The evidence is clear that Jesus was a real, historical person. But beyond that, says the scholar Elaine Pagels, there are more questions than answers about what kind of person Jesus was and what can be known about his life.
Pagels’ latest book offers a new account, based on a wide range of recently available sources, of the life of Jesus. Some of the most inspiring details of the Gospels, she says, were crafted by his followers to avoid persecution and to explain inconvenient truths. In their telling, he wasn’t an illegitimate child, but rather immaculately conceived by God. His corpse wasn’t tossed into a common grave; he was resurrected and seen alive by his followers. Pagels joins us to explore what actually happened to Jesus, and why he continues to inspire and attract believers.
GUEST —
Elaine Pagels | Historian who has published widely on Gnosticism and early Christianity. She’s a Professor of Religion at Princeton University and was awarded the 2015 National Humanities Medal. Her latest book is called “Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus.” [Amazon | Bookshop]
Airdate: Apr. 1, 2026