up so you can treat it a little bit like an encyclopedia and you can go to one section and read it and get all the details on that topic from reading that one section. It was interesting enough that I didn't have any problem reading it straight through, though. Highly recommended to those who want to go a lot deeper in Biblical historicity and Biblical historical context. This would also be a very good read before going to Israel and visiting proposed Biblical sites so you could go in knowing how likely it is that that site is the real site of whatever event it is supposed to be.

Notes on content: No language issues or sexual content. Deaths in history are mentioned, and it goes into detail about crucifixion in one section. It is stated very clinically.

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read! Archaeologist and author Titus Kennedy follows up his excellent book, "Unearthing the Bible," with this focus on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and what all archaeology unearths to reinforce what Scripture has told us. Skeptics throughout the centuries have decried many aspects of the life of Christ arguing that there is no evidence for the existence of a man named Jesus of Nazareth or evidence of many of the locations that Jesus supposedly was born, lived, did ministry, was crucified, resurrected, and ascended. However, as Kennedy documents and demonstrates, there is an abundance of archaeological evidence for all the various aspects of Christ's life. Kennedy not only points to archaeology but likewise quotes from pagan sources from that era who referred to Christ.

The eight chapters are built around the topics: 1) The Birth of Jesus, Bethlehem, and the Magi;
2) Flight to Egypt, Herod, and Return to Nazareth; 3) Political Context, Baptism, and Galilee;
4) Teaching, Travel, and Miracles; 5) Fame and Opposition; 6) Bethany, the Triumphal Entry, and Gethsemane; 7) The Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus, and 8) The Burial, Tomb, and Resurrection of Jesus. In an Appendix, Kennedy provides quotes and references for pagan historians and government leaders who refer to Jesus of Nazareth.

We know that Scripture stands alone and is NOT dependent upon archaeological findings to prove itself, yet the findings are encouraging and possibly could be helpful for a skeptic to reconsider his view point. A highly recommended read.

[Ana Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coloquei 4 estrelas, mas acho que poderia ser 3,5.

Para descrever este livro preciso começar pelo que ele não é: (a) não é um livro que tenta provar a natureza divina de Cristo e os acontecimentos sobrenaturais de sua vida (b) não é um livro que tenta converter não crentes em crentes.
É um livro que busca mostrar que as narrativas do Evangelho não são histórias fantasiosas e mitológicas porque registram eventos que ocorreram em locais reais com figuras históricas reais presentes em registros históricos e muitas vezes provas físicas de sua existência. Por isso, chega a ser cansativo pela precisão das descrições. São muitas as passagens discutindo a distância exata das cidades citadas para relatar as evidências arqueologicas de que eram habitadas no principio do séc 1.d.C extremamente enfadonhas e ligeiramente inuteis (já que não existe mapa nenhum pra te ajudar a mentalizar essas localizações).

Ainda assim, aprendi coisas novas que me fizeram entender e contextualizar algumas falas do próprio Jesus nos Evangelhos. Minha recomendação pra quem for ler é acompanhar a leitura junto com a leitura bíblica.

[John Eldreth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is It Real?

This book identifies much of the archaeological evidence confirming the existence and descriptions of places, people, and events referenced in the New Testament gospel narratives. The author also cites ancient Christian and non-Christian writings that confirm the general gospel themes (e.g. the existence of Jesus of Nazareth, his crucifixion, his miracles, and a belief among his followers that he was raised from the dead). The value of a book like this is that it shows the gospel narratives are historical and not fables. Whether one believes in Jesus as God or not, there is no lack of evidence that he existed and said and did all the things the New Testament said he did. In my mind, it’s not a stretch to believe he was/is God incarnate as I believe only God could be humble enough to become a man from Nazareth.

[Jana Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely well written (though with a handful of repetitions.) Kennedy clearly knows his history, archeology, geography, etc. He addresses the claims of Christ and christianity with amazing clarity, logic, order. He's thorough and unbiased, often presenting information that is part of the open discussion while acknowledging and even driving the point that it isn't conclusive.
If all he says it accurate (not true, but accurate, as people often argue on what is true or false) then this evidence is so overwhelmingly complete that one truly could not have enough faith in the absence of God to deny his findings concerning the presence of Jesus.
Phenomenal read, faith-altering information, confidence-boosting evidence.

