What are some of these signs of historical authenticity? Here’s a list of some of the most important: 1. Historical fit: The incident fits in with known historical facts of the time and place. 2. Independent, early sources: The incident is related in multiple sources, which are near to the time when the incident is said to have occurred and which don’t rely on each other or on a common source. 3. Embarrassment: The incident is awkward or counterproductive for the early Christian church. 4. Dissimilarity: The incident is unlike earlier Jewish ideas and/or unlike later Christian ideas. 5.
...more
