PLEASE prove to me that JESUS lived?

Question

As for the extra-biblical historicity of Jesus, there is absolutely no reliable contemporary evidence that he ever even existed.  He made no impression on any historian of the first century.  If Jesus existed or if the spectacular events in the gospels really happened, they would have been noted by many writers — including Philo of Alexandria (who wrote extensively about Judea during the alleged time of Jesus), Seneca the Elder, Pliny the Elder, Justus of Tiberius, and over thirty others. [8], [17]  None of these men referred to Jesus or the fantastical biblical events.  The earliest extra-biblical supposed references to Jesus or Christ are in one paragraph and one sentence in the writings (about 93 CE) attributed to the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (who also wrote about Hercules).  Here are the supposed references, in his Jewish Antiquities:

18.3.3 — “About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man.  For he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks.  He was the Messiah.  And when, upon the accusation of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease.  He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him.  And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.”

20.9.1 — “...brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James...”

The sentence is far too brief to mean much.  The phrase "who was called Christ" is awkward and was likely inserted by a transcriber.  Plus, a few lines later Josephus refers to Jesus, the son of Damneus.  This is likely the Jesus referred to in the sentence. [17]  The paragraph looks like just about everything a Christian could hope for, to prove that Jesus actually existed.  Unfortunately, it's an obvious latter insertion — almost certainly created by “church historian” Eusebius, who first referred to it shortly before Emperor Constantine's Council of Nicaea in 325 CE.  We know this for several reasons:

Despite the fact that Josephus' writings were widely read, no Christian or scholar before Eusebius refers to it, especially not the Christian scholar Origen, whose library Eusebius used. [8], [17]
Origen even wrote that Josephus did not believe in Jesus Christ. [8]
If the pious Jew Josephus had truly thought that Jesus was the Messiah, he would have become a Christian.
It's unlikely that Josephus would have referred to the accusing Jews as “the principal men among us.”
There never was a “tribe of Christians.”
Copies of Josephus' works existed, that lacked either reference to Jesus. [8]
The style of the text is radically different from the rest of his writings.
The text is completely out of context with the paragraphs around it, and interrupts their story line.  The next paragraph begins, "About the same time also another sad calamity put the Jews into disorder..."  This refers to the previous paragraph, where Pilate had his soldiers massacre a large crowd of Jews in Jerusalem.
Josephus wrote extensively about many minor people of the time.  A single paragraph and sentence for the Messiah is impossible.
With these two spurious references removed from Josephus' writings, he becomes strong negative evidence for Jesus.  If Jesus had existed, Josephus would have written extensively about him.

There are some supposed second century references to Christians or Christ - by several men.  In about 100 CE, Pliny the Younger referred to Christians in Asia Minor, but he didn't refer to Jesus.  The most used Christian reference from that century is by Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus (55-120 CE).  He purportedly wrote around 117 CE about “Christos” being executed by Pontius Pilate.  However, Tacitus would have used Jesus' name, not his religious title “Christos.”  Notedly, Tacitus' reference was not mentioned by Origen, Eusebius, Tertullian (who quotes a great deal from Tacitus [8]) or Clement of Alexandria in the third century.  It was likely added in 1468 by Johannes de Spire of Venice, because no mention is made of it in any known text prior to then, but there are many later references. [8], [19]  Another writer, Suetonius, in about 120 CE referred to a man named Chrestus and his Jewish followers.  However, “Chrestus” is the correct Latin form of an actual Greek name, and is not a misspelling of “Christos.”

Even if the references by Josephus, Tacitus, and others in the second century are original, they only amount to second-hand testimony or hearsay written 60 or more years after the purported events

Nous · Accepted Answer

The bible is what is called "Faction"  A fictional story set in a factual time and place.  Thus the time, place and real historical characters are all correct but the fictional characters and stories are not!
	
There is not one single mention of Jesus in the entire Roman record - that is right - not one! At the same time as he was supposed to have been around there were a number of Jews claiming to be the messiah - all of whom are well recorded!

