Was there a Jesus?

Ask yourself these questions?

1. How do we learn about history?
   
2. What are some facts we know about history?
   
3. What are some disputed claims about history?
   
4. What is the earliest thing you remember? How do you know anything happened before then?
5. How do you know something happened if you weren't there?

History and news comes to us from reports by other people. Even when news is "live," we are relying on someone else to hold the microphone, or point the camera in the right direction. We keep track of news, which becomes history, through newspapers, magazines, recordings, video, books, computers, etc. Many copies are made at the same time, and exact copies can be made later. There may still be different interpretations of the facts, and some people may stress or leave out different facts than others. When reports conflict with each other, or other evidence, we can be sure one is wrong. When all the evidence agrees, for history we must accept it. As new information is uncovered, our knowledge of history is altered or confirmed.

Let's look at some of the historical evidence for Jesus.

The Bible contains four different biographies of the man named Jesus. Several of the authors hung out with Jesus for several years. Each reports the facts slightly differently, but for the most part they agree with one another. Other events, places, people, titles, etc. concerning Israel where Jesus lived at that time are supported by other historical evidence. Other books in the New Testament were also written by people who claimed to have known Jesus, or knew people who had. They consistantly say the same thing, and claim to be true.

In addition to the Bible, there are other books of history written around the same time that claim there was a man named Jesus. They may not agree with His claim to be God, or look favorably on His followers, but they recognize Jesus lived.

"But not all the relief that could come from man, not all the bounties that the prince could bestow, nor all the atonements which could be presented to the gods, availed to relieve Nero from the infamy of being believed to have ordered the conflagration, the fire of Rome. Hence to suppress the rumor, he falsely charged with the guilt, and punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius: but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time broke out again, not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also." -- Cornelius Tacitus, 80-84 A.D. Annals XV, writing about the reign of Nero

"Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call thim a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles." -- Flavius Josephus, early 2nd c., Antiquities xviii

"...the man who was crucified in Palestine because he introduced this new cult into the world ... Furthermore, their first lawgiver persuaded them that they were all brothers one of another after they have transgressed once for all by denying the Greek gods and by worshipping that crucified sophist himself and living under his laws." -- Lucian, 2nd c., The Passing Peregruis

(These, and more quotes, may be found in "Evidence that Demands a Verdict," by Josh McDowell, Campus Crusade for Christ, copyright 1972, Chapter 5)

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