Speculation about the historical events in the Gospels is never going to be productive because there is so little evidence from the time.
Consider Pontius Pilate. Until 1961 there was no contemporaneous evidence that he existed. He was the prefect of Judea. Imagine how much documentation must have been created by the day to day dealings of a Roman governor. And not just on flimsy scrolls, but engraved into buildings. (Like the Pilot stone). (Almost) All erased by time.
What chance could a religious figure, even a famous one, have at leaving a mark that could reach 2000 years into the future?
Speculation about the historical events in the Gospels is never going to be productive because there is so little evidence from the time.
Consider Pontius Pilate. Until 1961 there was no contemporaneous evidence that he existed. He was the prefect of Judea. Imagine how much documentation must have been created by the day to day dealings of a Roman governor. And not just on flimsy scrolls, but engraved into buildings. (Like the Pilot stone). (Almost) All erased by time.
What chance could a religious figure, even a famous one, have at leaving a mark that could reach 2000 years into the future?