Alisa Childers I Blog

10 Historical Facts About Jesus From Non-Christian Sources

3/27/2017

If you have ever been involved in religious discussion on Facebook or Twitter, you have probably come across some version of the comment below:

I just think it's interesting that the only book that even talks about Jesus is the Bible! I'm not even sure we can prove he actually existed.

Although this assertion is largely rejected by scholars in all spheres of historical and biblical studies, it tends to pop back up on social media like a never-ending game of digital whack-a-mole. The truth is that Jesus is not only documented in the eye-witness testimony compiled in the New Testament, but He is mentioned as a historical person by several non-Christian sources within 150 years of His life. From those sources, we can learn 10 things about Jesus without even opening a Bible:

1. He was known to be wise and virtuous.

This fact was reported by Jewish Historian Josephus, who was born around AD 37. In his Antiquities of the Jews, he reports:

At this time there was a wise man named Jesus. His conduct was good, and [he] was known to be virtuous. (1)

2. He had a brother named James.

In recounting the stoning of James, Josephus records:

So he assembled the sanhedrin 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. (2)

3. He was known to perform miracles.

Celsus was a 2nd-century Greek philosopher and a fierce opponent of Christianity. In what is known to be the first comprehensive intellectual attack on Christianity, he tried to resolve why Jesus was able to perform miracles. The story is wild—but the main point is that by trying to explain away the miracles of Jesus, he is actually affirming that they happened:

Jesus, on account of his poverty, was hired out to go to Egypt. While there he acquired certain powers which Egyptians pride themselves on possessing. He returned home highly elated at possessing these powers, and on the strength of them gave himself out to be a god.(3)

4. He was crucified under Pontius Pilate.

This fact comes to us from one of the most trusted historians of the ancient world. Cornelius Tacitus was born in AD56 and served as a respected senator and proconsul of Asia under Emperor Vespasian. He wrote a history of the first century Roman Empire, which many historians consider to be the "pinnacle of Roman historical writing."(4) He notes:

Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus. (5)

Josephus confirmed:

Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die.(6)

5. His crucifixion was accompanied by darkness and an earthquake.

This fact was originally recorded by a Samaritan historian named Thallus, who was alive at the same time Jesus was (AD 5-60). He wrote a 3-volume history of the 1st-century Mediterranean world, which unfortunately no longer exists. But before his writings were lost, he was cited by another ancient historian, Julius Africanus, in AD 221. Africanus described Thallus' account of what happened during Jesus' crucifixion:

On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. (7)

6. He had many Jewish and Gentile disciples.

Josephus wrote:

And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon discipleship.(8)

7. He lived during the time of Tiberius Caesar.

Julius Africanus also reported that another ancient historian, Phlegon, confirmed the darkness at the time of Jesus' death and that Jesus was alive "in the time of" Tiberius Caesar:

Phlegon records that, in the time of Tiberius Caesar, at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun from the sixth hour to the ninth. (9)

8. His disciples believed that He rose from the dead.

In his commentary regarding the disciples' reaction to Jesus' death, Josephus recorded:

[Jesus' disciples] reported that He had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion; and that he was alive.... (10)

9. His disciples believed He was God, and they met regularly to worship Him.

Pliny the Younger lived from AD 61-113 and was an influential lawyer and magistrate of ancient Rome. In a letter to Emperor Trajan he wrote:

They [Christians] were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up. (11)

Lucian of Samosata was a 2nd-century Greek satirist known for his wit and sarcasm. Even though Christians were the object of his snark, he affirmed certain details about them:

The Christians, you know worship a man to this day—the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rights, and was crucified on that account....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. (12)

10. His disciples were willing to suffer and die for their beliefs.

The persecution and suffering of early Christians was recorded by Suetonius, the official secretary of the Roman Emperor Hadrian around AD 121. He documented that they were expelled from Rome in AD 49 by Claudius:

Because the Jews at Rome caused constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus (Christ), he expelled them from Rome. (13)

and:

Nero inflicted punishment on the Christians, a sect given to a new and mischievous religious belief. (14)

Tacitus also confirmed Nero's persecution of early Christians:

Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. (15)

Conclusion:

From non-Christian and even anti-Christian sources, we can be sure that Jesus in fact existed, was crucified, was believed to be resurrected from the dead, and His many followers were willing to suffer and die for that belief.

The next time someone claims that there is no evidence for Jesus outside the Bible, be sure to share these 10 facts with them!

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Resources:

(1)Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 18.3.3 (There are more specific, fantastical, and supernatural versions of this quote in antiquity that are believed to have been interpolated. The quote I cite in this article is the one that most scholars agree is authentic. See Shlomo Pines, An Arabic Version of the Testimonium Flavianum and Its Implications, Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities: Jerusalem, 1971, cited in J. Warner Wallace, Cold Case Christianity)
(2) Josephus, 20.9.1
(3) Origen, Contra Celsum, 1.28
(4) Ronald Mellor, Tacitus' Annals, p. 23
(5) Tacitus, Annals, 15.44
(6) Josephus, 18.3.3
(7) Ante-Nicene Christian Library: Translations of the Writings of the Fathers Down to A.D. 325, eds. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, vol. 9, Irenaeus, Vol. II— Hippolytus, Vol. II— Fragments of Third Century (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1870), 188. (Cited in J. Warner Wallace, Cold Case Christianity.)
(8) Josephus, 18.3.3
(9) Ante-Nicene Christian Library, eds. Roberts and Donaldson, vol. 9, 188. (Cited in J. Warner Wallace, Cold Case Christianity.)
(10) Josephus, 18.3.3
(11) Pliny the Younger, Book 10, Letter 96
(12)Lucian, The Death of Peregrine, 11-13
(13) C. Suetonius Tranquillus, Divus Claudius, 25.4
(14) Suetonius, The 12 Caesars, Nero Claudius Ceasar, XVI
(15) Tacitus, Annals, 15.44

