You may have heard claims that ancient religions had “dying and rising gods,” or that stories of miraculous births existed long before Jesus. The argument usually goes something like this: since similar stories existed earlier, the story of Jesus Christ must have been copied from them.

But when we look closely at the historical evidence, the claim does not hold up.

First, it’s important to understand that Christianity did not arise in a mythological culture detached from history. It emerged within Second Temple Judaism, a tradition deeply rooted in history, Scripture, and strict monotheism.

The earliest followers of Jesus were Jews who believed strongly in the God of Israel and rejected pagan mythology. These were the same people who preserved the Hebrew Scriptures and fiercely resisted adopting pagan religious ideas.

The idea that they would suddenly invent a pagan-style myth about their Messiah runs directly against the worldview they held.

Let’s also look at the historical context. The life and execution of Jesus are not only recorded in the New Testament. They are also acknowledged by non-Christian historians.