Jewish and Secular Sources

Jewish and secular writings are useful sources for many major events that affected Christianity. The only direct witnesses to the Jewish Revolt (ad 66–70) and destruction of the temple in Jerusalem are the works of Josephus (especially The Jewish War). Suetonius records what may be the first official persecution of Christians in Rome under Claudius (r. ad 41–54; Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Life of Claudius 25).