Did Jesus exist?

Answer 1

The most important non-Christian source is "Jewish Antiquities," completed in A.D. 93 by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.

One passage cites the execution in A.D. 62 of "the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ, James by name."
The following quote from Book 20 Chapter 9 Paragraph 1 of his work is interesting:

"Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the Sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned."

-------

Any records the Roman occupiers kept about Jesus would have been lost during the devastating Jewish rebellion that began in A.D. 66, Sanders figures.

It took time for awareness of this tiny religious movement to reach other Romans, but three early references have survived:

-Pliny the Younger was sent as imperial legate to Bithynia (in present-day Turkey) starting in A.D. 111. One of his reports to the Emperor Trajan described a policy of executing Christians who refused to curse Christ and worship Roman gods. He said believers would sing an "antiphonal hymn to Christ as God," followed by a meal.

Pliny the Younger was governor of Pontus/Bithynia from A.D. 111-113. His writings are interesting in light of the fact that he reported to the emperor of Rome, Trajan, how he would interrogate and persecute Christians that would not worship the emperor:

"Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed."
"They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so."

"..after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food--but food of an ordinary and innocent kind."

Pliny added that Christianity attracted persons of all societal ranks, all ages, both sexes, and from both the city and the country. Late in his letter to Emperor Trajan, Pliny refers to the teachings of Jesus and his followers as excessive and contagious superstition.

-------

-Tacitus, who loathed the Christian "plague," recorded around A.D. 115 in "Roman Annals" that Jesus "was executed by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilate in the reign of Tiberius."

-------

-Suetonius wrote about A.D. 120 that the Emperor Claudius banished all Jews from Rome because they were continually rioting "at the instigation of Chrestus." Historians think this misspelling of "Christ" means Suetonius mistakenly thought a troublemaker with that name lived in Rome. The comment indicates that by A.D. 49, belief in Christ had reached Rome and was dividing Jews.

-------

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillas, chief secretary of Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD):

"Because the Jews of Rome caused continous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, Claudius expelled them from the city."

"After the great fire at Rome [during Nero's reign] ... Punishments were also inflicted on the Christians, a sect professing a new and mischievous religious belief."

-------

Julius Africanus, writing around 221 AD, found a reference in the writings of Thallus, who wrote a history of the Eastern Mediterranean around 52 AD, which dealt with the darkness that covered the land during Jesus's crucifixion:

"Thallus, in the third book of his histories, explains away the darkness as an eclipse of the sun--unreasonably, as it seems to me." [A solar eclipse could not take place during a full moon, as was the case during Passover season.]

-------

Emporer Hadrian (117-138 AD), in a letter to Minucius Fundanus, the Asian proconsul:

"I do not wish, therefore, that the matter should be passed by without examination, so that these men may neither be harassed, nor opportunity of malicious proceedings be offered to informers.
If, therefore, the provincials can clearly evince their charges against the Christians, so as to answer before the tribunal, let them pursue this course only, but not by mere petitions, and mere outcries against the Christians.
For it is far more proper, if anyone would bring an accusation, that you should examine it." Hadrian further explained that if Christians were found guilty they should be judged "according to the heinousness of the crime."
If the accusers were only slandering the believers, then those who inaccurately made the charges were to be punished.

-------

Lucian, a second century Greek satirist:

"The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day--the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account. ... You see, these misguided creatures start with the general conviction that they are immortal for all time, which explains the contempt of death and voluntary self-devotion which are so common among them; and then 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.
All this they take quite on faith, with the result that they despise all worldly goods alike, regarding them merely as common property." Lucian also reported that the Christians had "sacred writings" which were frequently read. When something affected them, "they spare no trouble, no expense."

-------

Mara Bar-Serapion, of Syria, writing between 70 and 200 AD from prison to motivate his son to emulate wise teachers of the past:

"What advantage did the Athenians gain from putting Socrates to death? Famine and plague came upon them as a judgment for their crime.
What advantage did the men of Samos gain from burying Pythagoras? In a moment their land was covered with sand.

What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise king? It was just after that that their kingdom was abolished.

God justly avenged these three wise men: the Athenians died of hunger; the Samians were overwhelmed by the sea; the Jews, ruined and driven from their land, live in complete dispersion.