There is not a single contemporary record from any source and even the bible mentions of him like all other references were not written until many years after his supposed death!

He was supposed to have been a huge problem to the Romans and produced wonderful miracles but still not one contemporary record?

Even the bible mentions of him like all other references were not written until many years after his supposed death!

Pilate is recorded in the Roman record as a somewhat lack luster man but no mention of a Jesus, a trial or crucifixion that would surely have been used to make him look brighter!

At best he was an amalgam of those others but almost certainly never existed!

Tommiecat · Answer

Jesus never said what his name was. Nobody talks about all these other people you have mentioned. Using the name Christians or some form of that name identifies followers of Christ which is Jesus. No other name has effected all lives for 2000 years except Jesus. There is truth to every fairy tale. But the story of Jesus has more truth than any other story ever told. Jesus is the God of light. The very source for all physics that has been established. Jesus can pass in and out of the physics of this universe whenever he pleases to. From your perspective we live and die. From God's perspective he can go back in time and get you at any time. You are always alive to him. Can you not pick a apple from an apple tree and store it later to eat? Why doesn't the apple rot almost instantly from the time you pick it. When you die you start rotting from that very moment. Back to your little Christian history. There are no Christians before 1 AD. They all start from where the story says it starts. Even in the book of Acts mentions false prophets that existed in that day and they too said they were Christ. But when they asked John the Baptist if he was Christ he said no that one cometh after me.

? · Answer

Sure wish I knew what all this Blah,Blah is about?? But anywho, for proof of Jesus or God The Father, Visit a Biblical Archeology Site. And start reading.

God Bless Ya,
Chicago Bob	
imasinner

There is more joy in Jesus in one day.
Than there is in the World 365/24/7
I know, I tried them both.
Numbers 6:24-26

Anonymous · Answer

What do you do with all the Messianic Prophecies in the Jewish Bible (Also found in the Dead Sea Scrolls (Isaiah scroll) found to be written even before Jesus time)?  These prophecies told us (the Jewish people) what to look for in the coming Messiah which Yeshua (Jesus in Hebrew) fulfilled.
 
What about the Talmudic references to Him (albeit they are negative) written by those who opposed Him?

Also - Check a copy out of "Evidence that demands a Verdict" by Josh McDowell.

And- "The Case for a Creator" and "The Case for Christ" by former atheist Lee Strobel.

Excellent materials for the true seeker.  (That is unless you are a juror with your mind already made up before the other lawyer ever gets up to speak).

Wishing you the joy + knowledge I gained over 25+ years ago my friend...

Wikipedia....
==============================
Strobel received a journalism degree from University of Missouri and a Master of Studies in Law degree from Yale Law School, becoming a journalist for The Chicago Tribune and other newspapers for 14 years.

.....he was an atheist and began investigating the Biblical claims about Christ after his wife's conversion. As a result of the evidence he discovered in his investigation, he chose to become a Christian.

.

? · Answer

You have more than adequate evidence.  You denial is foolish.  

I will share the one and only true gospel with you, because I am fighting for you.  On that day you are now without excuse, I can tell you have some wisdom, I only hope that you will judge rightly.

Here is the gospel:

Now I would remind you, brothers,[a] of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

No other gospel:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

? · Answer

Are you trying out your homework essay?  Needs a better conclusion and your thesis isn't as clear as it may be.  Seems verbose as well.   C+, as it stands, and that's generous.

As for proving Jesus existed?  Sorry, no can do, as you seem to know right well.

? · Answer

Prove to me that Julius Ceaser lived.  Don't use any non Roman sources.

Anonymous · Answer

Doesn't matter if you believe he didnt exist, there are tons of historians and scholars who agree he was a man that existed.

Anonymous · Answer

Sounds like you already have your mind made up. No further Information is needed.

Anonymous · Answer

http://www.gifbin.com/986103

Trending News

PLEASE prove to me that JESUS lived?

10 Answers