87 Comments

Patrick Berger

3/27/2017 06:15:13 pm

Thanks Alissa

Judy Budi

3/27/2017 10:32:45 pm

Thank you for posting this info! Would like to show our highschool Sunday school class this info. Can it be sent to my email? Thank you!! Judy Budi

Amy

7/22/2021 09:48:47 pm

I would hope that in showing this to your High School Sunday school class you would accompany it with the BIBLE!!! Honestly if my child was attending that class, I would not allow him to be in it. It is amazing that our world constantly tries to discredit CHRIST, the SAVIOR of OUR WORLD so easily. I will pray for you and that your eyes be open to the true WORD OF GOD. The God that made you, made this world, made the seas, made the skies and the very air you breathe. Have a blessed day and may every eye be opened soon. Because at the end of the day, One day soon, EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.

Eva Elo

5/8/2017 10:10:29 am

Thank you.

Carol abbott link

5/25/2017 12:44:03 pm

Ty for this info. My son, a recent graduate in history does not believe that the bible is indeed a historical book, as shared by his professors. If you have any other historical references outside of the bible, I would love to receive them. In adfition, I would be grateful for bible prophesy that has been fulfilled in our present day world such as Israel becoming a nation. Tu so much=

Alisa Childers

5/28/2017 08:18:18 pm

Hi Carol, I would recommend a book called "The Bible as History," by Werner Keller. He walks through the historical events of the Bible and ties them to archaeological finds, and other historical sources outside of the Bible. https://www.amazon.com/Bible-as-History-Werner-Keller/dp/0553279432

Kevin Averett

11/25/2017 10:10:18 am

All of these "facts" are without corroboration from the archaeological record. Even "Bible scholars" have abandoned both Josephus (whom was a puppet of the Romans for personal gain)...and Pliny.

11/25/2017 07:25:13 pm

Hi Kevin— I'm sure there are some "Bible scholars" who have rejected Josephus and Pliny, but that is not the general consensus. Most scholars agree that there is a version of the Josephus quote that is spurious, but I didn't use that one—as per my footnotes.

David Kennedy

4/11/2018 10:26:32 am

Kevin, its interesting to me that you say the facts are not corroborated, when these 10 statements are the corroboration for the statements given in the Bible, Which I already know you dont want to accept. All of the sited authors in this are universally accepted as historians from their time, and as such do give credibility to the subjects that they discuss.
I wonder. are you one of those people that date a rock to be 100 million years old, and justify it as such because of the fossils embedded within it? then justify the dating of the fossils as 100 million years old because of the rock that they are embedded in?

Matthew Swift

4/10/2020 09:40:49 pm

Just what would there be evidence of? Jesus held no office, he didn't own any land. He didn't keep possessions, in fact he commanded his followers to sell their possessions. He wouldn't of asked anyone to forge any coin, any trinket, any item that could perhaps link Christ back to an archaeological record. So what other than handwritten accounts would make you believe? The answer to me seems evident...nothing will suffice for you.

Sean

4/10/2019 09:00:36 pm

This is not Facts, citing Sources from people who were not alive at that time is not fact. 65 Historians fail to mention Yeshua & Christianity & Fail To Mention A Crucifixion or Resurrection & 3 Days of Darkness & Massive Earthquakes.. Yeshua Ha'mashiach Yeshu Eashoa Yehoshua Ya'shua ISA or in English Joshua Existed, but was not a God or Son of God FACTS FACTS FACTS

Mikkel

4/11/2020 02:57:40 pm

Most of ancient history was not documented by eye-witnesses. Caesar's declared war on Rome was written 400 years after the fact; Hannibal crossing the Alps with elephants was written 50 years after the fact; Alexander the Great's most trusted biographies was also written 300-400 years after the fact. If we only accept eye-witness accounts that Jesus existed, if we apply those rules uniformly, we would would have to throw nearly all of ancient history out of the window. And even if you do that, you would still be left with the gospels, which ARE eye-witness accounts of his life, death and resurrection, which most scholars regard, even the atheistic ones, as generally reliable.

LouieNicaragua

3/28/2017 03:33:30 am

This right here is so powerful! Thanks for posting.

I wonder why they don't teach this in church. It's as if they are afraid our faith might be strengthenedited. Lol!

Jesse Gatdula

4/15/2017 01:14:57 pm

Jesus os aluve forever more

Eric

3/4/2019 09:39:13 pm

It's because "church" has done and incredibly poor job of educating Christians for the last 1000 years or so. "Church" doesn't know what church is - is it to be evangelical? Is it to be teaching and building up the saints? Is it something in between? What is church? Without this historical foundation that the Christian church is RICH in, most people's faith never gets very deep, and the slightest thing makes them waver - like the man mentioned above who has silly history professors that have chosen to ignore real history.

Rhonda Soullier

3/28/2017 04:57:51 am

Gene & Barb Dunker

3/28/2017 09:55:22 am

Tanya

3/28/2017 12:17:24 pm

Love this. Thanks for sharing. Popular view is that Jesus never existed and is this made up mystical person created by Christians.

Cheryl Pescinski

3/29/2017 07:24:13 am

To God be the glory. It is done well here. Thank you.

Stefan Haus

3/30/2017 02:00:25 am

To Christ, our Lord and Saviour, be the glory.
Soon and very soon we are going to see Him🙏
”I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:16, 20‬ ‭KJV‬‬
http://bible.com/1/rev.22.16,20.kjv

Chloe

3/30/2017 12:51:10 pm

Most of these are proof that Christians and Christianity exist, not proof that Jesus exists. Historically, Jesus existed, and I know that for a fact. However, you are falsely presenting this information. Jesus existed, Christianity exists, but there is still no proof that Jesus performed miracles or did anything else that the Bible mentions that goes against the laws of science and nature.