But Socrates did not die for good; he lived on in the teaching of Plato. Pythagoras did not die for good; he lived on in the statue of Hera. Nor did the wise king die for good; he lived on in the teaching which he had given."
.

Answer 2

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a prophet named Jesus, but so many of the accounts that go into what this man did match those of other, more ancient, religions...

I look at it from a Hollywood standpoint. Ever watch a "true story" on the Silver Screen? The names of the characters may be real... some of the events might have sorta-kinda played out like what you see... but the rest is gloss--and often stolen from other films.

As far as I know--and I may be mistaken--there has never been any historically confirmed proof of Jesus' existence. On the other hand... how many of US will be trackable in several thousands of years? I know that several posters above me have stated that there IS historical evidence... but either offer no backing to that statement, or post religious sources which of course will say Jesus was and is among us. As far as unbiased sources? We'll see. Like I said, I'm open to being mistaken.

Answer 3

Yes.
The idea that Jesus never existed is completely at odds with the evidence, as well as the opinion of modern scholars.

Answer 4

I am satisfied that at the very least, the person we know as Jesus of Nazareth actually existed in the early first century. He was a Jewish teacher born in Bethlehem, raised in Galilee, educated in the extant Jewish (and, I have long believed, also Greek) philosophy of his time, worked as a carpenter, was regarded as a healer, was baptized by John the Baptist, was accused of plotting against the Jewish establishment and the Roman Empire, and on the very reluctant authorization of Roman Governor Pontius Pilate was sentenced to death by crucifixion.

(A source I didn't see mentioned much in this thread when I responded is Flavius Josephus, who at least makes a brief mention of him.)

From there is for faith to take over, from where scholarship has led us to.

Answer 5

Yes.

There are many Historical accounts outside of the Bible, secularly accepted as true that verify the life of Jesus.
They do not claim to verify his deity, but they make mention of his exsistence.

Here are some sites that show a few of the historical things that talk about Jesus - outside the Bible

http://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-exist.html
http://www.tektonics.org/jesusexist/jesusexisthub.html

Have fun with those!

Feel free to email,

Jessica

Answer 6

All history and Historians agree that a travelling preacher/teacher named Jesus existed and was crucified by the Roman government.

Jesus is a historically proven fact. It is whether or not he is the Messiah, Saviour, God that has been and still is in dispute, not whether or not he as a man ever existed.

Garwy above you are incorrect antiquity scholars and historians such as Josephus,Tacitus, Suetonius, Pliny, Thallus (non of who were Christian) wrote of the man Jesus.

edit: Opus below me Josephus' original work "antiquities of the Jews" DOES mention Jesus.

Answer 7

The Answer is Jesus Does Exist, and Loves YOU, So MUCH!!! Jesus is waiting for each of Us to Come to Him, so we can Claim our Gift of Salvation.
Jesus Christ really did Go To that cross for us, God sent His Only Son, because we have been seperated because of our sins, and The only way way We Can Be Saved is to be forgiven, Jesus took our sins to that cross, When we believe this and ask For The Forgiveness through Jesus, When we REpent, turn from those sins, from that sinful nature, WE are accpepting Jesus Christ into our heart.
I recommend asking God to show you today, to ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart, I recommend finding a good local church, I went to church by myself for the first time, but In my heart I knew I was doing the right thing, that God wanted me there, There are alot of Bible Stories on Video's you can get at the Libraries for free, that will teach you alot about The Lord, and it makes it easy at first, when you don't quite understand the Bible yet. It will be the Best thing you will ever do.

Answer 8

the only evidence for the existence of Jesus is the Bible.

the bible is hardly likely to be an unbiased source.

on the other hand the only evidence for most people who lived before the middle ages is a mention in some book or other (labienus, socrates, menander, friar bungay).

so Jesus is just as likely as most of the characters from antiquity.

(he wasn't the only messiah though).

Answer 9

Did Moses exist? Did King David exist?

Unless you believe any of the historical writings of these people whether by followers of them or not, there will be no convincing of you.

Answer 10

Which Jesus?

Answer 11

yes. besides the bible stating that Jesus walked the earth, there are other historical facts the Jesus lived.