Scholar claims ancient text about Jesus was never altered by scribes

Fox News reported that T.C. Schmidt, an associate professor of religious studies at Fairfield University in Connecticut, has presented new research on a disputed ancient text about Jesus. Schmidt claims that the passage written by the ancient Jewish historian Flavius Josephus was never altered by Christian scribes, challenging centuries of scholarly doubt. [1]

The research is featured in Schmidt's 2025 book, titled Josephus and Jesus: New Evidence for the One Called Christ. Fox News reported that the scholar believes the nearly 2,000-year-old account may be more historically reliable than previously thought. The passage remains one of the earliest non-Christian records of Jesus. [1]

The New Testament Gospels detail the life of Jesus, including his ministry, his crucifixion in Jerusalem under the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate, and his resurrection. Other ancient texts, such as passages in the Talmud using the Aramaic name Yeshu, are also believed by some scholars to refer to Jesus. [3][5]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, archaeological discoveries in the region continue to offer context for early Christian history. Italian researchers recently located an ancient burial ground beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem that aligns with biblical accounts of Jesus' burial site. [6]