The only things we know for a fact are: 1. Jesus was born, 2. Jesus was worshiped, 3. Jesus was crucified.

3/30/2017 02:16:29 pm

Hi Chloe. Thanks for your comments. I have to disagree, however, that "most" of these are simply proof that Christians and Christianity exist. For this post I pulled from 9 non-Christian sources, and every single one of them refers to Jesus directly, not just His followers. I would encourage you to check out my references at the bottom of the post and read for yourself the quotations in context. For example, on point #10, I quote from Tacitus: "Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace." If you continue reading Tacitus, the very next line says, "Christus, from whom the name had its origin suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius..."

I'm not sure how you have decided that all we can know is that Jesus was born, was worshiped, and was crucified. Even if you throw out the Celsus quotation regarding miracles, you have to ignore a lot of other historical evidence to come to that conclusion.

John Muñoz

3/31/2017 09:15:56 am

If you want to be considered seriously, do not quote from Tacitus or Josephus, both of whom were born after Jesus died. Also, do your research on the New Testament. Not one of the gospels was written during Jesus' time, and thus cannot be taken as eye witness testimony. Not saying Jesus didn't exist. Just saying your research is garbage.

4/3/2017 09:10:11 am

Hi John, thanks for your comments. I think you may be confusing the difference between history and eye-witness testimony. Both Josephus and Tacitus, who were not eye-witnesses, wrote about Jesus remarkably early—many histories are written hundreds of years after the fact. Given his high government position, Tacitus had access to official Roman sources such as Senate session minutes, the speeches of Emperors (including Tiberius), courts, and government news reports from the capital. He cites Pliny the Elder as one of his sources, who actually was alive when Jesus was. Josephus was also a meticulous historian. Josephus and Tacitus are actually two of the most reliable sources I have quoted from.

Regarding the eyewitness testimony compiled in the New Testament, they were written after Jesus died—by the eyewitnesses who were still alive. That is the very definition of eyewitness testimony.

8/1/2018 04:07:08 am

Josephus Was Interpolated By Bishop Eusebius. You Cannot Use him as Facts. 3rd Century Church Father Origen Never Quotes That Passage From Josephus. Pliny & Tacitus were Forged as well & also NOT Contemporaries of Yeshua Bar Yousef....

4/21/2019 01:47:28 am

Please Explain Why 66 Famous Historians & Likes of Marcus Aurelius, Fail To Mention Yeshua Yeshu Eashoa Yehoshua Ya'shua ISA & In English Joshua & Christianity & The Crucifixion & Resurrection????? Josephus & Tacitus & Pliny The Younger Were Not Contemporaries & Around the time of the supposed Events. Non Contemporary Writings From Hundreds of Year's After The Fact, Would Not Hold up in Court..

Why would a person lie and die link

3/31/2017 11:14:56 pm

is there any proof that a chair will hold you up when you sit down on it; well it seem to be the same question or answer you may need no on see all the laws of physic but we know they are there; stars stay in their place thing fall down and not up and the earth is not flat like it used to be thought of.

Nathan Franson

4/2/2017 05:51:58 am

My comment is for John Munoz's response. The fact all four accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) were written after the time of Christ has everything to do with being taken as eyewitness testimony. They are biographies of His life, written by men who knew the Savior personally while still on earth. They are first-hand reports of His teachings and miracles. Saying they "cannot be taken as eyewitness testimony" is like you writing about someone you know personally after they are gone and having others try to question what you wrote or how you knew him/her simply because that person is now deceased. Of course it is relevant. What Ms. Childers has done is provide secular confirmation about Christ and the amazing things He did as God manifested. There is even more evidence on top of what she has given to support it, but she has done a sufficient job with showing ten (in other words, the list goes on and on). By the way, what additional research would not be "garbage" to you?

Michael

6/22/2017 04:31:00 pm

Chloe I cannot get the email cursor to work, so I won't know if you get this or not. First let me tell you I am regretful that you are likely bombarded with a lot of partial information in this modern age. As a lawyer I know that proof and facts and evidence are important. I just encourage you in your search of facts that you read a book (the movie is nice but the book is far superior), called The Case For Christ by Les Strobel. If you really want sourced facts read this. It was written by an Atheist reporter, that after two years of trying to show that Jesus was nothing more than a man, that he was in fact the Son of God. I could quote you all of my degrees, but I say about that so what. You just need to read this for yourself, and I encourage your search and pray for you in this world of cons and misinformation. Now after you read it, then ask questions on this site, and hey all you Christians out there give Chloe some time and be nice and help her with factual evidence. This is how people can learn the truth.!

Gavin link

4/1/2018 12:18:23 am

Great reply Michael, fully agree.

5/15/2019 03:45:45 am

Yeshua Was Not a Elohim or Son of a Elohim... There are No Facts That Yeshua was a Elohim... Show us Undeniable Proof Than?

Bruce

1/6/2020 10:59:23 pm

4. His teachings have carried on, and they have and still influence the world immensely today. ie. ( science and rational thinking ); which ironically Frederick Nietzsche declared was the reason for people falling away from the Church. Then later on in life went mad and was put into an asylum.

