Catholic Historian Matthew Larsen: Here’s Why We Know That the Bible Is True (Video)

In this 17 September 2026 published video, host John Papola talks with historian of early Christianity Matthew Larsen, Ph.D., fresh off his shoot in the Middle East tracing the life of Paul the Apostle, to dig into the evidence for Jesus, the biblical canon, and the Catholic Church.

We get into:

• How historians actually know what’s true about the ancient past
• Why the “Jesus never existed” theory keeps resurfacing online
• Where Wes Huff’s viral apologetics differ from real historical scholarship
• Why the idea that “Paul invented Christianity” is a 19th century German myth
• How the Apostolic Fathers reveal a strikingly Catholic early church
• What actually happened at the Council of Nicaea
• Matt’s personal journey from evangelicalism to the Catholic Church

Rather than treating “truth” as 100 percent mathematical certainty, Larsen approaches the Bible through the rigorous lens of ancient history and archaeology. His core arguments focus on several key pillars. 

Larsen notes that in ancient history, scholars estimate only about 50 percent of what was once knowable is still accessible to us today. To determine if an ancient account is true, historians cross-reference primary sources (firsthand accounts) with physical archaeology. When multiple textual sources align with archaeological findings, it provides a cohesive, reasonable conclusion about what actually happened.

A common skeptical claim online is that Jesus of Nazareth never existed (the “Jesus myth” theory). Larsen points out that multiple non-Christian Roman and Jewish historians from the late 1st and early 2nd centuries—such as Tacitus, Suetonius, Pliny the Younger, and Josephus—explicitly mention Jesus. In the context of the massive Roman Empire, the vast majority of ordinary people were never written about. The fact that secular historical writers thought this minor figure from a small province was worth noting at all strongly implies that his life and execution were universally understood as real historical events. 

Larsen emphasizes that the New Testament is anchored in real-world details. Archaeology regularly unearths and corroborates the names, titles, and exact locations mentioned in the Gospels—such as inscriptions verifying the Roman official Pontius Pilate and the discovery of the tomb of the high priest Caiaphas. 

Larsen cautions against using archaeology purely as a “proof text” to declare the entire Bible true or false. Instead, he suggests archaeology is best used to help us understand how to read the scriptures. By looking at the material culture of the ancient world (metaphorically digging through their “garbage cans”), we gain a much clearer window into the minds, social pressures, and lived experiences of the earliest Christians. 

Ultimately, Larsen maintains that while historical and textual data provide an incredibly robust foundation, faith cannot rest solely on historical evidence. Because 100 percent certainty about the ancient past is impossible, a believer’s faith must ultimately be anchored in a living hope and a relationship with God, rather than an obsession with absolute academic proof.

https://youtu.be/NOm_b7l3lyI

Outline:
[0:00] How do historians know what’s real?
[12:48] Debunking the “Jesus myth” argument
[20:53] Wes Huff is an apologist, not a historian
[26:58] Who wrote the Gospels?
[33:00] The strongest argument against Christianity
[36:30] Who was the Apostle Paul?
[54:43] What we know about early Christian martyrs
[1:00:35] Scripture and tradition in the early church
[1:08:28] Going from evangelical to Catholic
[1:20:49] Where did Catholic church structure come from?
[1:30:28] Calvinist predestination doesn’t make sense
[1:32:37] Who were the Apostolic Fathers?
[1:38:20] Sacraments and the Jewish Temple system
[1:50:18] The power of physical rituals
[1:53:59] Roman persecution of Christians
[2:03:11] Why did God send Jesus at that moment?
[2:07:00] Modern comfort is a trap
[2:13:43] The Council of Nicaea
[2:31:03] Grappling with Mary and the Book of Revelation
[2:46:23] The development of Catholic doctrine over time
[2:54:22] The history of Marian apparitions
[3:01:12] Why should you consider Catholicism?
[3:09:51] American ideals are worth fighting for