[jluetjen]

Which Gnostic book? The Gnostic "gospels" were all written significantly after the canonical Gospels, and lack the specific names, dates and place references of the canonical Gospels. So while canonical Gospels (and Acts) describe specific events related to Pilate, 3 different Harods and many others as well as specific rituals, foods and even archetectural features which are specific to 1st century Palestine, the Gnostic gospels have none of this richness, nor specific connections to places and times.

As far as the Koran, that was receited by Mohammad about 600 years after the fact, and the individual verses were written down some time later based on the individual rememberances of countless people, many of which were not cross-varified. To be honest, Koran is a bigger stretch as a reference to Jesus then the Gnostic gospels. It's certainly not outside the realm of possibility that Mohammad was familiar with some of the Gnostic writings since there are some aspects of the Koran which reflect them. But if the Gnostic gospels aren't reliable, then certainly a derivatitive of them would be even less so.

On the other hand there were many people alive at the time that the NT books were being written and distributed who were alive and witnesses to the events in Jerusalom at the time of Jesus's death. Non-Christian Josephus also records his death (excluding the flowery embellishment which was likely added later), and the sudden rise of his followers afterwards.

Another question is why did Stephan, Peter and Paul and many others all willingly allow themselves to be killed (without taking anyone with them like in the current Mid-east) for someone who they knew was alive, and well and living a quiet family existance in Jerusalom? While not conclusive, it certainly suggests that they felt that they were going to a better place and following their Lord to a better place after their deaths, rather then fronting for retired figure back home. None of them were young men at the time of their deaths (comparatively speaking, it's relatively easy to get an 18 or 20 year old male to kill themselves doing something stupid), but in fact were certainly middle-aged or older.

So I understand how you may discount a piece here or a piece there, but the story doesn't add up unless you take it in it's totality at face value. This is because your discounts don't explain the later actions of those involved.