AMY

7/22/2021 10:16:06 pm

For the sake of people who do not believe, I challenge you to open your hearts and minds up, that the Bible is THE "LIVING WORD OF GOD" and still, to this day, there are disciples, prophets, heck even ministers or anyone who has the Holy Spirit inside them after accepting Christ into our Hearts, who can perform these things!!! It says in the Bible that we, as believers will do signs and wonders and healings and miracles and casting out demons and MORE greater things!!! I'VE SEEN IT PERSONALLY!!! I've seen healings, miracles performed!! Also there are people TODAY raising people from the dead... They just don't put that on the news, hmmmm, wonder why? Well because the Evil one has his hand in all things that would greater the benefit of people accepting Christ as their SAVIOR!!! Perfect example,,, google it, youtube it, SMITH WIGGLESWORTH, prime example, his wife died, through Smiths faith of Christ, he commanded her to come back to life... and um, well she did!!!! Its FACT!! There are tons of people that miracles have happened to them through Christ and his works at the Cross!!! Why on Earth would those Disciples, ALL OF THEM, want to die for something they weren't confident in? Most of them were Martyred by the Roman Empire because they didn't want word to get out about his resurrection and ascent into Heaven!!! Over 500 Witnesses, witnessed Christ Ascend into Heaven!!!! They scattered all over the Earth after that, Where do you think all of current Churches came from? Listen, this is not a debate, Jesus is our Savior, You will see soon and I just hope you all have eyes open, ears to hear and a hearing heart to understand. Just crack open the Bible and ask God to show you, ask him to reveal the TRUTH to you. Don't base everything that you hear, including what I am saying, on scholars, FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF. LET HIM OPEN UP YOUR MIND. HE WILL. FAITH, LOVE, HOPE in Jesus is ALL that you need.

Chris Kotting

3/31/2017 09:16:49 pm

It is interesting to me that so many people will reject the work of 2nd and 3rd Century historians with regard to Jesus, because they weren't eyewitnesses to the events they write about, yet they accept those same historians when they are writing about other figures (such as Tiberius Caesar) who lived contemporaneously with Jesus.

Lex

4/14/2017 04:29:26 pm

Nice point!

Mike

6/23/2017 12:21:16 am

That is also the case for Homer or the famous Iliad and oddesey. Just like Ceaser or the stories of Even Alexander the Great, all these stories survive by people who wrote them centuries later. This is purely from memory, but I remember in college when working toward my history degree learning that the closest surviving manuscript written about Alexander the Great was something like 500 years after the fact of the event. However, we learn of his deeds in all history books and they are well known. They are indeed fact. And there are a small number of these early manuscripts that survived. Some even incompletely some with differences. Yet, the Bible has around 5000 prior books or sections, or fragments of books all nearly identical. I personally have seen ancient Bibical writing about King Hezikiah that they found from digs which completely confirmed facts written in Bibical texts. These artifacts came to Cincinnati, Ohio a few years ago. When Israel became a nation they used Bibical texts to resign wells that were filled and find numerous lost histories. And untold times, the Bible is proven again and again by archeology. Then there are the prophets of the Bible who foretold the coming of Christ even nearly 1800 years BEFORE it happened, and according to Isaiah, chapter 53 I think, it was told in detail in the entire chapter how Christ would die on the cross, his story. And there are numerous books devoted to pointing out the many many prophecies of Christ birth and ministry thousand plus years before his birth. It is endless, literally things are found in Israel and the Middle East that confirm the truth of the Christ and his coming. I argue with nobody because of faith--look at the facts. No book or person in the world has such confirmation outside the Bible that lived and ministered and was prophesied about PRIOR to his death than Christ. If there is such, who are they? Who has more or better proof, and who of any conquered death and rose from the grave? All told, a thousand plus years prior to it happening! Who? I want to know in detail. I really do. There is nobody else like the Christ. Oh, and by the way, Josephus gives us much of our roman histories and is considered an impecable source, IN ALL OTHER HISTORICAL CIRCLES REGARDING RIMAN HISTORY. Again, who else equals these things, that comes offering eternal life? Who? Read Les Stroble book the case for Christ. When he compiled the data he was an atheist, then he did the real research and converted /Christianity. Please read this if you are really searching for truth or a mild person of interest, or already a Christian. Thanks for reading this and I hope it helps someone. Ⓜ️

Chris Meyer link

4/1/2017 12:03:18 pm

Just a note: anyone, even those considered historians, who were born and lived after the subject of their report is basing their information on hearsay. Their were, in fact, historians who lived during the time of Jesus. The only one you quote is again hearsay in that we do not have the actual writing of the historian only the word of a person who professes to have read or seen the document. The later quotes concern the actions of the disciples and societies reaction to the followers but do not substantiate the existence of Jesus. However, the actual existence of Jesus is not the issue. The issue is who Jesus was or claimed to be or who his followers claimed him to be. The fact of his existence is quite superfluous.

Richard Williams

4/8/2017 08:09:13 pm

It can't simply be based on hearsay because some of the eyewitnesses were still alive when considering what is recorded by Cornelius Tacitus or Josephus or Pliny the Younger.

5/15/2019 03:48:25 am

Tacitus & Yosephus & Pliny Were Forged & Interpolated & are Not Facts, Apologist Really Need To Do Better Research...

6/23/2017 12:24:16 am

Please read my posted comment, but most of ALL READ THE CASE FOR CHRIST BY Les Strobel. The truth is in fact life changing!

Diane Woerner link

4/1/2017 09:59:28 pm

Pressing for the details of who did or didn't see what, and who did or didn't write what, actually misses the reason people don't accept the existence and deity of Jesus Christ. Most people who choose not to believe the claims of Scripture do so for one or more of the following reasons:

* They have been offended or damaged by a person (or church) that professes to follow Jesus.
* They have certain lifestyle choices which they know He would not approve.
* The God they would prefer to believe in and follow isn't the God of the Bible.
- This might be due to their misunderstanding of what the Bible teaches about Him.
- This might be due to their assumption that a true God would view the world and human realities the way they do.

