| Source Rating | Historical | Archaeological |
| A | Distinct references from a first century CE primary source dealing with Jews, Judaism, and Palestine which do not conflict with other literature from the period | Tangible evidence from a Lower Galilee village from the first century CE |
| B | Any conflicting information from first century primary sources which can be supported by literature from 2nd century BCE until the 2nd century CE (including Tannaitic literature) | Tangible evidence from a Galilee village from the general time period and surrounding area |
| C | All primary sources from the 2nd century BCE until the 2nd century CE including Tannaitic literature, Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, etc. | Tangible evidence from anywhere within Palestine from the 4th century BCE until the 4th Century CE |
| D | All primary sources written before the 2nd century BCE and after the 2nd century CE including the Old Testament, Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, and Amoraic literature | Tangible evidence from anywhere in the Levant and Egypt from the 4th century BCE until the 4th century CE |