Did Jesus Really Exist? - What Does History Reveal?

 The most detailed record of Jesus' life and ministry is recorded in the Bible accounts known for the Gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John-named after the men who wrote them. In addition, a number of early non-Christian sources name him.

Tacitus

(c. 56-120 =C.E., or Common Era) Tacitus is considered to be one of the greatest of the ancient Roman historians.  His Annals deal with  the  Roman Empire from 14 C.E. to 68 C.E. (Jesus died  in 33 C.E.) Tacitus wrote that when a great fire devastated Rome in 64 C.E., Emperor Nero was considered responsible. But Tacitus wrote that Nero accused the Christians in order to "scotch the rumour."  Then Tacitus said:  "Christus, the founder of the name [Christian], had undergone the death penalty in the reign of Tiberius, by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilatus." -Annals XV, 44. 

Suetonius

(69-a. 122 C.E.) In his Lives of the Caesars, this Roman historian recorded events during the reigns of the first 11 Roman emperors.  The section on Claudius refers to turmoil among the Jews in Rome that was likely caused by disputes over Jesus. (Acts 18:2) Suetonius wrote: "Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus [Christus, He [Claudius] expelled them from Rome."  (The deified Claudius, XXV,  4) Although wrongly accusing Jesus of creating disturbances, Suetonius did not doubt his existence. 

Pliny the Younger

(c. 61-113 C.E) This Roman author and administrator in Bithynia (modern Turkey) wrote to Roman Emperor Trajan about how to deal with the Christians in that province.  Pliny said that he tried to force Christians to recant, executing any man who refused to do so.  He explained: "Those who . . .repeated after me an invocation to the [pagan] Gods, and offered adoration, with wine and frankincense, to your image . . . and who finally cursed Christ . . . , I thought it proper to discharge Pliny -Letters, Book X, XCVI. 

Flavius Joesephus

(c. 37-100 C.E.) This Jewish priest and historian states that Annas, a Jewish high priest who continued to wield political influence , "convened the judges of the Sanhedrin [the Jewish high court] and brought before them a man named James, the brother of Jesus who was called the Christ." - Jewish Antiquities, XX, 200.

The Talmud

This collection of Jewish rabbinic writings, dating from the third to the sixth centuries C.E., shows that even Jesus' enemies affirmed his existence. One passage says that on "the Passover Yeshu [Jesus]  the Nazarean was hanged," which historically correct.  (Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 43a, Munich Codex, see John 19:14-16) Another states: "May we produce no son or pupil who disgraces himself in public like the Nazarene"-a title often applied to Jesus. -Babylonian Talmud, Berakoth 17b, Munich Codex.  See. LUKE 18:37.

 Next time: Does Jesus Really Exist? - EVIDENCE FROM THE BIBLE

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