Luke Daniels

4/12/2017 06:42:17 am

This is bollocked as you have yet to provide evidence for this claim.

Emilia Einheart

4/14/2017 08:55:28 pm

-Also for their disbelief can come upon such lack of evidence based that when they've come upon one or many, one's pride makes them react to debate and find faults upon it. Instead of having enlightened, accepting and believing then wil your proof of evidence appear.

christopher westerman

4/2/2017 05:14:50 am

The fact that his disciples sang hymns to Jesus "as to a God" does not show that they believed he was God. That is incorrect. Peter, when asked who Jesus was, said, "you are Christ, the SON of the living God.:.

4/2/2017 02:13:23 pm

Hi Christopher. Pliny the Younger was born in the first century Roman Empire which was polytheistic—this was his frame of reference. (He wasn't Jewish.) His point wasn't to prove that they were worshiping Jesus as the *only* god, but that they were worshiping Him. The earliest Christians were monotheistic Jews, and wouldn't have worshipped anyone *but* God. In fact, this is why they were so persecuted.

Regarding your comment about Peter—"Son of God" was a reference to Jesus' deity in first century Judaism. In fact, admitting that He was the "Son of God" is what got Jesus charged with blasphemy at His trial in Matthew 26:63,64. This post addresses the non-Christian sources about Jesus, but there is an abundance of early Christian evidence—in the church fathers and New Testament documents that early Christians believed Jesus was God. It's outside the scope of this post, but maybe I'll write about it soon...

Daniel Roberts

4/4/2017 03:44:37 am

One of the clearest pieces of evidence about the early Church's belief in Christ's deity is found in the gospel of John:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" - John 1:1
The passage continues later: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." - John 1:14
This is a clear reference to God becoming a human being (flesh), the person Jesus.

5/15/2019 03:52:09 am

The Word Jew Did Not Exist in 1st Century Palestine, & Please Explain Why Pliny The Elder Fails To Mention Yeshua & Christianity??

Gowdy Cannon link

4/15/2017 07:52:50 am

"For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God." (John 5:18)

In addition to Alisa's sufficient answer above, this verse is evidence that "God's son" = "Claim to be God".

David William Fiedler

5/6/2017 09:24:43 pm

Thomas said "my Lord and My God".

Nigel

4/7/2017 01:34:37 am

The problem with many of these facts is that, even when at least some of them are likely, attesting them as historical 'facts' of any sort on the grounds given is dubious at best.

In almost all of these reported facts, where are each of the historians getting their information from? When Josephus writes about Jesus (and let's just assume for the sake of argument the Testimonium is 100% authentic, which virtually no one accepts), does he write from first hand knowledge? Did he meet this Jesus? If not, where did this information come from? From someone else who had met Jesus? How did he stablish that? How did J sort out the real eyewitnesses from people who weren't? Does he tell us any information to weigh whether or not the information he gives us is accurate or not?

We know for a fact that ancient historians, no matter how much valuable information they have preserved for us, were prone to taking shortcuts with evidence and exaggerating their claims, or simply repeating hearsay with little to no actual investigation. Even people like Herodotus were notiroiusly guilty of this sort of thing. Even though he is our main source for the Greco-Persian Wars, a lot of what he tells us in his writings is treated with huge scepticism by most historians today of that period, and that's not even the supernatural bits.

So, likewise when it comes to assessing, for instance, Thallus's claim, we have to look at a few historiographical concerns. We don't have Thallus's words at all, we have a passing paraphrased reference from Africanus that is itself a quotation in a ninth-century text. We don't know whether Thallus himself saw the eclipse, or was merely replying to a claim from a Christian about something he had read (Thallus, according to Africanus, was claiming the eclipse in question was a natural one). We don't know if Thallus was actually referring to the eclipse mentioned in the gospels. It could also be that Africanus assumed that was what Thallus was writing about, but we have no idea since we don't have the original context and we are entirely reliant on a third hand quotation.

The rest of the facts don't tell us a lot if anything about the actual history of the life of Jesus, if anything. The vast majority of these (particularly the likes of Tacitus and Suetonius) at best tell us merely that there were Christians in the first century. So what? Similarly, if they were prepared to die for their beliefs at the hands of Nero, so what? That doesn't actually help us establish that Jesus was God, did miracles, or rose from the dead. That is the critical set of questions.

It seems to me that if one were wanting to prove what would be some of the most incredible events in the history of the planet, one would hope to see much better evidence than series of second or third hand accounts using sources of unknown provenance often dating for the most part from at least 60-70 years later than the events they describe.

4/7/2017 08:38:35 am

Hi Nigel, thanks for your thoughtful comments. Regarding Josephus, only a few scholars have argued that the entire Testimonium is a forgery, but the vast majority accept it as authentic. (not the obviously interpolated version, of course.) A leading Josephus scholar, Steve Mason, affirms in his book, "Josephus and the New Testament" that the Testimonium can be used as independent testimony to the existence of Jesus.

You wrote, "It seems to me that if one were wanting to prove what would be some of the most incredible events in the history of the planet, one would hope to see much better evidence than series of second or third hand accounts using sources of unknown provenance often dating for the most part from at least 60-70 years later than the events they describe."

I agree! This is why it might be helpful to point out the purpose of this post as stated in my opening paragraph. The main point is to highlight non-Christian sources regarding Jesus' existence, not necessarily to "prove" all of the events mentioned solely based on that non-Christian history. The non-Christian sources give us facts that actually agree with the multiple, independent eyewitness testimony we find in the New Testament documents. Many of the non-Christian sources I cite were actually hostile to Christianity—and yet they agree with the eyewitnesses on many things. That lends credibility to both Christian and non-Christian sources.

