The Actual Answers Podcast with Matt Hazelwood
Actual Answers is a Christian apologetics podcast hosted by Matt Hazelwood. Each episode tackles tough questions about God, Christianity, the Bible, theology, culture, and the Christian worldview and then teaches you how to do the same. Whether you're a skeptic seeking answers, a believer wrestling with difficult questions, or a Christian wanting to strengthen your faith, this podcast is designed to provide thoughtful, biblical, and intellectually rigorous responses. Because truth matters, questions matter, and Christianity has actual answers.
The Actual Answers Podcast with Matt Hazelwood
Did Jesus Really Exist?
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Did Jesus of Nazareth actually exist, or is He simply a legendary figure invented by early Christians?
In this episode of Actual Answers, we examine the historical evidence using the same standards historians apply to every figure from the ancient world. We explore the testimony of Jewish and Roman historians, the earliest Christian documents, the remarkable creed preserved in 1 Corinthians 15, and the conclusions of modern scholars—including agnostics and atheists.
The question isn't whether Jesus existed—that is one of the least disputed facts in ancient history. The real question is what His existence means.
Whether you're a believer, skeptic, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you understand why the historical case for Jesus is far stronger than many realize.
Topics Covered:
- Why virtually all historians agree Jesus existed
- Non-Christian historical sources (Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny, and others)
- Why the New Testament should be treated as historical evidence
- The earliest Christian creed in 1 Corinthians 15
- What modern skeptical scholars say about Jesus' existence
- Why the real question isn't whether Jesus existed, but who He was
Recommended Resources
Books
- Bart D. Ehrman — Did Jesus Exist? The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth
- F. F. Bruce — The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?
- Craig L. Blomberg — The Historical Reliability of the Gospels
- Richard Bauckham — Jesus and the Eyewitnesses
- Gary R. Habermas & Michael R. Licona — The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus
- Wayne Grudem — Systematic Theology (for the person and work of Christ)
Ancient Sources Discussed
- Josephus — Antiquities of the Jews
- Tacitus — Annals
- Pliny the Younger — Letters
- Suetonius — The Twelve Caesars
- Lucian of Samosata — The Death of Peregrine
- Mara bar Serapion — Letter to His Son
Scripture
- Luke 1:1–4
- 1 Corinthians 15:3–8
- John 20:30–31