Can you prove Jesus was a real person?

Question

Without using the Bible

Answer 1

Some people claim that Jesus Christ never existed. Allegedly the life of Jesus and the Gospel are merely myths fabricated by the Church. This claim rests mainly upon their belief that there is no historical record of Jesus.

This lack of secular reports should not be too surprising for modern Christians. First, only a small fraction of the written records survived those twenty centuries. Secondly, there were few, if any, journalists in Palestine during the time of Jesus. Thirdly, the Romans saw the Jewish people as merely one of many ethnic groups that needed to be tolerated. The Romans held the Jewish people in low regard. Finally the Jewish leaders were also eager to forget about Jesus. Secular writers only took notice after Christianity became popular and began to disturb their lifestyle.

Even though early secular reports on Jesus may have been rare, there are still a few surviving references to Him. Not too surprisingly, the earliest non-Christian reports were made by the Jews. Flavius Josephus, who lived until 98 A.D., was a romanized Jewish historian. He wrote books on Jewish history for the Roman people. In his book, Jewish Antiquities, he made references to Jesus. In one reference he wrote:

About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. And many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. However, those who became his disciples preached his doctrine. They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders. [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII 3.2]

Even though several different forms of this particular text have survived through the twenty centuries, they all agree with the above cited version. This version is considered to be the closest to the original - the least suspected of Christian text-tampering. Elsewhere in this book, Josephus also reported the execution of St. John the Baptist [XVIII 5.2] and St. James the Just [XX 9.1], even referring to James as "the brother of Jesus who was called Christ." It should be noted that the past tense in the clause, "Jesus who was called Christ," argues against Christian text-tampering since a Christian would prefer to write instead, "Jesus who is called Christ."

Another Jewish source, the Talmud, makes several historical references to Jesus. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the Talmud is "the collection of ancient Rabbinic writings consisting of the Mishnah and the Gemara, constituting the basis of religious authority for traditional Judaism." Although not explicitly referred to by name, later rabbis identify the person as Jesus. These references to Jesus are neither sympathetic to Him or His Church. Also these writings were preserved through the centuries by Jews, so Christians cannot be accused of tampering with the text.

The Talmud makes note of Jesus' miracles. No attempt is made to deny them, but it ascribes them to magical arts from Egypt. Also His crucifixion is dated as "on the eve of the Feast of the Passover" in agreement with the Gospel (Luke 22:1ff; John 19:31ff). Similar again to the Gospel (Matt. 27:51), the Talmud records the earthquake and the tearing in two of the Temple curtain during the time of Jesus' death. Josephus in his book, The Jewish War, also confirmed these events.

By the beginning of the 2nd century, Romans were writing about Christians and Jesus. Pliny the Younger, proconsul in Asia Minor, in 111 A.D. wrote to Emperor Trajan in a letter:

...it was their habit on a fixed day to assemble before daylight and recite by turns a form of words to Christ as a god; and that they bound themselves with an oath, not for any crime, but not to commit theft or robbery, or adultery, not to break their word, and not to deny a deposit when demanded. After this was done, their custom was to depart, and meet again to take food... [Pliny, Epistle 97]

Special attention should be made to the phrase, "to Christ as a god," an early secular witness to the belief in Christ's divinity (John 20:28; Phil. 2:6). Also it is interesting to compare this passage with Acts 20:7-11, a biblical account of an early Christian Sunday celebration.

Next the Roman historian, Tacitus, who is respected by modern scholars for historical accuracy, wrote in 115 A.D. about Christ and His Church:

The author of the denomination was Christ[us] who had been executed in Tiberius time by the Procurator Pontius Pilate. The pestilent superstition, checked for a while, burst out again, not only throughout Judea...but throughout the city of Rome also... [Tacitus, Annals, XV 44]

Even with disdain for the Christian faith, Tacitus still treated the execution of Christ as historical fact, drawing connections to Roman events and leaders. (cf. Luke 3:1ff)

Other secular witnesses to the historical Jesus include Suetonius in his biography of Claudius, Phlegan recording the eclipse of the sun during Jesus' death and even Celsus, a pagan philosopher. It must be kept in mind that most of these sources were not only secular but anti-Christian. These secular authors, including the Jewish writers, had no desire or intention to promote Christianity. They had no motivation to distort their reports in favor of Christianity. Pliny actually punished Christians for their faith. If Jesus were a myth or His execution a hoax, Tacitus would have reported it as such. He certainly would not have connected Jesus' execution to Roman leaders. These writers presented Jesus as a real historical person. Denying the reliability of these sources in connection to Jesus would cast serious suspicion on the rest of ancient history.