You wrote, "if they were prepared to die for their beliefs at the hands of Nero, so what? That doesn't actually help us establish that Jesus was God, did miracles, or rose from the dead."

I would argue that it actually does help us establish that Jesus rose from the dead. If we combine the non-Christian testimony with the Christian sources (early church fathers and NT documents), what we find are men who were actual eyewitnesses to the events of Jesus' life. They claimed they saw Him risen from the dead, and then were willing to be tortured and killed for that belief—never recanting, cutting a deal with the government, or trying to save their own skin. People might die for what they think is true, but no one would die for what they know is a lie—and these were the eyewitnesses who would have known if it were a lie. That is very convincing evidence that Jesus was, in fact, resurrected from the dead. As N.T. Wright put it, "As a historian, I cannot explain the rise of early Christianity unless Jesus rose again, leaving an empty tomb behind him."

Kim

4/14/2017 06:42:19 pm

Once you are willing to die for a "fact" then that fact is real? This is why I laugh at Christian logic.. Coz there is none. No matter what, you twist real facts to accommodate your beliefs.

4/14/2017 07:58:57 pm

Hi Kim,

Thanks for your comment. If you re-read mine, you'll see that I never inferred that just because someone is willing to die for something—that makes it real. If you want to appeal to logic, that is a straw man argument.

I stated that the actual eyewitnesses were willing to suffer and die maintaining the claim that they had seen Jesus risen from the dead. That fact is good evidence that they were telling the truth about what they saw. How do you best explain that fact?

sandy

4/15/2017 09:56:02 am

Regarding your point # 7 - you can't have a solar eclipse during a FULL moon. Was the source mis-quoted, or was the source just wrong?

4/15/2017 10:11:50 am

Hi Sandy,

The Bible simply says that there was "darkness over the land." Plegon interpreted the darkness to be an eclipse, but it most likely wasn't. The main point is that the darkness recorded in the Bible is also recorded by non-Christian history, even if the non-Christian source misunderstood what caused it.

Jim Hubbard

4/15/2017 11:35:45 pm

"People might die for what they think is true, but no one would die for what they know is a lie—and these were the eyewitnesses who would have known if it were a lie."

This cannot be considered evidence that the account of Jesus is true any more than ISIS soldiers being willing to die for the Quaran proves anything in it is true. A person's belief in something is not proof of that something's existence.

Children have "evidence" of the Tooth Fairy and Santa Clause. And they truly believe that those things exist. But that does little to prove the existence of either.

Belief alone, even first hand witness statements, are not proof that anything exists or happened. A simple Google search will show you just how unreliable witness statements are - from police archives themselves.

With every hand that the statement passes through, the odds of it being what actually happened decrease.

The only things that we have that are testable are the promises that Jesus claims to have made. Like the promise of coming quickly....over 2,000 years later - no Jesus is to be seen.

We can only test the claims made in the Bible, like "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)

This particular verse is easy to disprove. It has been disproven over and over by the Christian parents of children (and children of parents) who have prayed and agreed that their loved one would be healed only to watch them die.

Sure, you can come up with excuses (it wasn't God's will, and what not) but this verse (Matthew 18:19) doesn't impose God's will upon the wishes of those asking...it imposes no limits on their wishes.

IMHO, the most damning evidence against the Bible is the failure of verses like Matthew 18:19 to deliver what Jesus promised they would.

4/19/2017 01:51:52 pm

Hi Jim, thanks for your thoughts. I certainly see where you're coming from with some of this. Have you considered that your interpretation of Matthew 18:19 might be in tension with it's original context? Matthew 18:15-19 is an instruction about dealing with sin in the church—not a general teaching regarding prayer/healing. The "two of you" who agree in verse 19 references back to the "two or three witnesses" in vs. 16. In this context, if there is an unrepentant person, the highest level of discipline is to break fellowship. The community of "two or more" is acting with God's authority: "whatever they ask for it will be done for them by my Father in heaven," regarding the status of the unrepentant person. We know from the "parable of the lost sheep" just before this section that Jesus' heart is to bring the sinner back into the fold—but breaking fellowship until that time protects the rest of the flock—and ultimately helps restore the sinner.

Sean C Riley

4/12/2022 11:45:27 am

99% of Scholars don't believe in the TF & Also Don't Believe Anyone who Knew The Human Only Yeshua Bar Yosef wrote about him.... None of this is real..... Guaranteed

mike

6/23/2017 12:34:19 am

Hey Nigel I am a lawyer. Did you know hearsay proof is often allowed in any courtroom under the exceptions to the hearsay rule?? And if you are really searching, just read The cAse for Christ written by Les Strobel

Alan Bonjour

4/11/2017 11:37:38 am

Very nice. It is clear in my book that you chose to cite those writers who were NOT christian converts yet put on historical account the record that they came across, even though they were yet in opposition to it. There is much more to cite if one wanted to go to those who were directly transformed by the life and resurrection of the Christ.

Al Giesbrecht

4/12/2017 12:19:16 pm

Good stuff

Francis Abraham

4/14/2017 08:00:09 am

Thanks for this post. indeed our faith is a reasonable faith. The willingness of Christ's followers to die for their faith only proves that indeed, Christ had ressurected.

5/15/2019 04:13:25 am

That Does not Make it a Fact & FYI Not All Disciples were Martyred, That is a Fact & There is Overwhelming Evidence Yeshua Was Not A Elohim or Son of A Elohim & that he died in India * lived to be around 80 Years old..

4/14/2017 09:01:53 pm

I pray in the name of Jesus. Not just one but many will open their eyes to the proof that is laid before them. Prides and disbelief will shatter as they now accept that there was a Christ who died and was resurrected for our sins, Amen.

