What is reasonably likely is that there was a person named Yeshwa ben Yosef, born a few years before 0CE, died somewhere around 30CE, who preached and started a Judaism-based cult and who might’ve been a carpenter. He most likely had a reputation for miracles, which is mentioned in non-Christian sources which have no reason to glorify him. (Do note that modern cult leaders and televangelists also often have such reputations.) He was also probably crucified, although probably not for the reasons given in the Bible.
Things like his conception without sex or him being a fish copying machine have no evidence. It’s not even sure if he claimed to be the son of God or the Messiah; apparently he did probably have an end-times cult and did probably assume that he’d get to run the world after divine rule is instituted globally.
So yeah, he probably was some dude who started a cult (which wasn’t even that unusual at the time), was good enough at preaching to get a major audience, and was probably executed because sooner important people considered him a political threat. His cult survived him and people started embellishing his life just a tiny little bit.
Unlikely.
What is reasonably likely is that there was a person named Yeshwa ben Yosef, born a few years before 0CE, died somewhere around 30CE, who preached and started a Judaism-based cult and who might’ve been a carpenter. He most likely had a reputation for miracles, which is mentioned in non-Christian sources which have no reason to glorify him. (Do note that modern cult leaders and televangelists also often have such reputations.) He was also probably crucified, although probably not for the reasons given in the Bible.
Things like his conception without sex or him being a fish copying machine have no evidence. It’s not even sure if he claimed to be the son of God or the Messiah; apparently he did probably have an end-times cult and did probably assume that he’d get to run the world after divine rule is instituted globally.
So yeah, he probably was some dude who started a cult (which wasn’t even that unusual at the time), was good enough at preaching to get a major audience, and was probably executed because sooner important people considered him a political threat. His cult survived him and people started embellishing his life just a tiny little bit.