Editor’s Note: This is a follow-up from a questioner who wanted to know how important is the statements in the Babylonian Talmud about a certain Jesu who was hanged on the eve of the Passover. This passage is often mentioned as non-Christian support for the reality of Jesus and the fact of his crucifixion. Therefore, the date of writing is important.

Question:

When was the Talmud written?  I have heard some say the second century AD, and others the fifth century AD. Which is correct?

Answer:

There are two bodies of writings known as Talmud.  One is the Babylonian Talmud, as it was compiled by diaspora Jews in Mesopotamia.  The other is the Palestinian Talmud, as it was produced by Jews in Palestine.  Both were composed over a couple of centuries, between the fifth and sixth centuries AD (400s to 500s AD).  The Talmud contains commentary on the Mishna, an earlier composition of the 2nd century AD.  Much of the content in the Talmud is quoting the Mishna.  So, those who say the second century are not mistaken, as the final Talmud contains much material from the second century. But, technically, the second answer is the more correct one, as the actual Talmud was put together in the fifth century.  I understand you are curious about this as your are concerned about the relevance of the Babylonian Talmud’s reference to a certain Jesu who was hanged on the eve of the Passover.  You can assume that it is likely this  quote comes from as early as the second century, and was found in the Mishna, making the quote important for the historicity of Jesus.  However, the Talmud quote is a relatively small part of a much larger body of evidence supporting the historical reliability of the New Testament.  Our faith in the historical reliability of the New Testament is based on a wide range of evidence, of which the Babylonian Talmud is a rather small, but significant part.

John Oakes