There are various ancient sources apart from the New Testament that mention Christ. Ancient historians, government officials, Gnostics, Gentiles and Jews spoke about his existence. Some of these sources may be less reliable than others but there is enough of the historical Jesus revealed in them for most scholars to come to the conclusion that he lived, taught his followers and died by crucifixion. There is also evidence that his teachings spread after his death.
Josephus was a Jewish historian who was born in Jerusalem four years after the crucifixion. In his works he mentions many of the people found in the New Testament, like the Roman governor Pontius Pilate and King Herod. He speaks about Christ as a wise man, mentions his disciples and refers to his death by crucifixion as well as the fact that his disciples reported resurrection sightings. There are those who question his words, feeling that they were subjected to interpolation by Christian sources.
Tacitus, a highly respected Roman historian, wrote that Christ suffered the extreme penalty at the hands of Pontius Pilate during the reign of the Emperor Tiberius. Seutonius, chief secretary to Emperor Hadrian, made reference to a Chrestus who was instigating the Jews in Rome.
Pliny the Younger, a governor, was required to interrogate Christians. He wrote to the Emperor Trajan for advice about this and in his letter he says that the Christians met at a fixed time, sang a hymn to Christ as God and ate food together. He confirmed that the contagion of this worship of Christ as a deity included people from a whole cross section of society.
In the Talmud, written well before the New Testament came into being, reference was made to Christ and his disciples. It is stated that he was hanged. It mentions that forty days beforehand it was publicly announced that he would be stoned. Another reference refers to five disciples who went before judges and were to be executed.
Lucian, a Greek Satirist, wrote criticizing Christians for being gullible but revealed in the course of his criticism that Christ introduced new teachings in Palestine, was crucified for them and that he taught his followers such doctrines as the need for conversion, importance of faith and the brotherhood of all believers. He says that they believed in their own immortality and scorned death.
Gnostic sources reveal much about the life of Christ. However, they are not regarded as reliable sources by many scholars due to their theological nature. However, it is not only the Gnostic sources that talk about the deity of Christ as both Pliny and Lucian state that Christians believed in his deity.
There is solid evidence of the historical Jesus revealed in ancient extra biblical sources. Most modern scholars of antiquity are in agreement as to the fact that he lived, was crucified and that his teachings spread after his death. Less than twenty years after his death Christian teachings had spread around the Mediterranean and reached Rome.
Josephus was a Jewish historian who was born in Jerusalem four years after the crucifixion. In his works he mentions many of the people found in the New Testament, like the Roman governor Pontius Pilate and King Herod. He speaks about Christ as a wise man, mentions his disciples and refers to his death by crucifixion as well as the fact that his disciples reported resurrection sightings. There are those who question his words, feeling that they were subjected to interpolation by Christian sources.
Tacitus, a highly respected Roman historian, wrote that Christ suffered the extreme penalty at the hands of Pontius Pilate during the reign of the Emperor Tiberius. Seutonius, chief secretary to Emperor Hadrian, made reference to a Chrestus who was instigating the Jews in Rome.
Pliny the Younger, a governor, was required to interrogate Christians. He wrote to the Emperor Trajan for advice about this and in his letter he says that the Christians met at a fixed time, sang a hymn to Christ as God and ate food together. He confirmed that the contagion of this worship of Christ as a deity included people from a whole cross section of society.
In the Talmud, written well before the New Testament came into being, reference was made to Christ and his disciples. It is stated that he was hanged. It mentions that forty days beforehand it was publicly announced that he would be stoned. Another reference refers to five disciples who went before judges and were to be executed.
Lucian, a Greek Satirist, wrote criticizing Christians for being gullible but revealed in the course of his criticism that Christ introduced new teachings in Palestine, was crucified for them and that he taught his followers such doctrines as the need for conversion, importance of faith and the brotherhood of all believers. He says that they believed in their own immortality and scorned death.
Gnostic sources reveal much about the life of Christ. However, they are not regarded as reliable sources by many scholars due to their theological nature. However, it is not only the Gnostic sources that talk about the deity of Christ as both Pliny and Lucian state that Christians believed in his deity.
There is solid evidence of the historical Jesus revealed in ancient extra biblical sources. Most modern scholars of antiquity are in agreement as to the fact that he lived, was crucified and that his teachings spread after his death. Less than twenty years after his death Christian teachings had spread around the Mediterranean and reached Rome.
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