Secular contemporary accounts of Jesus?

Question

Can anyone point out a text written about Jesus? The question is because I'm specifically looking for accounts that would be contemporary (ie, during Jesus' life time) and secular (this means a text other than the bible). Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

There are none that are consistently thought by experts to be both contemporary and non-forgeries. There are accounts that are contemporary but obvious (to scholars) as being forgeries and there are non-forgery accounts that are (again, to scholars) not contemporary--the Biblical tales being an example of this type.

There are also no secular accounts of such a person. I believe there are secular accounts naming "Jesus" but that's a bit like someone writing an account now about someone named Joe.

Josephus is often cited as a contemporary account of an historian writing about Jesus. The problem is with the context he's written about; Josephus was a Jew and the few words from his works that speak of Jesus sound like they're written from a Christian.

Various Roman documents are also sometimes cited. Tacitus in particular. Numerous problems arise with these too such as, depending on the writing, they're either not contemporary, not well documented or possible later additions.

In short, there are no contemporary secular documents that speak of the Jesus described in the Biblical accounts that hold up to valid scholarly examination.

Answer 2

There are no records contemporary with Jesus secular or otherwise. Rome very carefully destroyed Jerusalem in the mid-60's because of the the revolt.

Josephus' most famous account is wholly fabricated (Testimonium Flavianum, verse 18:63 in Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews.). Origen, for example, quotes extensivly from Josephus and never quote this passage. Indeed, he claims Josephus was no lover of Christians.

Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (56 CE to 117 CE) apparently does mention Jesus in a passage now thought to be original.

For a relatively complete discussion of the extant materials including an evaluation of their veracity you will find this handy:

http://www.skepticwiki.org/wiki/index.php/Nonbiblical_references_to_Jesus

If you happen to believe many modern fables (crop circles, alien visitors, witches and the like) you will find this site rather disconcerting. Sorry about that.

HTH

Charles

Answer 3

The Jews condemned Jesus to death as a criminal and blasphemer- I doubt they would keep a record of a man they wanted to forget. As for the Romans, Jesus wasn't political, rich or a nobleman, so why would they waste their time with a man they thought of as a common criminal?

The historian Josephus discusses in great detail the first century Christian congregations and beliefs in the decades after the death of Christ, as well as the foretold destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. (Matthew chapter 24)

I haven't seen or read any contemporary accounts, so historical records of the early Christians (nothing beyond the second century) would probably be your best bet.

Edit: To the below poster, I said nothing about the works of Josephus expressly being written to "verify Jesus." If you had read the answer, you would see that I said he documented the fall of Jerusalem and that Jesus had foretold it would happen. Nothing about Josephus purposing to make Jesus right.

Geez! Examine the answer a little more closely before you make an erroneous statement.

Answer 4

Curious thing - not one record in the Roman archive of a Jesus - despite all the trouble he was supposed to have been to them!

BUT - At the same time as Jesus was not recorded there were a number of Jews also claiming to be the messiah that were well documented by the Romans!

Was Jesus an amalgam of these?

Did the Romans deliberately hide any reference?

Christianity is a belief - with proof it would be a fact. Ergo = only those that lack faith seek proof!!!!!

Answer 5

You have to remember that the Bible was not the Bible when it was written. It was letters to others written by Eyewitnesses.

Peter, Matthew, John, Mark and the other gospels (not canonized) are some of the contemporary manuscripts that were written about Jesus. It was not until later that they were organized into one book.

BTW: Josephus does mention Jesus and his followers in his writings and contrary to the above poster's belief, they were not edits for the purpose of verifying Jesus.

Answer 6

The Complete Works of Josephus or at least his Dissertations. He was a Jewish historian (AD 37 to AD100) he references the historians and writers who were his predecessors.
The Letters of Pontius Pilate are interesting.
Natural Questions by Seneca born 3 AD

Answer 7

I haven't found any. I was once told the Roman courts had a few pieces, but when I did the research, it turned out to be a hoax...

Sorry I couldn't help... but if you happen upon some, let me know. I've been looking for years.

Answer 8

Tacitus (ca. 60-120 A.D.), was a Roman historian, and he mentioned Pilate once, and that was incidental. He contended that the “Christians” derived their name from “Christus,” who “was executed at the hands of Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius” (Annals, xv.44).

Answer 9

I've heard Xians quote Roman records, though never actually seen a specific reference.

Answer 10

There are none.

The only thing you will find is a late forgery in the texts of Josephus which were added by a Christian copyist.