[Grant ☩ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author utilizes a variety of textual and archaeological sources, including the writings of ancient opponents of Christianity to further prove the historicity of the Gospel accounts. The book exhibits an attractive design with quality paper and contains photographs of objects, ruins, buildings and landscapes in their respective chapters. Several maps are also included. This was a well written and convincing read with refutations of false claims about Jesus and the Gospel narratives throughout. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in first century Judea, the early church, and the life of Jesus Christ.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatively simple review of archeology relevant to the the stories of Christ and the gospels. A few times I feel the author reads too much into connections between the Bible and archaeology (e.g. in the discussion of the connection between the law against removing buried bodies, and the empty grave of Christ) - but is easy to disagree with because it cites sources and gives reasons. Also has very helpful "selected bibliography" with many interesting titles.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good and comprehensive survey of the archeological background to the story of Jesus' life. The book notes secular historical sources that illuminate Jesus' historical and cultural milieu. It also discusses current archeological evidence and background for many sites from the time of Jesus. This book helps set faith on a more solid historical footing. It should be understandable for the average person, yet detailed enough for the scholar.

[Arin · Rating 4 out of 5]

While highly insightful, I felt this went of on a lot of various tangents through the whole book, making it hard to track with. Chapters 5-8 seemed to really start narrowing in on details most closely pertaining to Jesus, while the rest primarily just speaks to the authenticity of events and people mentioned throughout the New Testament in general. I was really hoping this book was more about archeological findings, but much just focused on manuscripts and multiple attestation.

[Servio Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow but informative reading.

Excellent and informative book addressing history with supporting evidence through archaeological discoveries. Also provides good historical information on the time period, trends and costumes over time. Reading with a nonjudgemental and open mind a must.

[Caitlin Dykes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow that took me a minute. These book was very informative, and I had no idea how many other biblical archaeological finds we have that prove the New Testament and Jesus. However, definitely a lot more dense than I like, a lot of detail that I’m not sure was 💯 needed. But still a great book to have to give deeper into your New Testament studies.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. I had feared that it would be a boring list of facts however the author has written a text that is interesting and accessible to all. Christians will enjoy learning more about Bible texts that they are familiar with and for others it could prove to be a stimulus for them to start reading the gospels. Highly recommended!

[Lisa Sorey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This carefully researched book is well crafted and well written. The details included could easily confuse readers, but the author clearly explains each point. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author laid out scientifically researched data proving the historical accuracy and incredible value of God’s Holy Word, our Bible.

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book gave some interesting insight into life during the time of Jesus, but it offered circumstantial evidence at best to support the events of Jesus’ life and ministry. If you’re reading this book to get proof that Jesus existed, I think you will be disappointed. You’ll have to rely on your faith.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Loved reading this book. I found it to be very interesting and full of knowledgeable facts and findings. Evidence of the Bible always wins though. The proof of Jesus is provided also. I love it!!

[Kristine Bastin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a lot of fascinating details about Jesus and much more! Very detailed (you can get lost in the details if not careful), highly researched - I can’t fathom how much the author must have studied in order to write this. Wonderful!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Pretty deep, but so good! Read it toy 9th grader for science for this year and we really enjoyed seeing and of the historical proof for Jesus!

[Joe Giso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend. The evidence is overwhelming.

[Knox Legend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Read. If you enjoy where the bible meets historical evidence, then this is a good book for you.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was like reading a textbook, but there lots of compelling information about the life of Jesus.

[Scott Torok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent 👍 A lot of Historical and Archeology Evidence that Proves Jesus Existence, that proves the accuracy of the Bible.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting read.

The book progresses chronologically through Jesus’ life, looking at archaeological, historical, geographical, and literary evidence corresponding to what’s in the Gospels.

He investigates supposed issues with the text such as the plausibility of the census, the existence of Pontius Pilate, and the birth and crucifixion dates of Jesus.

As he works his way through the life of Jesus as shown in the Gospel accounts he pulls in external sources including Roman and other records, and Jewish writings, and shows what we have discovered over the millennia in support of the Gospels.