Thompson presented a criticism of the historicity of the New Testament in his 2005 book, The Messiah Myth: The Near Eastern Roots of Jesus and David, He argues that the biblical accounts of both King David and Jesus of Nazareth are mythical in nature and based on Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Greek and Roman literature. For example, he argues that the resurrection of Jesus is taken directly from the myths about Dionysus, which he described as a "dying and rising god".
Thompson challenged the historical validity of the New Testament in his 2005 book, The Messiah Myth. He suggests that the biblical narratives about both King David and Jesus are mythical and rooted in ancient Near Eastern sources, including myths about Dionysus, a god who died and rose again.