Is there historical evidence that a man named jesus existed and was crucified?

Question

Is there historical evidence that a man named jesus existed and was crucified?

Answer 1

Short answer - no, there's no historical evidence that a man named Jesus existed and was crucified, and not just because his name actually would've been Joshua (closer to Yeshua / Yahshua in their language).



People will tell you there is historical evidence, but there isn't. For example, the Josephus reference mentioned below has been determined to be a forgery added at a later date.

Answer 2

The Bible is evidence, but even if the Bible didn't exist, we wouldn't need it to prove Jesus' existence to any rational historian.



There are still records from Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, Suetonius, etc., records of people he interacted with such as Pilate and Ciaphas, and sites like the House of Peter in Capernaum where he taught and performed miracles, and evidence of his associates like the tomb of Philip in Hierapolis, the James Ossuary, etc., Nero blaming the fire on Christians (which proved that they were a well established religion within 40 years of Jesus' life), and sooooo many other etc.'s... I can see why most Atheists prefer to just claim, "There's no evidence," because it's sooooo much easier and requires literally no thought at all.

Answer 3

Sort of.

The name currently identified in English as "Jesus" was extremely common among 1st-Century BCE Jews. It is the Anglicized Greek version of what the Old Testament calls "Joshua." And crucifixion was not terribly uncommon as a means of execution in the region. Not surprisingly, several crucified criminals are known to have had the name.



Now, if you're referring to the specific character identified as "Jesus of Nazareth" in the New Testament, then no. There is no historical evidence that specific character existed as described, or was crucified.

Answer 4

There are no contemporaneous (at the time of) historical records that evidence the existence of the biblical Jesus that was crucified. The bible itself does not fall within this category, since the NT books were written many decades after the alleged events were to have happened.

Answer 5

Yes, of course. Most reputable secular historians agree that Jesus was an actual historical figure.



There is a great deal of evidence outside the Bible that Jesus existed. If you look at each one individually, they can be criticized as possibly in error, but the totality of evidence strongly supports that Jesus actually existed. To conclude the evidence does not count , by the same standard, is to throw out almost all historical data we have whatsoever. So, if we conclude there is no good evidence Jesus existed, then we should not believe that Homer, or Julius Caesar, or Socrates, or many, many other accepted historical figures existed. Skepticism is revealed as a terrible belief system because we would walk around not believing in anything, if we applied it consistently. Scientific studies can be falsified, certainly they can be biased, so do we throw out all scientific studies as invalid? Certainly not! But where is the proof that each study was actually done the way it was described? There usually is none. So we accept the probability that it is accurate, with the understanding that one study does not establish a theory as a fact.





Some of the best evidence for Jesus is that the early critics and attackers of Christianity never denied the existence of Jesus, only disputing who he was and what he did. Some of these early critics are, Pliny the Younger (CE 112), Tacitus (CE 115), Suetonius (CE 120), Celsus (CE 178), and Lucian of Samosata (ca. CE 190). Each of these serves as proof Jesus existed.





Atheists most often attack the evidence of Flavius Josephus, in the first century (CE 93), as unreliable, because it appears his description of Jesus was tampered with by later Christians. However, the tampering does not include fabrication that Jesus existed. Josephus acknowledges the historicity of Jesus in more than one section of his writing, for example, describing the trial of James, identifying him as “the brother of Jesus, the so-called Christ.”





Some atheists will criticize that these writings don't count as evidence because they were not contemporary to the ministry of Jesus, they were not written at the same time Jesus lived on earth. However, historians don't write about current events, but about known history. So by this atheist standard, no history book is evidence of the events described in them actually happening. Critics of the historicity of Jesus, find themselves taking absurd positions repeatedly, if they were to be consistent, again revealing the weakness of skepticism.: we should not believe anything. History books can't be trusted, because they describe past events the writer did not personally witness.

