Proof Jesus existed?

Question

Historical accounts of Jesus are sketchy at best. The only historians who supposedly wrote about Jesus were not born until after his supposed death. Even in that case, the one mention of Jesus by Josephus Flavius does not fit the context of the narrative around it and breaks the flow of the narrative.

Out of 40 historians that lived in the first 2 centuries CE, only 3 supposedly made mention of Jesus.

Does all of Christianity rely on the Gospels being true? These were written well after the fact and not by eyewitnesses. Why should I believe that these are correct?

Prove these are correct. Don't tell me that God gave us the Gospels, don't tell me that I need to read the Bible to know God.

Answer 1

Christianity would be pretty much the same as it is now whether or not Jesus existed.

I think he did exist, but Christianity is seldom about Jesus. It is about Christ - and the *Christos* figure is the Meshach to the Hebrews, the Messiah.

Another person could just as well have become the poster boy for the new religion when its designers were putting the pieces together. One candidate might have been Appollonius of Tyana, but he was later than Jesus and besides did not get himself crucified. Martyrdom is essential in such cases - as is shown in our time by the ongoing adulation of Che Guevara.

Christianity is just the latest manifestation of the thousands of years old religions of the Nile. Osiris is the foremost figure. Both God and man, he is mankind's mediator and redeemer. He is killed and rises again. His devotees remember him in the meal of bread and wine (or beer), and he promises them eternal life through his sacrifice and overcoming of death.

A worshiper of Osiris from five thousand years ago coming to our century could attend Christian services and be quite familiar with most of what goes on. The new religion just carries on and adapts the features of its predecessors. So the life story of Y'Shua ben Yosef bar N'zret in Galilee can be installed in the new religion yet it is by no means essential to Christianity.

Books about Osiris were collected at Byblos, Syria, which gives us the name "Bible" for a collection of sacred books.

In Greek culture, he morphs into Dionysus. In Phrygia, he is Attis, who is born on December 25, is crucified on Good Friday and rises again. His tomb is found empty when the stone is rolled away on Easter morning. Finding the tomb empty, the people cry "He is risen!"

The builders of Christianity were smart enough to avoid trying to fight against thousands of years of tradition, and people's love for the ancient rituals. So they just incorporated them as a Christian version.

Therefore the historical veracity or otherwise of the biblical accounts of Jesus really do not matter much. Christianity could do quite well with or without him. The largest Christian denominations (Roman, Orthodox and Anglican Catholics) have the holy universal and apostolic church. The Protestant fundies worship not Jesus but the book about Jesus. Very few Christians are focused on Jesus, the man, whether or not he existed in history.

The Christ figure is mostly a symbol, appealing to the human aspiration towards perfection. Here's Matthew Arnold:

"Was Christ a man like us?
Ah! Let us try
If we then, too, can be such men as he!"

Answer 2

We have better documentary evidence for Jesus life, death and resurrection than that most historical figures from more than about 400 years ago really lived. There is a Roman historian, Josephus, whose writings from the first century referred to Jesus. While not without controversy, this account and its supporting evidence along with the early manuscripts (written in the lifetimes of the people involved)of the New Testament books make a strong case for Jesus' authenticity.

That Christians were persecuted and fed to the lions within the lifetime of people who knew Jesus is almost unquestioned, so I can say without hesitation that, according to generally accepted historical record, people who lived in the first and second century, who were contemporaries of Jesus and his disciples, believed he was real and chose to be tortured to death under Nero and others rather than deny that the gospel of Jesus is truth. This qualifies as a very strong case for the authenticity of the gospel since most people will not choose torture or being fed to lions to defend a lie... many wouldn't to defend the truth. Nero ruled from about 54AD to 69AD which was within the lifetime of some of the disciples of Jesus. Much more could be said ...

Answer 3

I don't think that the account of Jesus by Josephus is totally inauthentic, as you may be implying, though the oldest known version (I think Old Bulgarian or something of the sort) does contain later christian interpolations. It would have been really difficult for any account in complete contradiction to survive monastic domination of the written word.

