an answer to the Quran’s claim.

The four gospels, as well as the majority of the Pauline letters affirm the historical fact of the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth [CLICK HERE for our Podcast on the issue]. The Quran on the other hand does not.

One of the primary verses regarding the crucifixion in the Quran is found in Surah An-Nisa (4:157-158):

“And [for] their saying, ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.’ And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.”

Surah An-Nisa (4:157-158)

If you ask any Muslim, they will agree that Jesus was not crucified. 

The question arises; Which claim is true? 

Well, for that we turn to history, as this is a question of history. Is there any Historical evidence of the crucifixion? 

New Testament Sources

We first turn to the New Testament. The New testament, as already stated testifies to the crucifixion of Jesus. The New Testament contains multiple accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), which are considered by scholars to be reliable historical documents, albeit written from a theological perspective. The Gospel accounts provide detailed descriptions of the events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion, including his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection.

Extra-Biblical Sources

If we turn to extra biblical sources, we also see ancient historians documenting the crucifixion of Jesus. 

  • Tacitus (Roman historian, c. 56-120 AD): In his work “Annals,” Tacitus makes a reference to Jesus and his crucifixion: “Christus, the founder of the name, had undergone the death penalty in the reign of Tiberius, by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilatus…” 
  • Cornelius Tacitus (Roman orator, c. 55-120 AD): In his work “Dialogue on Oratory,” Tacitus mentions the crucifixion of Jesus and the origins of Christianity: “Nero fastened the guilt . . . on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus…” (Tacitus, “Dialogue on Oratory” 6.16)
  • Lucian of Samosata (Greek satirist, c. 125-180 AD): Lucian, in his work “The Passing of Peregrinus,” mentions the crucifixion of Jesus in a satirical context, but it attests to the fact that Jesus was crucified: “The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day—the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account.” (Lucian, “The Passing of Peregrinus”)

(There are more sources like this, and this by no means is exhaustive.)

Modern Scholarship

Even if we look to modern scholarship, we see a consensus, and you’ll note, the majority of Scholars I am quoting here would not identify with the Christian Faith. 

  • Bart D. Ehrman (New Testament scholar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill): Ehrman, while not a Christian, acknowledges the historical fact of Jesus’ crucifixion and its significance in early Christianity. In his book “Did Jesus Exist?: The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth,” he writes: “One of the most certain facts of history is that Jesus was crucified on orders of the Roman prefect of Judea, Pontius Pilate.”
  • Gerd Ludemann (New Testament scholar, University of Gottingen): Ludemann, a German New Testament scholar known for his critical views on Christianity, affirms the historicity of Jesus’ crucifixion. In his book “The Resurrection of Christ: A Historical Inquiry,” he states: “That Jesus was crucified is as sure as anything historical can ever be.”
  • Marcus Borg (New Testament scholar, Oregon State University): Borg, known for his work on the historical Jesus and Christian origins, affirms the historical reality of Jesus’ crucifixion. In his book “Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith,” he states: “The crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans is one of the most secure facts we have about his life.”

So, if we turn to history, and we examine the evidence, from an objective standpoint (or as objective as one can be) the historical consensus is clear. Jesus most certainly was crucified by the Romans, under Pontius Pilot. 

Jesus most certainly was crucified by the Romans, under Pontius Pilot. 

This leads to the conclusion: The claim of the Quran, that Jesus was not crucified, when examined historically, cannot be historically justified in any sense whatsoever. The ideological effect of this claim, leads millions of people to deny the truth, which is Jesus Christ died for your sins, so that you can receive the righteousness of God through the redemptive nature of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!