from a historical perspective, what proof is there that Jesus existed?

Question

there's a big section on jesus in my 6th grader's world history book. he's atheist, and feels uncomfortable learning about it. i explained to him that they aren't teaching religion, but history, but then i began to wonder how much of it really IS history...

Answer 1

Well there is a little. There is the Bible. Josephus is the best outside one, but even that is about 90 years after the fact so it wasn't first hand. Most of the others either aren't clearly about him, or there is debate about rather they are authentic.

There are additionally a few problems with the story. The Romans have no record that has been found. That is mildly problematic because we have laundry lists from Rome, but not this. Even more of a problem is the lack of record of the census that Mary was supposedly in Bethlehem for. There certainly should be one, it was a CENSUS.

The point it that it is an historically weak case. But there probably was a real person named Jesus. It has historical value just in how the faith changed history.

Answer 2

Besides the Bible, some questionable writings attributed to the historian Josephus discuss the Jesus familiar to the Bible. Much of the alleged historical content of the Old and New Testament has no basis in known fact in terms of archeology or ancient history. The Jesus story may, however, reflect a religious movement built up around a number of teachers and related ideas, built up over many decades and centuries. Stronger evidence--from historical records of the Romans and others- is that a man named Yeshua al Notzi (note that Yeshua is another way of spelling "Jesus") lived during the 1st century BC. He was an Essene Gnostic, a "mage" (as in "the 3 wise men--magi--a "magician" in the old sense of the word), a healer, spiritual teacher, and political provocateur. He was stoned to death and hung on a tree by order of the Roman authorities. This person may be the person who, in legend, became the Biblical Jesus.

Answer 3

There is not much evidence for the historical validity of Jesus. Josephus is often quoted as being proof, however the section about Jesus is commonly thought to be a later insertion. In most of his writings he is extremely critical of other messianic figures and the "cults" that were common at the time; the quote about Jesus is out of place not consistent with the rest of his writing.

Celphus, might be Celphis, is another 2nd century writer that is often quoted as verify Jesus' life. This is a misconception, we have his writings as part of a rebuttal against them by a 3rd century writer.

In terms of historical evidence that Jesus existed, I would not be surprised either way, but I would have a hard time teaching any details of his life as those are pure speculation.

Edit:
All in all the bible has not been verified as an accurate historical document in anything other than locations, which like other fictional books are fairly accurate. For example the temple curtain is not recorded as being destroyed or ripped until the temple's destruction in 70 CE by the Romans.

Answer 4

Maybe 6th grade is a little young to do this amount of research but I think maybe 10th grade or so, a research paper on the actual historical facts leading people to believe there was or was not a Jesus would be fascinating. (Shouldn't be a requirement - it could be one out of several topics.)
I've read that "Jesus" is probably like 37 different people who lived between about 100 BC and 100 AD (for lack of better time terms.) There were historians alive during the lifetime of the supposed one Jesus (the one most people think of - tall, thin, brown beard, long hair) and they never mentioned him once. This would be very strange if he attracted such huge multitudes of people like the bible says. Everything is from well after his death. Every religion seems to have its mythical main person. (I'm Buddhist and I know that some of the stories about the Buddha were probably made up for children. That doesn't change the Noble Truths, etc.)

Answer 5

There are no historical references to Jesus that were recorded during his supposed lifetime. There are four accepted references by historians written long after the Crucifixion supposedly took place and thus are hearsay accounts recording that there were followers who relayed this information about Jesus. Josephus was not a contemporary of Jesus in fact he wasn't born until 37 AD I think so that is after the crucifixion. It makes me and some others wonder how if the dead rose from their graves and the sun ceased to shine for the better part of a day as the Bible records at least a few of the historians of the day wouldn't have made some mention. There are some accounts supported by fundamentalists that most scholars have long dismissed as obvious forgeries. One that I recall is a supposed letter or letters by Pilate that contain information on Jesus. The Catholic church has even made its official position on these that they are fakes.

The criteria for establishing that there was a historical Jesus and whether it has been met is controversial.

Answer 6

There would be references but the point isn't whether or not he existed by the "why" of the question.

Someone wrote that "a 12 year old isn't mature enough" to understand the workings / origins of the universe. Really? We are all born with no beliefs whatsoever and it is only after we are told by others that religions and "God" exists. So, according to this person's logic, teaching children about "god" would be considered cruel. Surely, you'd want to wait until the child is "mature enough to understand the workings of the universe"

Your son has his head on straight. If he were born on a deserted island and he somehow ended up being the only person there, he would not know about Jesus or any religions until he was told.

"more evidence than Plato or Aristotle!" Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.....

Large grass eating monster.....Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

I like the bitterness and venom from "Angeltress". Very Christ-like, indeed. If you're reading this, learn to love yourself more because you are only hurting yourself with such hatefulness. I had forgotten that people could be so unhappy.

Answer 7

Historically he was the first man to have an unfair trial. Just think he was tried convicted and put to death all in a matter of a day. For me, I am homeschooled, I love learning more and more about my Savior! He had many followers. He was tormented and taunted. The legal system back then was crooked. If you son doesn't want to learn about our beloved savior, the he has alot to learn, me even being homeschooled, I had to learn about Budism, and Muslims, and all the different religions around the world, it just make you smarter to know what really happend.

God Bless

Answer 8

Josephus mentions Jesus.

But this is the most compelling secular historical evidence I have found.

Cornelius Tacitus

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Born c. 52-55 A.D.
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Served as senator, under Vespasian, and later (112-113 A.D.) governor of Asia
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In "Annals" (c. 116 A.D.), he verifies the details of Christ's death at the hands of Pontius Pilate

"Christus, the founder of the name [Christians], had undergone the death penalty in the reign of Tiberius, by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilate, and the pernicious superstition was checked for a moment, only to break out once more, not merely in Judea, the home of the disease, but in the capital itself, where all things horrible or shameful in the world collect and find a vogue."

Answer 9

Historically, churches which believe the Gospel (and therefore the Truth and Resurrection which is Jesus) have existed for the past two thousand years.

Answer 10

Contemporary Jewish historian Josephus mentions Him in his historical account of the Jews and Roman historian Suetonius mentions Him also.

So there is historical witness to the fact that He is a real person.