Post by Caroline on Mar 3, 2017 11:25:17 GMT -5
The New Testament documents are the best records we have of the life of Jesus and the inception of the early church. But there are a number of other early historical records from non-Christian sources that confirm the existence of a first-century man known as Jesus of Nazareth as well as various details related in the New Testament. Here are a few of them:
Tacitus, first-century Roman historian
In giving an account of the great fire in Rome, which the emperor Nero was suspected of starting himself:
“Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures of a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus [Christ], 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 Pilate.” [Annals, 15.44]
Suetonius, early second-century chief secretary to Emperor Hadrian
“Because the Jews at Rome caused continuous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus [Christ], he expelled them from the city.” [Claudius, 25]
“After the great fire at Rome…Punishments were also inflicted on the Christians, a sect professing a new and mischievous religious belief.” [Nero, 16]
Josephus, first-century Jewish historian
“Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; 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.” [Antiquities, 20:9]
“At this time there was a wise man named Jesus. His conduct was good and [he] was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who became his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive; accordingly he was perhaps the Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.” [Antiquities, 18:3]
Pliny the Younger, Roman author and administrator
Writing to the Emperor Trajan around 112 AD regarding Christians:
“They 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 do any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery…” [Letters 10:96]
Trajan replied to Pliny:
“No search should be made for these people; when they are denounced and found guilty they must be punished; with the restriction, however, that when the party denies himself to be a Christian, and shall give proof that he is not (that is, by adoring our gods) he shall be pardoned on the ground of repentance, even though he may have formerly incurred suspicion.” [ibid. 10:97]
Cited in Norman Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, Baker Academic, 1999, pgs. 381-382
As New Testament scholar Mike Licona relates in this short video, there are as many non-Christian references to Jesus within 150 years of his life as there are of the emperor at the time.
Something important to keep in mind:
Tacitus, first-century Roman historian
In giving an account of the great fire in Rome, which the emperor Nero was suspected of starting himself:
“Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures of a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus [Christ], 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 Pilate.” [Annals, 15.44]
Suetonius, early second-century chief secretary to Emperor Hadrian
“Because the Jews at Rome caused continuous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus [Christ], he expelled them from the city.” [Claudius, 25]
“After the great fire at Rome…Punishments were also inflicted on the Christians, a sect professing a new and mischievous religious belief.” [Nero, 16]
Josephus, first-century Jewish historian
“Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; 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.” [Antiquities, 20:9]
“At this time there was a wise man named Jesus. His conduct was good and [he] was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who became his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive; accordingly he was perhaps the Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.” [Antiquities, 18:3]
Pliny the Younger, Roman author and administrator
Writing to the Emperor Trajan around 112 AD regarding Christians:
“They 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 do any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery…” [Letters 10:96]
Trajan replied to Pliny:
“No search should be made for these people; when they are denounced and found guilty they must be punished; with the restriction, however, that when the party denies himself to be a Christian, and shall give proof that he is not (that is, by adoring our gods) he shall be pardoned on the ground of repentance, even though he may have formerly incurred suspicion.” [ibid. 10:97]
Cited in Norman Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, Baker Academic, 1999, pgs. 381-382
As New Testament scholar Mike Licona relates in this short video, there are as many non-Christian references to Jesus within 150 years of his life as there are of the emperor at the time.
Something important to keep in mind:
