Excluding the Bible, what proof is there that Jesus existed?

Question

Don't refer me to Wikipedia, don't refer me to any version of any bible. I would like someone to provide me something more concrete than either of those.

Answer 1

Plenty! There are extra-biblical texts (texts outside the Bible) that also confirm what is written in scripture.

Josephus was a very important Jewish historian of the first century. He was a priest, a pharisee, and somewhat egotistical. Most importantly he was NOT A CHRISTIAN. Look into his books "The Antiquities" and the "Testimonium Flavianum".

In these references Josephus does corroborate important information about Jesus: that he was the martyred leader of the church in Jerusalem and that he was a wise teacher who had established a wise and lasting following, despite the fact that he had been crucified under Pilate at the instigation of some of the Jewish leaders.

These references from Josephus are highly significant especially since his accounts of the Jewish War have proved to be very accurate.

Also look at authors like Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Thallus (quoted by Julius Africanus), and the Talmud.

Source(s):

Josephus, The Antiquities 20.200. See also Edwin Yamauchi, "Josephus and the Scriptures," Fides et Historia 13 (1980), 42-43.

Josephus, The Antiquities 18.63-64.

Answer 2

Read up on the Shroud of Turin. I use to balk at this item as a kid, fully believed it was just a painted or something image.

But you know, still to this day, science still cannot tell what makes the image, how its made, what made it, nothing. Even the original carbon dating that said it came from the wrong time period was later proven wrong.

I grew up as a non believer. But in my late 20's had a few experiences that broke science, physics, motion, gravity...all the items I know so well. So only a God like creature can pull off such stunts. Even have an "image" on film that after I put it through filters and such in an art program, reveals the same face that is on the Shroud of Turin. And whats even more odd...(sorry for the bible part here)...the same description is actually in the bible. Speaks of long white hair, eyes that glow of fire, etc. Same as the Shroud.

Today I believe, 100%...can I prove it 100%, no. Do I research it all almost daily, sure. Do I fully understand it all, no. Will I ever understand it all as a living creature, no. Am I a church going, bible pushing person, by far no.

Answer 3

Pontius Pilate figured in the ministry of Jesus, as that ministry drew to a close, and quite recently Caesarea on the coastal plain contributed a valuable archaeological find in respect to Pontius Pilate

in 1961 an Italian archaeological expedition from the University of Milan found near Caesarea a stone slab thirty-one by twenty-three inches in size bearing writings including the Latin names of Pontius Pilate and Tiberius

This is archaeological proof of Pilate’s existence

Knowledge of the Bible and the land, support of the Bible by archaeology and by the land itself should increase our appreciation for the Word of truth. As the discovery of ancient manuscripts has helped restore the pure, original text of the Bible, so the discovery of the multitude of artifacts has brought convincing confirmation that the things stated in the Bible text are historically, chronologically and geographically reliable right down to the minutest detail.

Answer 4

Apart from the 27 New Testament documents and writings of the early church leaders, there are examples of evidence from secular sources:

- Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman Historian mentions that Jesus was the founder of the Christians and was put to death by Pontius Pilate. (Writing in 112 AD)

- Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian (born in 37 AD) mentions that Jesus' brother James was stoned after he was brought before a council assembled by Ananus.

- Thallus, one of the first Gentile writers, wrote to try and explain away the darkness that occurred when Jesus died. (Writing in 52 AD)

- Pliny the Younger, Governor of Bithynia, wrote a report on how he was killing both Christian men and women, boys and girls. There were so many being put to death that he wondered if he should only kill certain ones. (Writing in 106 AD). Why would so many people die for someone that didn't exist?

It is worth noting a primary reason why the "Jesus-myth" is not taken seriously: the fact that we have no evidence that the historicity of Jesus was questioned in the first centuries. Surely, if Jesus did not exist, this would have been the first thing that opponents of Christianity, especially those in the Jewish community, would have highlighted.

There appears to be large documented support, both Christian and secular, for the historical existence of Jesus Christ.

This summary information was taken from a more detailed article that includes links to other sources if you want to follow up on the references: http://knowwhatyoubelieve.com/believe/evidence/did_jesus_exist.htm

Answer 5

The Gnostics: The early Christian movement was composed of Gnostic Christians, Jewish Christians, and Pauline Christians. Gnostics in particular maintained that God could never take human form. Some denied Jesus' existence as a historical person.

Flavius Josephus: He was a Jewish historian who was born in 37 CE. In his book, Antiquities of the Jews, he described Jesus' as a wise man who was crucified by Pilate. Most historians believe that the paragraph in which he describes Jesus is partly or completely a forgery that was inserted into the text by an unknown Christian. The passage "appears out of context, thereby breaking the flow of the narrative." 18
Josh McDowell, Don Stewart and other conservative Christians accept the entire passage as legitimate. 8

There exists no consensus on a second passage in Antiquities which refers to Jesus' brother James, having being tried and stoned to death. Some consider it legitimate; others assess it to be a forgery.

Cornelius Tacitus: He was a Roman historian who lived from 55 to 120 CE and wrote a book Annals, circa 112 CE. McDowell and Stewart accept his writings as a strong indicator of Jesus' existence in the early 1st century CE. 8 However, the information could have been derived from Christian material circulating in the early 2nd century.

Suetonius: He was the author of The Lives of the Caesars circa 120 CE. He wrote to "Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, [Emperor Claudius in 49 CE] expelled them from Rome." This passage is often used to support the historicity of Jesus, assuming that Jesus' title was misspelled. But Chrestus was in fact a common Greek name. It is likely that the reference is to a Jewish agitator in Rome by that name.

Other ancient Roman historians: There were about 40 historians who wrote during the first two centuries. 5 With the exception of the above, none stated that Jesus existed in the 1st century.

Jewish literature: The Talmud states that Jesus lived in the 2nd century BCE. However, this passage itself dates from the early 2nd century CE. The authors were probably basing their writings on a reaction to some of the dozens of Christian gospels circulating by that time.

Answer 6

Apart from Biblical texts, there is no concrete evidence.

That's why, when the James Ossuary turned up a few years ago, everyone was head over heels with excitement: it would have been the FIRST actual artifact that proved the existence of Jesus.

It was revealed as a fake, as you remember, which disappointed quite a few people. Damn shame, but it was a first class forgery, all the same.

Answer 7

There are many, many other writings by historians of 2,000 years ago that talk about Jesus, His miracles, His teachings, and even His death and resurrection. Most of these writings are by historians who were not Christians. Try Josephus.

There was more written in that era about jesus than there was written about Julius Caesar, and people have no trouble believing that Caesar existed.

Answer 8

The James Ossuary is pretty interesting reference ot Jesus.

Answer 9

There is a lot of scholarship on this subject. There is no physical evidence of his existence. That would be asking a lot, after 2000 years, since he was really a minor figure in his own time. His importance has been magnified since, but in his lifetime, his following was really quite small. Furthermore, people didn't leave "paper trails" in the first century as we do today If you really want to get into the subject, start here:

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/schweitzer/

Answer 10

There are a large number of non-Biblical writings that refer to or directly talk about Jesus.

Answer 11

There has to be something in Roman records which were probably written on scrolls. There may be records or books of history in the countries he lived and visited in?