Are there references to Jesus outside of the Bible?

Question

Is the Bible our only source for insight into the life of Jesus?

Answer 1

The Gnostic gospels speak of him quite a bit. But most Christians don't like them and consider them heresy.

Answer 2

There are several which have already been mentioned: Josephus, Pliny the Younger, et cetera.
However, the most USEFUL reference to both Christians and Jesus was written by someone who despised both: Hadrian, who became Roman emperor in 117 AD.
It's actually because of him that we now know where Jesus's tomb is, and where He was crucified. He erected pagan temples at both sites. Later, Helena (Roman emperor Constantine's mother) went to these sites, and built churches over them.
In the 1970s, archaeologists discovered these sites. Once the pagan temples had been excavated, they found the tomb beneath one of them.
Some say that such an "important" figure would have been written about more. That's not necessarily true. At the time directly after Jesus lived, when Christianity virtually exploded, it was heavily persecuted and religious leaders at the time didn't want Jesus's life publicized.
Because of this, it's miraculous that Jesus is mentioned in ANY ancient manuscript.

Answer 3

Yes there are other sources. Pliny the Younger, Josephus, and I know there's others, I just can't think of them. They refer to multitudes following him. The refer to people believing that he healed people and did other miracles. They mention his death on the cross and that people claimed to see him after his death. They talk about the disciples that walked with him on the earth die terrible deaths because of what they preached. There's lots more.

Edit: Josephus lived AD 37-AD 100. He was born just a few years after Jesus died, so many people who knew Jesus or his diciple personally were still alive in Josephus' day. He is reliable because he reported from eye witness accounts. Some people argue that christians with an agenda added the cooments later (interpolations), but this website explains why that is not true.
http://www.tektonics.org/jesusexist/josephus.html

Also the Talmud, strictly an ancient Jewish work, discusses Jesus. They despised him. They tried to discredit him and his work because they hated him.
They knew he existed and was a dangerous threat their authority and position, and too many people followed him. Why would the Jews write about someone they despised if he didn't exist?

Answer 4

it particularly is gonna be perplexing thinking no longer only the time lapse however the undeniable fact that the call Jesus would have been a particularly uncomplicated call (Christ grow to be no longer his final call btw.) So whether we detect a guy named Jesus in an earthly reference there'll continually be inquiries to no count if he grow to be the Jesus of the Bible.

Answer 5

Around his time period, some ppl will say yes, but actually no. Josepheus wrote a little about a figure that many believe to be Jesus, but there isnt' enough evidence to support it. Funny how such an important figure in history isn't even recorded.

Answer 6

"Yes there are other sources. Pliny the Younger, Josephus, and I know there's others, I just can't think of them."

Pliny only mentioned Christians, not Jesus. there is a difference you know.

Josephus was born after Jesus had died... so he's sorta a useless contemporary. it's also probable that it's a fake.

Bottom line: there are no non biblical contemporaries attesting to the life of jesus.

Answer 7

In the life's of the millions and billions of Christians who's life s been touched by Jesus...

Answer 8

Muslims claim he was a great prophet. Historians of the time like Josephus recorded some stuff about him

Answer 9

LOOK UP JOSEPHUS, A NON CHRISTIAN HISTORIAN, ALSO SEE PHILO, ANOTHER HISTORIAN OF THAT ERA. Also if you are researching Christian evidences, some of the best I have found are in a reference book called "EVIDENCE WHICH DEMANDS A VERDICT" BY JOSHUA MCDOWELL. Hope it helps, great question.

Answer 10

That are not forgeries? Nope