While Humphreys’ work has gained traction in certain circles, it stands in contrast to the majority of academic historians.
: Most historians and New Testament scholars—including skeptics like Bart Ehrman —agree that a Jewish man named Jesus did exist and was crucified under Pontius Pilate.
: He suggests that the Jesus story is a "peeled onion" that reveals nothing at its core, composed of elements borrowed from other figures like Apollonius of Tyana or Titus Caesar .
: The work highlights parallels between Gospel stories and older pagan myths. For example: Turning water into wine mirrors the god Dionysus . Healing miracles are compared to those of Asclepius . Calming the storm is seen as an echo of Poseidon .
: Humphreys and other mythicists, such as R. G. Price in Deciphering the Gospels , argue that the Gospels are anonymous fictional allegories rather than eyewitness accounts. Historical Context & Scholarly Consensus