Jesus of Nazareth - Not a Mythological Person

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There exist groups that attempt to state that Jesus was a figure of mythology rather than history.

They reject the evidence of the Bible that documents the life of Jesus. These skeptics try to persuade others that the Biblical record of Jesus is mere propaganda. The fact is there is evidence outside the Bible that proves that Jesus of Nazareth was not a mythological figure.

Josephus, a Jewish historian during the century Jesus lived, wrote concerning the high priest Ananias: “convened the court of the Sanhedrin, and brought before them the brother of Jesus the so-called Messiah, who was called James, and some other men, whom he accused of having broken the law, and handed them over to be stoned”. This is not the only reference Josephus makes about Jesus of Nazareth being an actual person. There are also references to Jesus’ existence in the Babylonian Talmud as well. So the Jews, while some rejected Jesus as the Messiah, did not reject the fact of His existence.

Tacitus, Roman pagan historian who wrote Annals around 115 AD, makes the following statement about Nero’s persecution of Christians to blame them for his burning of the city of Rome: “To dispel the rumour, Nero substituted as culprits, and treated with the most extreme punishments, some people, popularly known as Christian, whose disgraceful activities were notorious. The originator of that name, Christus, had been executed when Tiberius was emperor by order of the procurator Pontius Pilate. But the deadly cult, though checked for a time, was now breaking out again not only in Judea, the birthplace of this evil, but even throughout Rome, where all the nasty and disgusting ideas from all over the world pour in and find a ready following.”

These are just two examples from those antagonistic to Christianity which testify to the existence of Jesus of Nazareth.

If the Jews and the Romans who wrote around the times of Jesus of Nazareth did not deny His existence, then why should we?

Sources:

R. T. France, The Evidence for Jesus, Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1986.

Wayne Jackson, “The Historicity of Jesus,” The Christian Courier, Stockton, CA: Courier Publications, Internet.

David R. Kenney - 01/05/03

"Have You Heard" articles posted with permission.

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