Where is proof that Jesus existed?

Question

The bible was written about Jesus years after he allegedly died, so what other proof is there besides works written about the New Testament?

Answer 1

There is no better attested writing from all the ancient world than the writings of the New Testament, which were written by first hand witnesses or by those who spoke with them.

Peter writes:

"We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."
II Peter 1:16-19

John writes:

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ."
I John 1:1-3

Luke writes:

"Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,"
Luke 1:1-3

Should I remind you that time itself is marked by His appearing? B.C. = Before Christ
A.D.= Anno Domini - Latin for in the Year of the Lord

Answer 2

As I read the comments from believers, I am dumbfounded as to how misled most of you are. The cookie cutter responses like "its written in the bible" or "just look around you and you will see the proof" are probably taken directly from their parents or preacher's mouths. Before I answer the question myself, I wonder how old most of the respondents are (10? 13? 15?). These sound like the blind faithful repeating what they heard in Sunday school and it is truely depressing.

Did Jesus exist? In all likelyhood yes. Did he think he was divine? Noone will ever know, but there are plenty of "scholars" who believe that he thought he was fulfilling the Jewish idea of what a messiah was which was for an earthly leader who would bring about the Jewish kingdom through military means NOT by claiming he was a GOD let alone THE GOD.

Religions start and spread overnight. It does not take much to get people to follow your beliefs and die for them. Anyone heard of the Cargo Cult?

Please, for the love of humanity do your research people. Stop spewing the same old crap we have been forced to hear all our lives. There is nothing special about Christianity when comparing it to the other multitude of religions the earth has had to endure. The only difference was power-Roman power that gave Christianity its jump start.

Answer 3

The Old Testament was already in existence before Jesus was born....The New Testament,,which all about Jesus and the church,,is proof...these men wrote about a Jesus, that walked and talked with them,,,but if you will type in "Jesus in History",,,,,in google,,,you will find that historians wrote about him too..

Answer 4

It's one of those things... you see, there's neither historical proof of Jews being enslaved in Egypt and building the pyramids, nor accounts of such activity outside the Old Testament. So once you've been taught that faith is a super, infallible, amazing excuse for knowingly suspending disbelief, you tend to rely on it and can believe whatever you choose. And I'm not just picking on Jesus freaks and other religiously zealous fruitcakes. This can be applied to people who believe in outlandish conspiracies and the Loch Ness Monster.

Answer 5

No actual proof. It could have had all been made up considering the situation Jews were in during the invasion of Roman Empire.

Answer 6

My dad has some home movies he took.

Kidding aside,what exactly are demanding the way of proof? All religious have a founder. I can't imagine starting one without. No Rev. Moon,no moonies. Same with every religion. I'm sure the guy existed. And I'm sure he thought he was deivinely inspired. How would you start a religion without a founder?

Answer 7

Historical, Archeology, Manuscripts. Read-"Resurrection" by Hank Hanegraaff.

Answer 8

There is reliable historical proof of his existence in many cultures as well as in the bible. You do not have to believe that he was Christ to know that he existed.

Answer 9

“No serious scholar has ventured to postulate the non-historicity of Jesus.” Otto Betz

There are about as many secular references to Jesus life as there were to Julius Caesars life.
The Bible was written after Jesus died but while the eyewitnesses were still alive

Answer 10

in written documents (not accounting for religion specifics)

jesus was a jewish religious teacher who believed that you could practice anywhere you wanted, it didn't have to be the temple, and practice how you saw religion. he also believed in the coexistence of all religions.

because of this he pissed off the romans and they offered a price on his head. judas, one of his followers and close friends took the sum offered by the romans and told them where he was. he was then crucified and italy now has the vatican.. how ironic.

overall jesus actually could have been considered a modern day reconstructionist jew.