What proof do you have that Jesus ever existed?

Question

Are you just going to tell me the bible? How is that proof. If you use the bible to prove there was a Jesus, I'll use the Harry Potter books to prove that he is real.

The passages in Josephus were added by the church.

and why do you talk about faith like its a good thing? people had faith in hitler.

Answer 1

This book, that was written over 20 years after his death, of which we don't even know the authors! If that isn't proof, I don't know what is. [/sarcasm]

Oh, and let's not forget interpolations of Josephus and Tacticus. Josephus' writings are obvious interpolations, and as for Tacticus, we can't even see what he wrote. We have to take Africanus' word for it.

Esther: Actually, you're wrong. We have letters and written documents from George Washington. Historians, whose works have not been interpolated, wrote about him. We have nothing from Jesus, except interpolations and the Bible.

Answer 2

There was a Jewish historian by the name of Josephus (wrong spelling ), who wrote about Jesus approximately 50-70 years after Jesus' death ( or Resurrection ). This is the closest we can get to verifying Jesus lived from someone other than his apostles. The truth is Jesus wasn't considered to be important enough to write about while he lived because there was lots of "messiahs" roaming Israel at the time. If it helps other people in the bible are verified historical figures like Pontius Pilate who lived when & where the bible says they did and the bible is also accurate about other events it describes, so chances are pretty good that Jesus was an actual person.

Answer 3

I do not need proof? Any more than I need proof Abraham Lincoln existed or Adolph Hitler. Do you really have proof the world is round or is it egg shaped? Why do I need proof, he speaks to me and teaches me things I did not know before mainly about the future and the meaning of the Bible.
If you need proof then you cannot see it, you should not try and press yourself into something you cannot see or understand, be who you are and be true to your self and your own heart, DO NOT try and be something you are not. This is what religious people do and that is why the world is so messed up. God is love, peace, happiness, joy, light, and much much more follow after what is good and do not worry about religion if God wants you he will call you.
By the way Josephus was a Jew not a Christian author who lived about 50-100 A. D. and reported about the destruction of Jerusalem and other events besides Jesus Christ. So he was not bias toward Christianity.

Answer 4

Oh man, I hope you like the name Josephus... 'cause you're about to see it a lot.

Edit:
I find it very amusing that Josephus is still used as an "outside source" to prove Jesus' existance. I mean, if you actually read the whole passage that mentions him, it's obvious that it was a later addition since the tone and structure clashes with the text around it.

Plus, Josephus was a man who went from Zealous Jew straight to, and ending at, Roman sympathizer. Where in there are we to believe he became a Christian? (The text that mentions Jesus is so obviously slanted toward the Christian view of him, it's just sad).

Answer 5

Can you not prove that the Bible quotes 500 witnesses to His ascension?
If Jesus isn't real, then the Qu'ran would make no mention of him either.
Where is His body?
The manuscripts exist from the first century of the writings of the apostles who WALKED and witnessed Jesus.
Over 500 people is lot of evidence to disclaim the existence of Jesus.

Answer 6

Ok, if you do not want to treat both the Old and New testaments as accurate histories, to at least some extent, then fine. But I will treat writings of Cicero or Plato as fakes and say Julies Caesar is not real. Now that sounds really stupid right? Sure statues where made of Cicero or Nero but they where made because of their status. Jesus was a simple carpenter in Israel, a territory that meant nothing to Pagan Romans. To the Pharisees he was nothing but a heretic and many Jews refused to believe that he was the Messiah. So why build a statue for a man who you simply have no care for or deny and why write about a man who most no nothing about like the Romans or a man who is considered a heretic like the Jews did to Jesus? You wouldn’t. But there is most likely more writings from other sources by what some deem as “official historians” but only time will tell.

But look at the New Testament which has twelve disciples including other writers like the Apostle Paul and Titus all writing about Jesus and his teachings. Also including other references of other followers or people who witness Jesus and some had liked him others did not.

Archeology, Geology, and other sciences are just now beginning to really take off technologically and who knows what we will find. Most of the world’s history has been lost including some of the information or writings of the most influential people in our history. Discoveries are just now beginning to truly take off and who knows what we will find. Some new discoveries include the possible tomb of Pontius Pilate and a new cave in the Valley of the Kings, and etc. So it is unwise to assume we know everything and proof cease to exist.

More and more writings probably will come about and new structures will continue to be found but again only time will tell.

I end with this thought, amazing how a so called “made-up" man affected billions of people and changed empires. Amazing how so many people witness an imaginary man and heard his teachings. Amazing how distraught both Jews and Romans became over an imaginary man. I guess if you are not a prince from India (Buddha”, a warrior from Mecca “Muhammad”, a leader and father of two which lead to three major religions (Abraham), an ethical teacher (Confucius), or other more “prominent” figures in society then your not real. At least Jesus has the blood line of David and a family to prove it and prophets to speak of him and a Revelations that speaks of his return and things to come. Strange how a “made-up" man who is the son of God and God but became man, was a simple carpenter, and finally a teacher of truth and life only to finally die and then to rise from the dead and promise everlasting life to whom so ever believed in him. It all may seem strange to most but I will stick with that strangeness.

Answer 7

Whether or not you believe he was the Son of God, there is abumdant proof that Jesus was alive during the time period discussed in the bible. A few internet searches or just old fashioned library work would tell you this. This is really a silly question.

Answer 8

Flavius Josephus Antiquities of the Jews (18.3.3). History not bible also:....... Tacitus Annal s 15.44.2-8

while it is decidedly unsympathetic to Christianity, provides "independent" confirmation of Jesus' execution by a Roman governor. There is a similar but much shorter reference by the Roman historian Suetonius, a contemporary of Tacitus. The descriptions of locales in the Gospel accounts have been more-or-less confirmed by archeology, and we have archeological evidence that Pontius Pilate was, in fact, the governor of Judea at the time that Jesus was executed. The existence of Christians, who insisted on referring their religion to an historical personage, very soon after the time in which Jesus is supposed to have lived, is further evidence.

Answer 9

There are no information what so ever outdoors of the bible. human beings will in all probability attempt to sell you costs from Josephus, Tacitus and others, yet they have been shown to be early Christian forgeries. Your concept on why and how Christianity replaced into started is on the different hand ridiculous. in case you decide on for to debate the subject count I advise you examine up on it first. that is definitely exciting to work out what got here approximately, how and why. additionally lookup Simon of Perea, he replaced into the messiah formerly Jesus.

Answer 10

Ah ha you want proof. Well what proof do you have that George Washington ever lived? Did some people write it down in a book?
You go ahead proving Harry Potter is real we will see who goes to the loony bin first.
Kisses BB

Answer 11

There are a lot of documents besides the bible (other gospels) although if you were to throw out all religious documents than you wouldn't have any thing left...