Did Jesus ever exist?

Question

I don't want to hear what the Bible says, I want historical evidence that points to Jesus' existence. This is a 10 point question so think hard.

http://www.atheists.org/christianity/didjesusexist.html

I study alot on the subject.

AD and BC originate in the year 635 AD

Answer 1

I have to admit this question made me curious so read quite a few sites and here's what I found. Some say yes, some say no haha

Anyways, I'm not religious, but I think Jesus (the person) most likely existed. While I do not believe the bible is absolute truth, I think just like any story it probably has some elements of historical accuracy. Was Jesus actually the messiah? No clue, was he an actual person? I think so, but there is no solid historical evidence, just hearsay accounts

Answer 2

Harvard professor of law, Simon Greenleaf , authority on legal evidence wrote a book on why the New Testament would be admissible evidence to prove Jesus died and rose from the dead.

Many historical sources mention Jesus, Flavius Josephus being the most famous secular historian There are seven significant souses. Josephus, Tacitus, Lucian, Mara Bar-Serapion and the Talmud all mentioning Jesus crucification.

Two skeptical people, who were not inclined to believe - Paul and James the half brother of Jesus believed and we know the original eyewitnesses included the 11 apostles who held onto their original story to their deaths where people are not inclined to die for something they would not be convinced was true Interestingly even the Romans made grave robbery a crime around the time the tomb was alleged to be empty

No one in the first century denied Jesus existed, you would have to go forward in time 19 centuries to where people could look back and think they can see the moss growing on the Galilean's hills while missing the whole point

Answer 3

There is more recorded evidence for a Jesus existing, then some other "known" people that existed, like Julia Cesar. But the i guess Royal recordings don't show it cause Jesus was not regarded well by the religious and royal people of the time, so it's not recorded there. Like the Egyptians, why would they report that they lost all their slaves? Doesn't mean they didn't, they just covered it up.

Also, try looking at a site that's not like for evolution, or atheists. Find neutral sites, not bias ones

Answer 4

You'd have to be pretty blind to believe Jesus never existed, even if your don't believe in God. How do you explain the graffiti depicting the crucifixion with "Iēsous" in many ancient homes or the many ancient historians, both Jew, Greek and Roman that wrote about Jesus? There less information about Alexander the Great than that of Jesus, but no one questions Alexander's authenticity.

Here's an article about proof of Jesus' existence-
http://www.tektonics.org/jesusexist/jesusexisthub.html
Here's an article about Josephus, Jewish historian- http://www.tektonics.org/jesusexist/josephus.html

Answer 5

What kind of evidence do you need? Historical, scientific, logic, what is proof to you. Let me share one of the things that did it for me. Graffiti, on a building in the town Jesus was crucified there was a picture scatched in stone that on a building. It was a man nailed to a cross with the head of a donkey. It said an *** dies for his God. They had no other reason to put that in the side of the building other than it occuring. No political gain, no alterior motive... not even trying to record history. Simply mocking what this person didn't understand.

Answer 6

Early Christian sources outside the New Testament also mention Jesus and details of his life. Important texts from the Apostolic Fathers are, to name just the most significant and ancient, Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch and Justin Martyr.

Perhaps the most significant Patristic sources are the early references of Papias and Quadratus , mostly reported by Eusebius in the fourth century, which both mention eyewitnesses of Jesus’ ministry and healings who were still alive in their own time (the late first century). Papias, in giving his sources for the information contained in his commentaries, stated (according to Eusebius):

"…if by chance anyone who had been in attendance on the elders should come my way, I inquired about the words of the elders — [that is,] what [according to the elders] Andrew or Peter said, or Philip, or Thomas or James, or John or Matthew or any other of the Lord’s disciples, and whatever Aristion and the elder John, the Lord’s disciples, were saying.

Thus, while Papias was collecting his information, Aristion and the elder John (who were Jesus’ disciples) were still alive and teaching in Asia minor, and Papias gathered information from people who had known them. Another Father, Quadratus, who wrote an apology to the emperor Hadrian, was reported by Eusebius to have stated:

"The words of our Savior were always present, for they were true: those who were healed, those who rose from the dead, those who were not only seen in the act of being healed or raised, but were also always present, not merely when the Savior was living on earth, but also for a considerable time after his departure, so that some of them survived even to our own times.

By “our Savior” Quadratus means Jesus, and by “our times” it has been argued that he may refer to his early life, rather than when he wrote (117-124), which would be a reference contemporary with Papias.


In Antiquities of the Jews, by Flavius Josephus, Jesus is mentioned. Josephus calls James, "the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ". This is considered by the majority of scholars to be authentic, though a few have raised doubts. Also, in the Testimonium Flavianum, Josephus writes:

"About this time came Jesus, a wise man, if indeed it is appropriate to call him a man. For he was a performer of paradoxical feats, a teacher of people who accept the unusual with pleasure, and he won over many of the Jews and also many Greeks. He was the Christ. When Pilate, upon the accusation of the first men amongst us, condemned him to be crucified, those who had formerly loved him did not cease [to follow him], for he appeared to them on the third day, living again, as the divine prophets foretold, along with a myriad of other marvellous things concerning him. And the tribe of the Christians, so named after him, has not disappeared to this day.

Answer 7

AD & BC 426 AD man if you been studying a lot let me suggest that you lay the can down, put out the pipe, and talk to someone in our reality. After a few weeks start again without any cans, bottles, left cigs, or pipes around use your brain don't abuse it!!!!!

Answer 8

Josephus makes a reference to the brother of Jesus be martyred. And name a religion with disciples that followed a completely fictional person. So they made up the story about a fictional person and then proceeded to die for it? They at least believed it.

Answer 9

Jesus was born and he fought against the ills of the society. he dared to stood against churches, priests, and other political leaders of that time. People actually followed him because he also spread message of God. he showed them that they were equal and they don't have to go by the cast system created by Priests.
But after his death, those same priests cashed on his name. he was indeed a divine soul, but they added bunch of magical stories. I don't think they added the real teachings of Jesus. Have you read the Bible.....come one....scary. It's more about going to hell then reading about what Jesus wanted us to do.

Answer 10

There are plenty of artifacts: scrolls, physical locations, etc. However, the best evidence is the history of my own life. He did live, he does live now and forever more! To quote the lyrics of a songwriter:

"He lives! He lives! My savior lives today. He walks with me and he talks with me, along this narrow way. He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know he lives? HE LIVES WITHIN MY HEART!"

I said a prayer that you too will one day soon enjoy this knowledge, peace, security and love as I do. You can today, this very moment if you wish. Just ask him and he will enter your heart too. God bless you.