Here is an atheist arguing for the historicity of Jesus: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2014/09/04/an-atheists-defense-of-the-historicity-of-jesus/

Here is a detailed description of the whole issue: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historicity_of_Jesus



Here is all the evidence laid out in detail: http://thedevineevidence.com/jesus_history.html

Here is a summary of that evidence plus some extra bits of evidence not covered in the earlier site: https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/26-historicity-of-jesus-christ-the

Answer 6

Jesus is the English version of a Greek translation of a very popular Jewish name (Josh).



Thus, for example -- Flavius Josephus in his autobiography complains about 4 or 5 different Jewish military leaders in a matter of 4 pages -- ALL of whom were named Jesus



So -- I would hazard that with probably hundreds of thousands Jews executed over a period of over a hundred years -- a good number of them were named Jesus.



That said -- I don't think records were kept about most of them.

Answer 7

In 2006, the book Jesus and Archaeology said: “No reputable scholar today questions that a Jew named Jesus son of Joseph lived; most readily admit that we now know a considerable amount about his actions and his basic teachings.”



The Bible portrays Jesus as a real person. It provides the names of his ancestors and immediate family. (Matthew 1:1; 13:55) It also gives the names of prominent rulers who were contemporaries of Jesus. (Luke 3:1, 2) Those details allow researchers to verify the accuracy of the Bible accounts.

Answer 8

Yes that is a historical fact. It's up to individuals f they want to believe the religious aspect of jesus. But he was an actual historical figure.

Answer 9

Only kings, emperors, pharaohs, have statues of them erected in their lifetime and have elaborate tombs upon their deaths. Only written testimonies are supporting the existence of Jesus. These testimonies is not limited to only one book. The 4 gospels are not originally one book but 4. The Shroud of Turin is a mystery, not proven to be authentic nor proven to be forgery.

Answer 10

He was not...a man.

His divinity showed up again and again.



To this day, much is discussed, often poorly understood.



How popular was the crucifixion to

...the Jews? Would THEY write about it?

...the Romans? Would THEY record it?



Denial. Let's bury this.

The wonder is...that it survived to this day.



But the satanic attacks leave enough room for you to do exactly as your heart leads you.

Me also. Huge evidence...you?..likely no evidence.

Awesome.

Answer 11

Nope.



If the christian bible is evidence for the existence of Jesus.... then by that same logic Stan Lee's comic books are evidence for the existence of Spiderman.



Do you think it sensible to believe in Spiderman?



Then there you go.....

Answer 12

Yes.



What are we trying to prove here?



Let's take a look at the life of Jesus, and consider what the atheist Josh McDowell had to say about it.



Years ago, Josh McDowell was a typical non-believer. He says he was a law student. He says he did not believe in Jesus, and did not believe in religion. So he set out to write a book that would PROVE once and for all that Jesus was a hoax, and that it was all nonsense. So he researched everything pertaining to this hoax. Being a law student, he says he was careful to follow the proper rules of evidence.



Read about it. What did he find out? What did he learn? Did he win his case?



"Evidence that Demands a Verdict"

http://www.amazon.com/Evidence-Demands-Questions-Challenging-Christians/dp/0785243631



=========================





***SPOILER ALERT***





I don't want to spoil the book for you, so don't read this next part unless you don't mind knowing now how this turned out.



In the end, after carefully studying the EVIDENCE, and being careful to follow the legal rules of civil procedure, Josh McDowell concluded that there is overwhelming historical evidence that Jesus did exist, that he died on a cross at the hands of the Roman government, and that he rose from the dead three days later, and was seen by many witnesses walking around totally alive again. READ THE BOOK.



- - - - - - - - - - -



Here is another book I would strongly encourage anyone to read.



“Who Moved the Stone?” by Frank Morison

http://www.amazon.com/Who-Moved-Stone-Frank-Morison/dp/0310295610





--- (A Yahoo! User)

Answer 13

Of course.....Jesus is the most studied man in the history of the world and the western world has used his birth as the standard of dividing how we measure time By BC/AD. Exactly how is that done if Jesus with a fictional character?

