inscription was forged, the quest for the historical jesus became ever more urgent. did he have a real brother? was mary really a virgin? how did jesus live and why did he have to die? who was jesus the man? why is the greatest story ever told also the greatest mystery never solved? almost all we know about jesus' life comes to us from the four books of the gospels called "mark, matthew, luke, and john." yet the gospels were writen anywhere between 40 and 70 years after jesus died and with an eye to converting people. >> the gospels weren't meant to be historically accurate accounts in the way we would think of. they weren't written according to our standards of biographical accuracy. they were meant to proclaim the good news of jesus' life, death