Popular novels of Christ's life, such as Reverend J. H. Ingraham's The Prince of the House of David (1855), preceded Wallace's novel, while others such as Charles M. Shedon's "In His Steps": What Would Jesus Do? (1897) followed it, but Ben-Hur was among the first to make Jesus a major character in a novel.
Romane populare despre viața lui Cristos precum The Prince of the House of David (1855) al reverendului J. H. Ingraham au precedat romanul lui Wallace, în timp ce altele ca de exemplu „In His Steps”: What Would Jesus Do? (1897) al lui Charles M. Shedon l-au urmat, dar Ben Hur a fost printre primele care l-au transformat pe Isus într-un personaj important de roman.