Answer 14

There is evidence a great healer existed at that time from many sorces. Even plans to kidnap him by kings. But none say his name just a great healer.

Answer 15

As far as the crucifixion is concerned, that was a normal from of punishment in Roman times for rebels who were perceived as wanting to overthrow the Roman regime. Sometimes there were multiple crucifixions of dozens of rebels alongside main roads, just so that the populace could see what fate awaited rebels - they often lingered for days on their crosses before dying.



As far as the general record of "Jesus" is concerned, in the Palestine of that time he was one of many many ordinary people, and one of many "magicians" and similar who were around at that time, all claiming healing or miracles of some sort. Only by the fact that people took up his "cult" was he exceptional. And as far as Roman authority was concerned, his birth may have been "registered" as the Bible implies by his parents going to Nazareth at the time of his birth. Such a universal registration was unusual in those days for ordinary people. (Even today it is said that 40% of the worlds population has no birth certificate, and many people who became famous later in life have an uncertain year of birth if of humble origin). And in Roman records his death would have been one of thousands of rebels - no special mention.



So it is hard to find specific evidence for the man who became known as "Jesus".

Answer 16

Yes there is....but he was mortal and died like the rest of us.



Mo University Lecturer Atheist with degrees in Theology, Comparitive Religious Studies and Philosophy of Religion

Answer 17

None.



The only documentation of such a thing comes decades and decades later, from sources who do not claim to have witnessed the events as they happened, and from sources which are forgeries, at least in part.

Answer 18

Not one bit

(It amazes me how anybody can claim there is historical evidence

biblical scholars have been searching for decades but have have found absolutely none AND they have been looking for names similar to "jesus"



And you are having a laugh quoting "jesus and archaeology" "cherokee"



there aint one reputable archaeologist will state for a fact a "jesus son of joseph" lived

see "knowledge" is a funny thing- it all depends what degree of certainty you require to say you "know" something"

SOME biblical researchers dont require a high degree of certainty to claim they "know" jesus existed, but MOST say they dont "know", but "believe" he existed



What often happens is they find a number of references to different people whose stories sort of loosely match those of jesus (some of those stories are impossible to match chronologically with those of jesus) THEN they proclaim that all these stories are of the same person and that person is "jesus"

ie they have "found" jesus.

completely ignoring that the chronology of the stories are a complete mismatch

Answer 19

to believe that anthropologists exist is a tedious position at best. they are tenuously denied by the christian community. historians are also at risk, since the christians have invented their own histories according to their own beliefs existing as truths.

however, yesterday, i found this interesting video by a real anthropologist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxEJHO8KIXY

Answer 20

What year is it?

Answer 21

No.

The story was written many years after.

Answer 22

Typically, when this question is asked, the person asking qualifies the question with “outside of the Bible.” We do not grant this idea that the Bible cannot be considered a source of evidence for the existence of Jesus. The New Testament contains hundreds of references to Jesus Christ. There are those who date the writing of the Gospels to the second century A.D., more than 100 years after Jesus' death. Even if this were the case (which we strongly dispute), in terms of ancient evidences, writings less than 200 years after events took place are considered very reliable evidences. Further, the vast majority of scholars (Christian and non-Christian) will grant that the Epistles of Paul (at least some of them) were in fact written by Paul in the middle of the first century A.D., less than 40 years after Jesus' death. In terms of ancient manuscript evidence, this is extraordinarily strong proof of the existence of a man named Jesus in Israel in the early first century A.D.



It is also important to recognize that in A.D. 70, the Romans invaded and destroyed Jerusalem and most of Israel, slaughtering its inhabitants. Entire cities were literally burned to the ground. We should not be surprised, then, if much evidence of Jesus' existence was destroyed. Many of the eyewitnesses of Jesus would have been killed. These facts likely limited the amount of surviving eyewitness testimony of Jesus.