Now these ancient secular writings do not prove that Jesus is the Son of God or even the Christ, but that is not the goal of this tract. These reports show that a virtuous person named Jesus did live in the early first century A.D. and authored a religious movement (which still exists today). This Person was at least called Christ - the Messiah. Christians in the first century also appeared to consider Him God. Finally these writings support other facts found in the Bible surrounding His life. The claim that Jesus never existed and His life is a myth compromises the reliability of ancient history.

Answer 2

i believe "Jesus" is not a real person. it is a just a word not a name. it simply means the "way of life". the word Jesus or the character named Jesus in the bible is just a representation of an example of what life should be based on historical records/experiences. it is just different kind of story of anybody of such to mark it as one of the many important ways of life should be to have an "everlasting life".

I Agree nobody can prove Jesus was a real person because for my understanding it's everything but false information. people just believed easily. they didn't care to know the real truth about anything. they just pick a religion and follows. because it's an easy way to live.

Answer 3

wiz, to be honest - no, no one can prove anyone from history was a "real person" - but we do have other accounts of jesus from other sources besides scripture - there are roman documents that list jesus, there was "josephus" a first centry jewish historian who also mentions jesus as a living being; there are other historical mentions of jesus in other places as well.

but when asked "can you prove it" the answer is no - because the "proof" i give has to be accepted by the one asking the question. so, the "question back" could be, "what proof do you seek to prove jesus was a real person?"

Answer 4

There probably isn't any physical proof, but faith is real, and after being a Christian believer for quite a while, Jesus has proved himself to be real in my life. Even if you can not see him his power is evident: he wakes us up every morning, protects us, provides us with internet service and so many other things! Praying and asking Jesus to do things in your life ans seeing instant, monthly, weekly, or even yearly results is clear proof. You asked and you recieved! You can't see pluto from your room and you've never been to space, but you believe its a real planet. You can't see Jesus, but you can feel him (if you desire to) but he is indeed real today and was indeed a real person! I didn't use the Bible, only faith and logic!

Answer 5

can you prove Julius Caesar or Aristotle were real? dont just single out Jesus Christ because he is a religious icon. He has had the most profound impact of any other person in history. 1/3 of the world believes in him. His apostles died for him in spreading the gospel, why would those fishermen die for a lie? They witnessed him after the resurrection. So they died for him.

Answer 6

Yep, simply in honeybees the male always comes from an unfertilized egg so he is father-less. Why are u crazy of one person who was created by God from a mother with out father. Does the one who created the whole universe needs any thing except his which to create a father-less person called Jesus PBUH.

Answer 7

Not even the most illiterate atheists use that one. Saying Jesus doesn't exist is like saying Abraham Lincoln doesn't exist. There are multiple sources other than the Bible detailing his existence... historical scroll, etc.

Answer 8

All proof for Jesus comes lengthy after he used to be supposedly Crucified. Josephus used to be born 7 years after Jesus died - it's enormously not going any one he met , noticed, or heard of cared approximately a Jesus determine till lengthy after humans began creating a cult round Jesus. His cult did not succeed in any colossal fame till lengthy after Jesus is alleged to have died. His lifestyles, which is meant to be the intent of the faith, has no proof to again up any of his deeds. In brief - we all know Pilate existed. But we have now now not one million scrap of proof for Jesus. Not one million bit. Jesus can have existed as a instructor and a Rabbi - even Jews might provide him this so much. But They did not begin to jot down approximately Jesus within the Talmud till someplace round one hundred-two hundred AD - and at that factor - it used to be to explain that Jesus used to be a NOT the messiah and that any one who joins him might be a blasphemer. In brief - there are two probabilities: one million. Jesus is only a mythological determine - taken from bits and portions of Rabbis and Essene messiah figures from his time. two. Jesus lived as a human, however used to be most effective human, and used to be no messiah. He can have had a few fascinating teachings, however can have acted a crime and made claims he might now not again up. He used to be now not a messiah, nor a god. I'm sorry - however to place religion in a human that claimed to be a god in ancient occasions (we are not speaking prehistory - those are Roman occasions - writing has been a round for many years), but has no proof keep for a host of writings that had been written by means of fake authors someday among 150AD and four hundred AD. The Bible isn't evidence!!!! THis is the reality - Christianity is a fake faith. Where you cross from there's as much as you - however be completely happy on your apostasy - for there are lots of ex-Christians similar to you, who aroused from sleep to become aware of Christianity just isn't plausible.

Answer 9

Yes, there are several historical references that are not from Judeo Christian sources that prove his existence. As to his divinity that's a different question.

Answer 10

There are historical documents that prove his existence. other than the bible.

Answer 11

I don't have definate proof, but I think the fact that history is dated by BC & AD (Before Christ and After Death) is a good indication that he was here.