Did Jesus Really Exist?

 EVIDENCE FROM THE BIBLE

The Gospels give us a  comprehensive account of Jesus' life and ministry, including specific details about people, places, and times-the hallmarks of authentic history.  An example is found at Luke 3:1. 2, which helps us to establish the exact date when a man named John the Baptists, a forerunner of Jesus, commenced his work. 

Luke wrote:  "In the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was district ruler of Galilee.  Philip his brother was district ruler of the country Ituraea, and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was district ruler of Abilene, in the days of chief priest Annas and of Caiaphas, God's declaration came back to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness."  This detailed precise list enables us to establish that "God's declaration came to John" in the year 29  C.E.

 The seven public figures Luke names are well-known to historians. That said, for a time certain critics did question the existence of Pontius Pilate and Lysanias.  But the critics spoke too soon. Ancient inscriptions bearing the names of those two officials have been discovered, confirming Luke's accuracy. 

Next time:  Did Jesus Really Exist? - WHY DOES IT MATTER?

From the jw.org publications