Undoubtedly, biblical accounts -- including the surviving noncanonical ones -- incorporate elements of prechristian mythology, and the earliest christian evangelist, Mark, is likely much closer to early belief than, in particular, that of John, heavily influenced by 2nd-century Greek mysticism. There is nothing like an original text of any, and all differ to some extent from the rest in matters of fact.

There is no reason to believe that Jesus' earliest followers had any idea he was divine, but it is most probable he was not made up from the whole cloth, but derives from an actual person, added to over the years, in different ways in different places, through various cultural influences. I do think it impossible at this date to say what this person's purposes were.

Answer 4

You can make that argument about God. But Jesus? You have to be kidding. You might as well put all of history into the same category using that type of logical thinking. None of it is documented very well. Jesus is documented more than most. Not only is he mentioned in Christian texts but also outside of it and also by many other religions. He is universally recognized and it takes great unbelief to disregard it. Try as you may to debunk it, won't happen. Study a little harder and you'll see the difference in documentation rather than reading from some web site.

Answer 5

of direction, in case you're taking out Christian writers, its like asserting, "are you able to instruct Julius Ceasar existed without employing Roman writings?" There are various man or woman writings approximately Jesus written interior one hundred years of His death. additionally, Pliny the extra youthful, Tacitus and Suetonius (all non-Christians) wrote approximately Jesus. the ideal non-Christian writing of Christ from his term, although, is via Josephus, the Jewish historian. He took painstaking efforts in making precise histories. He wrote truly approximately Jesus and others suggested in the NT.

Answer 6

There is overwhelming evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ, both in secular and biblical history. Perhaps the greatest evidence that Jesus did exist is the fact that literally thousands of Christians in the first century A.D., including the twelve apostles, were willing to give their lives as martyrs for Jesus Christ. People will die for what they believe to be true, but no one will die for what they know to be a lie.
http://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-exist.html
Suggested Reading
The Case for the Real Jesus By: Lee Strobel
http://www.christianbook.com/the-case-for-the-real-jesus/lee-strobel/9780310292012/pd/292012?product_redirect=1&Ntt=292012&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

Non Biblical evidence as proof for Jesus Christ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrRQqYGf4O0

'Did Jesus Exist?' A Historian Makes His Case
http://www.npr.org/2012/04/01/149462376/did-jesus-exist-a-historian-makes-his-case
Refuting the myth that Jesus never existed
http://bede.org.uk/jesusmyth.htm
Did Jesus Really Exist?
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/philosophicalfragments/2012/08/29/did-jesus-really-exist/
What do we know about Jesus - from non-biblical sources?
http://www.provethebible.net/T2-Divin/D-0201.htm

Did Jesus Christ Really Exist? Proving Jesus Without the Bible
http://beginningandend.com/jesus-exist-historical-evidence-jesus-christ/

Is There Any Evidence for Jesus Outside the Bible?
http://www.pleaseconvinceme.com/index/pg79644


Is There Any Proof of Jesus Other Than the Bible? (1of2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HknelAk8_S8&feature=related

Answer 7

Your resources must be very limited than, because there are many archeological evidences behind the old testament and over 500 witnesses to christs ressurection and many more of his death and ministry. You are not doing enough research. Even many scientists say they have more evidence of the bibles accuracy(although many do not follow it) they cannot disapprove it or creation. Many more of those people approve that Jesus exsisted and a portion of those beleive in his ressurection.

Answer 8

Hello scfishy.. :)

The proof I have is in the pudding so to speak..

I was a selfish, mean spirited, hateful woman..who only put her self first and others second..I was a drug addict, and an alcoholic..

The day after I asked Jesus to come into my heart..I was set free from hate, anger, selfishness, drugs and alcohol..

You do not know me, but anyone who did, will and can tell you, that I am a completely different woman..

I pray someday you will come to know Jesus.. :)


In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With Love..In Christ.. :)

Answer 9

There is no way to prove something doesnt exist! and we have the Bible.And Josephus Flavius (whoever the heck that is) ... lets see. nope i havent heard his name in the Bible. And the historians who wrote about him LIVED WITH HIM! LIKE HIS DISCIPLES! ( duh)

Answer 10

They will tell you to believe in "faith"... Like I have faith my car will start but I don't know that to be 100% true.