Evidence for a historical Jesus?

Question

Can any Christian out there give me historical evidence of the Jesus that is portrayed in the Bible, outside of the Bible? (Not just any Jesus, the miracle-working, water-walking, sin-forgiving, cross-dying, Super-Jesus)

Answer 1

Josephus is the most popular ancient, non-Christian source to include an account referencing Jesus twice in his work called Jewish Antiquities. In one quote, he describes the condemnation of one "James" by the Jewish Sanhedrin. This James, says Josephus, was "the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ."
Tacitus was a Roman historian. He wrote an account describing the roman emperor Nero's descision to blame the burning of Rome on the Christians, saying:
"Nero fastened the guilt . . . on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of . . . Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome. . . ." We can assume that the "mischevious superstition is describing the resurrection.
Pliny the Younger was the Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor. He engaged in correspondence to the to Emperor Trajan, and in one of his letters, dated about A.D. 112, he asks Trajan's advice about the appropriate way to prosecute those accused of being Christians Pliny felt the need to consult the emperor because of the huge numbers and diversity of the accused, including people from every age, class, and sex. He writes about the Christians, saying
about these Christians:
"They were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it"
Jewish authorities also wrote of the existence of Jesus in the Babylonian Talmud, Babylonian Talmud, a collection of Jewish rabbinical writings dated approximately A.D. 70-500. The most significant passage states:
"On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald . . . cried, "He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy."
Lucian of Samosata was a second century Greek satirist. In one of his works, he wrote jeeringly of the early Christians:
"The Christians . . . worship a man to this day--the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account. . . . [It] was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws."

Answer 2

But that is Jesus. The New Testament books of the bible are considered historical documents. If you want something besides the gospels, try the books written by Paul. He actually wrote his books or letters closer to the death of Jesus than the gospels. Start with Acts because that actually introduces Paul. The Da Vinci Code and books on the Gnostic gospels have torn down what people have believed about Jesus for so long. Dan Brown's book is based on falshoods and the Gnostic gospels were written as much as 200 years after the death of Jesus. All were rejected by the historical scholars of the day. Besides what do you have against a man who died on the cross so that any and all of you sins might be forgiven.

Answer 3

Many people provided good evidence here. Hope you are actually asking for knowledge and not to mock the religion. Check out the book "Jesus: The Great Debate" by Grant R. Jeffrey. He has a whole section dedicated to the evidence that Jesus Christ existed both from believers and non-believers.

Check out Thallus, a pagan chronologer, who wrote in the years following Christ's death. He was a witness to the darkness that fall in the hours after Jesus Christ died. Some say it was an eclipse but many scientists have said that looking backwards an eclipse would not have happened at that time.

Answer 4

Yes there is. The ancient Roman historians Tacitus, Suetonius and the Jewish pro Roman historian Josephus as well as Pliny mentions his existence and two say he did a few wonderous things execution was stated as well.
Having said that, scholars are debating back and forth whether a few of these historians were really talking of Christ as historical or Chriatianity as a new sect.
Anyway the whole four of them showed little interest just mentioning Christ in passing so it seems he did not start off with a big bang in those times but show some credibility to his historical existance as a character in history.

Regards,

Michael Kelly

Answer 5

There is evidence off Jesus in the writings of Josephus. There isn't any extra-Biblical evidence, other than the Christian writings tht weren't included in the Bible, that he was resurrected. The only evidence we have of such is from those who had a vested interest in promoting that viewpoint. There is no Roman historical record of that event. One may argue that the Romans would have had an interest in squelching such news, but I would think that if it did happen, it should have been reported by others than those who believed him to be god.

Answer 6

There is no other evidence now that still exist regarding the History of Jesus our Lord except the Holy Bible which is the word of God and this served as our basis in believing God and Jesus Christ when he became man on earth. But according to the bible Jesus exist from the very beginning of the creation of man by God, Jesus was already existing. Do not ever philosophize on a wrong logic. It is not proper for you to tell us that that the bible should not be involved to answer you. You are wrong in that manner, please.
jtm

Answer 7

The book Case for Christ by Lee Stroebel can give you more than I am willing to write here.

Jesus and the early Church are mentioned in the writings of Josephus, Pliny Jr, I believe the Jewish Talmud and about 4 other ancient texts. The 4 Gospels were also generally considered to have been written before the destruction of the Temple in 65 AD or within 30 years of Jesus death so there is lots of evidence.

A.D. definition - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anno_Domini

Answer 8

Jethro Bodine! it fairly is gorgeous. i'm a Christian, btw Your analogy is unsuitable because of the fact we've correspondence written to and from George Washington in his very own hand, we've the domicile he lived in and the articles of materials he owned. there is adequate info that GW lived -- too plenty to have been sturdy (hello, Valley FORGE!! in line with possibility you're directly to a minimum of something after all). additionally extant are modern snap shots of GW. The info proving Christ's life, whilst some does exist, is very just about all 2nd hand at maximum suitable -- it would not, as they say, "postpone in courtroom." that never proves he did not exist -- in his day he had in basic terms an extremely small team of followers, and under the political equipment of the time, there may be no reason for all-helpful Rome or anyone else on the time to place in writing approximately what they seen a small-time criminal -- that they had no concept of the effect Jesus might have on the worldwide.

Answer 9

Josephus wrote about Jesus in the first century years.
There are many Gnostic writings about Jesus. A recent discovery in Israel has the name Yeshua Bar Joseph on a burial box. Please read the last 1000 pages in the Book of Urantia on the life of Jesus.
Some say the Shroud of Turin is the shroud that covered Jesus in his tomb. The Bible was composed in 325 AD. not long after his death.
Read the Book Of Thomas that was discovered in Egypt at the turn of this 20th century.
there are too many references to him , not to be true. Not to mention the many modern day prophets who channel Jesus.
I personally have communicated with Jesus several ways.. I was given his picture to paint through prayer and a vision. This may sound far fetched but I need not lie about it. Ya, he is real. Study, you will find out!
Rev. TomCat

Answer 10

Can any person give me historical evidence that says without a doubt the Leonardo Da Vinci was real? That he wasn't imagined, or that someone else had done the things he has supposedly done? Nope. Because whatever I believe, you won't be able to change my mind unless I believe that you are smarter and know more about these things than I do.

Answer 11

The accounts of the historic Jesus are so intertwined with the miraculous that you can discount one without discounting the other. Read it yourself and try to imagine how anyone could fabricate it. So if there is an "historic Jesus", he must have also been the Biblical Jesus.

What extraBiblical evidence do we have there was an historic Jesus? Gee, What year is it? What does A.D. mean?