Summary:
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Historians confirm Jesus’ existence through various sources, including non-Christian and ancient ones that mention him.
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Roman historians like Tacitus, Josephus, Pliny the Younger, Suetonius, and others provide evidence of Jesus’ crucifixion and influence.
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Early Christian writings, oral traditions, and other historical documents also contribute to the proof of Jesus as a historical figure.
Historians, theologians, and scholars have been studying the historical existence of Jesus Christ throughout centuries. Although the Bible tells the stories in detail, non-Christian and ancient sources are also used by many researchers to confirm them. Remarkably various authors in the different areas and schools of thought including those who even disparaged Christianity have mentioned Jesus, thus making him a historical character.
Tacitus
In the seventh book of annals, the Roman historian Tacitus wrote that Christus was crucified under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate under the rule of Tiberius. His testimony can be regarded as one of the best non-Christian corroborations of the crucifixion of Jesus.
Josephus
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Jesus was referred to by Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus in the book Antiquities of the Jews. In one of the passages, he is said to be a wise man and teacher though the scholars are authoritative that some of the passages are later changed by the Christian scribes.
Pliny the Younger
Letters by a Roman official, Pliny the Younger, discussed Christians singing hymns to Christ as a god. In his writings, it can be seen that Jesus was already a well-worshipped figure in the early first century.
Suetonius
Historian Suetonius spoke of unrest among Jews by “Chrestus,” which most scholars think was alluding to Christ and early Christian conflict at Rome.
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Thallus
Thallus, an ancient author, had reported of a darkness at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus. He lost his original works, but his account was subsequently quoted by other authors.
Mara Bar-Serapion
A letter by Mara Bar-Serapion referred to the killing of a wise king of the Jews. This is construed by a number of historians as an indirect allusion to Jesus and his influence.
Babylonian Talmud
Passages in the Babylonian Talmud mention Yeshu usually translated as Jesus. These sources are not encouraging, yet they accept his life and his death.
Lucian of Samosata
Lucian, a Greek satirist and resident of Samosata, ridiculed Christians because they believed in a crucified man, and this indirectly affirms that Jesus was the main deity in their religion.
Phlegon of Tralles
Phlegon of Tralles is a historian who is believed to have documented some strange events like darkness and earthquakes in the time that is identified with the crucifixion of Jesus.
Celsus
Philosopher Celsus criticized Christianity yet he never refuted the existence of Jesus. Instead, he contradicts his teachings, and that promotes the fact that Jesus was a real person.
The Gospel Accounts
The Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Luke, and Gospel of John are the fundamentals of the Christian faith, as they give a detailed account of life, teachings of Jesus and the crucifixion.
Ignatius of Antioch
Early Christian bishop Ignatius of Antioch wrote letters which attest the life and suffering of Jesus, giving a clue to how these early Christians comprehended the existence of Jesus.
Polycarp
Polycarp, one of the disciples of the apostles in his works mentioned Jesus, which strengthens the initial witness to his life and his teachings.
Papias
Papias of Hierapolis was a collector of oral traditions of Jesus, and preserved early traditions which were later used to write the Gospels.
Quadratus of Athens
There were people healed or assisted by Jesus who remain alive today, which indicates that there was eyewitness testimony of this fact. Quadratus of Athens wrote that the people were alive during his era.
