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“The Historicity of Jesus”
The Historicity of Jesus
Wade Webster
There’s no question in our minds that Jesus existed. We accept the record of the Bible. We accept that He was born of a virgin in Bethlehem, that He grew up as a carpenter’s son in the Galilean city of Nazareth, that He became a great teacher and healer in Israel, that He was crucified outside of the gates of Jerusalem, and that He rose from the dead the third day.
However, there are others, who may ask for evidence outside of the Bible. Is there evidence in secular history for Jesus? Does this evidence agree with the record of sacred history or the Bible? The short answer to both questions is yes. F.F. Bruce, Rylands professor of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis at the University of Manchester, wrote, “Some writers may toy with the fancy of a ‘Christ myth,’ but they do not do so on the ground of historical evidence. The historicity of Christ is as axiomatic (unquestionable) for an unbiased historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar. It is not historians who propagate the ‘Christ myth’ theories.”
The Bible sets a basic standard for accepting testimony at the mouth of two or three witnesses (Deut. 19:15). Let’s apply this standard to the historicity of Jesus. Let’s notice three witnesses.
Cornelius Tacitus (Born A.D. 52) - A Roman Historian
Writing on the reign of Nero and the belief that he started the fire of Rome, he said, “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. Cristus, the founder of the name was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius.” Annals XV.44*
Please note that Tacitus spoke of one named Christus. The accompanying details clearly identify this man as the Christ of the New Testament. He founded the name by which men were commonly called Christians (Acts 4:12; 11:26; 1 Pet.4:14-16). He was put to death by Pontius Pilate the procurator or governor of Judea in the reign of Tiberius (Lk. 3:1; Mt. 27:1-2).
Flavius Josephus (Born A.D. 37) - a Jewish historian - became a Pharisee at age 19
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him 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. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.” Antiquities, xviii.33
Please note that he spoke of a man named Jesus. Of course, this is in harmony with the Bible (Mt. 1:21). The other details fit too. He was a wise man (Mt. 12:42; Lk. 2:52) and a doer of wonderful (John 11:47; Acts 10:38). Pilate, at the suggestion of the Jewish leaders, condemned him to death (Mt. 27:1-2). He appeared to the disciples alive again the third day (1 Cor. 15:4-5).
Plinius Secundus, Pliny the Younger (Born A.D. 127) - Governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor
Pliny the Younger killed a number of Christians - old, young, male, female. He tried to make them bow down to statues of Emperor Trajan and to curse Christ. He said of those who were being tried: “They affirmed, however, that the whole of their guilt, or their error, was, that they were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verse a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves to a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit an fraud, theft, adultery, never to falsify their word, not to deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up.” Epistles, X.96
Please note that the Christians were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day. Of course, we know that the day was the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2). As a part of the meeting, the Christians sang a hymn to Christ (Col. 3:16). In addition to worshipping on a set day and singing, the early Christians were committed to leading holy lives (1 Pet. 1:15-16; 2;9).
The witnesses have spoken. Secular historians and sacred historians agree. Jesus Christ really lived.
*All quotations are from: McDowell, Josh. Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Volume I. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1979, p. 81-87