Crispycritter

4/15/2017 11:07:11 am

The protests about Jesus's true identity and existence always fascinate me.
I don't believe in alla, buddha, etc., but I have never taken the time to write a protest or objection about them.
These other "gods" are not on my radar as valid or true any more than santa clause is and I certainly have never felt the need to publicly declare that or denounce them. The truth of the matter is, there is power in the name of Jesus. People are affected by His name. Some are repulsed, some are frightened, some are threatened, some are comforted, some are made curious. Personally I think those of you that are compelled to object are actually hungering for Him, and trying to deny that or blot it out.
Surrender Dear One. He awaits you with love.

5/15/2019 04:20:40 am

There is NO Power in The Name Jesus, Jesus Has ZERO Earthly Meaning FACTS Look it up, How Did a Judean Born Man in 1st Century Palestine get an Americanized Version of a Greek Name & Since The Letter J Did Not Exist in 1st Century, The Letter J, J Sound & J Equivalent Didn't Exist in The Aramaic, Hebrew, Latin & Greek Alphabets Then & Now? Care To Explain Where The J Came From??????????

Christian

4/18/2017 07:52:20 am

This is a huge misrepresentation.
The facts presented in this post are either wrong or distorted.

Quote in Josephus about Jesus is “Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure.”
After that Josephus writes “About the same time also another sad calamity put the Jews into disorder”

There was “Jesus, the wise man” and “another sad calamity”?
Most historians agree that the text written by Josephus was edited by Christian scribes. It he did write about Jesus, it was something unpleasant.
So any reference to Josephus in invalid.
Christus has been a regular name in Roman Empire. “Christ” is not a name, it means “messiah”.
Virtually all references to non-Christian sources in this post are invalid. Except for sources saying that Christians existed in between 50-200 AD.

There are however correct procedures and historical methods for proving the existence of historical Jesus. And most historians today agree that Jesus really existed.

4/18/2017 08:16:34 am

Hi Christian. Thanks for your comments. The version of the Josephus quote that you cite is not the one I used. I used the one that most scholars agree is authentic (see my reference notes.) I agree that there is a version that was interpolated by Christian scribes, but I did not use it. As I commented to Nigel above—only a few scholars have argued that the entire Testimonium is a forgery, but the vast majority accept it as authentic. A leading Josephus scholar, Steve Mason, affirms in his book, "Josephus and the New Testament" that the Testimonium can be used as independent testimony to the existence of Jesus. Also, that isn't the only time Josephus mentions Jesus.

You have to go against the consensus of scholarship to say that it's invalid to cite Josephus.

You say that there are "correct procedures and historical methods" for proving the historical Jesus. I'd love to hear about them....

5/15/2019 04:28:07 am

How Come 3rd Century Church Apologist Father Origen Fails TO Mention The TF & in Yosephus Writings there are Multiple Yeshua's Mentioned, How Come You Fail To Mention That??

barry

4/20/2017 07:56:47 pm

Mr. Childers,

I believe Paul's nearly 100% silence on the historical Jesus trumps the secular references you mentioned, because

a) most scholars are far more agreed on the dates for Paul's authentic epistles than they are on the historical worth of the secular references you cite, and

b) Paul could have used many oral traditions of Jesus-sayings to resolves specific problems he dealt with, yet he nearly never tries to resolve an argument by appealing to what Jesus said.

c) Acts 15 is a pro-Pauline absurdity: Judaizers debating the Apostles, and the apostles never so much as mention anything Jesus had to say about whether Gentiles need circumcision or not, despite the gospels making clear that Jesus preached plenty to the Gentiles.

4/24/2017 10:22:57 pm

Hi Barry, this post isn't really about Paul, but if you're interested in a good treatment of the objections you brought up, I recommend listening to this by N.T. Wright. It's the first question he interacts with: https://www.premierchristianradio.com/Shows/Saturday/Unbelievable/Episodes/Unbelievable-Ask-NT-Wright-anything-Listener-Q-A

4/24/2017 02:35:27 pm

IMO, the below-referenced bible passages justify suspicion toward the historicity of Jesus far more than can be justified in discussions of the ancient secular references to Jesus:

Mark 1:45
Matthew 28:19
John’s gospel in its entirety
John 16:7, 14
Acts 10-11
Acts 15
Acts 21
Galatians 1: 11-12
Galatians 2:6-9
Galatians 2:9
Galatians 2:12-13
Ephesians 3:4-6
2nd Timothy 3:15-16
Romans 10

Would anybody like to discuss the problems these bible passages create for the Historical Jesus?

Tony wellbeing

9/24/2017 06:15:21 am

Yes, I am interested, I will read them up.

Frank

2/9/2020 06:00:14 pm

Wildly interested. Please message me your thoughts on them passages.

LAST

9/25/2017 02:31:37 am

I have believed in and loved Jesus for 50 years now.. Praise His Wonderful Name! Also enjoyed your article - Thanks for sharing....

Tique

9/14/2018 04:16:04 pm

Thank-you.

Significado de Kadosh link

10/9/2018 11:13:28 am

nice content, thanks for posting

Kendall Faull link

12/29/2018 10:52:14 pm

Very good. The past two summers I have taught at camps this information proving Jesus existed and was not a myth. Young people respond by 40 to 50 at a time. They just need educated. Thank you for sharing this with your corner of the world. God bless you and your work for Christ.

Christi M.

3/3/2019 09:04:34 am

Thank you for this article. It is human nature to doubt that which is unseen. The Bible tells us of the rejection of Jesus and the truth so it's not surprising to see people so adamantly deny it. What's harder to believe though is that a bunch of hearsay could stick around for around for a couple thousand years and still have people testifying to it's truth and power. Give Jesus a chance in your life. You might say, "well, what if it's not true?" To you I say, "What if it is?"

