For anyone who actually read the Bible....

[intaglio]

61. The only writings of the time that survived about Jesus?

Most by the man who called himself Paul - who never even saw Jesus and by 1 unknown author (who we call Mark) whose texts were heavily edited in later times, notably by the addition of the resurrection story. Both Matthew and Luke (again, real names unknown) copy from Mark. The "Q" text, if it existed, has obviously not survived.

None of the Gospel writers had any direct contact with Jesus and all write from a 3rd person view. All the Gospels include tales and parables copied from earlier traditions of both the Judeans and other cultures in the area. There is also the likelihood that none of the Gospel writers actually spoke Aramaic, certainly the internal evidence supports that idea as they cite only the Greek versions of the Torah - the Septuagint - and use Greek grammatical tricks never Aramaic ones. John (real name inknown) is an anti-Jewish text, assigning blame for the rejection of Jesus to the Jews, hence probably later than Paul.

The bulk actions of Jesus; the loaves and fishes miracles, the entry into Jerusalem and the cleansing of the Temple; would certainly have attracted the attention of the Roman authorities but there is not word one about these in outside sources - even Josephus.

Of the other books of the New Testament? Acts does not refer to the Ministry, the non-Pauline letters are forgeries pseudepigraphical and are much later as are the later letters of Paul. Revelation is, I was surprised to learn, is likely very early but does not concern itself with a real Jesus at all; as a side bar on the 666 issue the early versions of Mark have only 666 verses.