Gary

4/6/2019 11:19:28 pm

The overwhelming majority of New Testament scholars do not believe that eyewitnesses or even associates of eyewitnesses wrote ANY of the Gospels. Isn't that a big problem for your position?

David

4/11/2019 09:56:22 am

Gary, they have never heard of Bart Ehrman or Robert Eisenman, and would never take the time to review their content.

Historical or not, why does anyone desire to "worship" an ancient, middle-eastern demigod borne within a polytheistic culture of other gods and demigods? The concept of worship is "evil" in, and of, itself. Any thing, or person, that desires to be worshiped, let alone demand it via coercion under threat of eternal punishment, is evil.

Further, are there any actual, verifiable words attributed to Jesus christ of Nazareth, in which he asks to be worshiped? And, according to the storybook, the "devil" wanted to be worshiped, yet "he" is considered the evil one. Why not yahweh, as well?

These are all human imaginations, and not history.

Rick

2/25/2022 09:27:35 am

Nope. Because such self-proclaimed 'scholars' are like married bachelors... no matter how many of them there are.

Now, if you were to correctly substitute the word 'scholar' for ideologue… or better yet 'anti Christ', I'd agree with your statement, but it certainly wouldn't be a problem concerning my faith.

Many Anti-Christs have been in the world since the time of Christ. They do the same things as their coming leader; oppose and deny Christ... and wear out the Saints. What amazes me is that Alisa isn't wore out yet!

2/5/2023 08:34:55 pm

Hi Rick,

So you believe that scholars who do not believe in the eyewitness/associate of eyewitness authorship of the Gospels are biased. Why do you think that is? Did you know that even many Christian NT scholars who very much believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus also doubt the eyewitness/traditional authorship of these ancient Christian texts?

2/25/2022 09:55:26 am

Gary… Nope. Because such self-proclaimed 'scholars' are like married bachelors... no matter how many of them there are.

Now, if you were to correctly substitute the word 'scholar' for ideologue… or better yet 'anti’ Christ, I'd agree with your statement, but it certainly wouldn't be a problem concerning my faith.

Since the time of Christ, many Anti-Christs have been in the world. They do the same thing as their future leader; oppose and deny Christ, slander God, seek to change times (history) and laws... and wear out the Saints. It’s simply a testament to truthfulness of Scripture.

What amazes me is that Alisa isn't wore out yet!

Samuel David Harris link

8/8/2019 12:46:57 am

Wow! This site between believers and non-believers is so real from my experience on this subject. Both sides are speaking what they truly believe. I grew up in the largest church in my city and it was on tv. I did not like this church by the age of 8. l finally had enough at age 28. The things I saw and experienced were against what I was taught. I liked my friends and especially one girlfriend I sat next to. My family was upset because I quit going. I had several miracles I thought happened to me before I turned 40. I had so many questions when reading the Bible. My dad could not understand why I had so many problems in life. An influential coworker convinced me my miracles were all by chance. My dad's father died who was my best friend. Then my dad died. Then when my grandmother died I learned she changed the will 3 times. I was wrote out. I believed that GOD did not exist. My grandmother on her death bed said I believe you will be the grandson that will be filled with the SPIRIT. I thought I knew what she was employing but I did not. My life quickly fell apart after denying GOD. I thought I had committed the unforgiveable sin by denying him. I wanted to get back in good grace. My wife and I started going to a church led by my coworker friend. I had to take a transfer away to keep my pension. The conditions were worse. I got down on my knees and gave my heart to GOD to help me. Miracles started happening I mean big time. I got a miracle transfer further away. Miracles kept happening. I was happier than I ever remembered. Then GOD said one word to me at work. Never had I emagined that he actually does this. Later I was rushed by ambulance to the ER because of an accident at work not caused by me. My wife listened to the doctor say I was fixing to die. That's when my life really changed. The next two and a half months were supernatural. That was 9 years ago. I have been intensely studying all that happened to me. I do not think anybody believes me on this supernatural happenings during those 2 and half months. Even the relatives that witnessed the events. Not even the pastors! GOD ALMIGHTY, JESUS! and HOLY SPIRIT are so real and alive today. Get a study bible and archeology book with actual pictures. Hebrew and Greek languages add to what English cannot tell. JESUS is the truth. If you open up your heart to GOD and confess you are a sinner and cry out to him you need him your life will change. Even this debate about JESUS has happened so many times to me that JESUS talks about it. The advantage in believing has been the most valuable decision I made.

C John Schmidts link

1/14/2020 11:55:51 pm

last week the withering flame of my faith went out - I blew gently at the embers and a flame appeared - I read your discussions this evening and the flame strengthened . . .
I am 71 years old.
Thank you

A. Pilgrim

4/26/2020 12:36:50 pm

This evidence, and the arguments that follow from it, have nothing to do with what Yeshua taught. Instead of arguing about whether Yeshua lived, or who he was, go the way of the death of the self. It is so easy to quote sources and argue over history. Yet, none of this banter will get you anywhere but stuck in mammon.

To quote from The Gospel of 2020 (.org):

"At their best, institutionalized religions can point seekers towards something real, but at their basest they reek of mammon. This is because masses of religious adherents today are simply conditioned by tribal/cultural beliefs, egotistical pseudo-spiritual trends, political ideology, and corporate religious conditioning. Their religion, if it were true, would bind them to The Beloved, and not make a false idol of their beliefs and a cult of their dogmas."

All of your arguments about history prevent you from truly entering into the present---where The Beloved is.

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10 Historical Facts About Jesus From Non-Christian Sources

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