Considering that Jesus' ministry was largely confined to a relatively unimportant area in a small corner of the Roman Empire, a surprising amount of information about Jesus can be drawn from secular historical sources. Some of the more important historical evidences of Jesus include the following:



The first-century Roman Tacitus, who is considered one of the more accurate historians of the ancient world, mentioned superstitious “Christians” (from Christus, which is Latin for Christ), who suffered under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius. Suetonius, chief secretary to Emperor Hadrian, wrote that there was a man named Chrestus (or Christ) who lived during the first century (Annals 15.44).



Flavius Josephus is the most famous Jewish historian. In his Antiquities he refers to James, “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ.” There is a controversial verse (18:3) that says, “Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man. For he was one who wrought surprising feats....He was [the] Christ...he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him.” One version reads, “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.”



Julius Africanus quotes the historian Thallus in a discussion of the darkness which followed the crucifixion of Christ (Extant Writings, 18).



Pliny the Younger, in Letters 10:96, recorded early Christian worship practices including the fact that Christians worshiped Jesus as God and were very ethical, and he includes a reference to the love feast and Lord’s Supper.



The Babylonian Talmud (Sanhedrin 43a) confirms Jesus' crucifixion on the eve of Passover and the accusations against Christ of practicing sorcery and encouraging Jewish apostasy.



Lucian of Samosata was a second-century Greek writer who admits that Jesus was worshiped by Christians, introduced new teachings, and was crucified for them. He said that Jesus' teachings included the brotherhood of believers, the importance of conversion, and the importance of denying other gods. Christians lived according to Jesus’ laws, believed themselves to be immortal, and were characterized by contempt for death, voluntary self-devotion, and renunciation of material goods.



Mara Bar-Serapion confirms that Jesus was thought to be a wise and virtuous man, was considered by many to be the king of Israel, was put to death by the Jews, and lived on in the teachings of His followers.



Then we have all the Gnostic writings (The Gospel of Truth, The Apocryphon of John, The Gospel of Thomas, The Treatise on Resurrection, etc.) that all mention Jesus.



In fact, we can almost reconstruct the gospel just from early non-Christian sources: Jesus was called the Christ (Josephus), did “magic,” led Israel into new teachings, and was hanged on Passover for them (Babylonian Talmud) in Judea (Tacitus), but claimed to be God and would return (Eliezar), which his followers believed, worshipping Him as God (Pliny the Younger).



There is overwhelming evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ, both in secular and biblical history. Perhaps the greatest evidence that Jesus did exist is the fact that literally thousands of Christians in the first century A.D., including the twelve apostles, were willing to give their lives as martyrs for Jesus Christ. People will die for what they believe to be true, but no one will die for what they know to be a lie.

Answer 23

Very little and none of it convincing

Answer 24

Yes there is, the history book is called the Bible

Answer 25

There is more documentary evidence for Jesus Christ



than there is for Julius Caesar. -



_______________________

Answer 26

no

Answer 27

No.

Answer 28

Yes,



TOP HISTORIAN WROTE ONE OF THE GOSPELS

The Gospels and books were detailed and spoke of specific events and people that were there and aware of who Jesus was at that time. Dr. Luke who wrote the book of Luke is considered a great historian by those in Academia. Other answers responded with facts about Josephus and other historians.





ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE, HIGH PRIESTS BODY FOUND

Concerning Archaeological evidence. I'll mention just one. The remains / body was found not long ago in Israel of the High Priest that was recorded as being at and presiding over the illegal night trial of Jesus. Let's see, how many people would DARE write an nonfactual statement about the high priest? I would say NOT ANYONE that wants to live to tell about it.. Yet the four gospels record his name and tell what was said at the trial. Furthermore, the members of the Sanhedrin, the top court in the nation were also eyewitnesses to Jesus existing.





PONTIUS PILATE, TOP ROMAN OFFICIAL IN THE AREA, EYEWITNESS

HE SPOKE WITH JESUS AND HAD HIM CRUCIFIED

On the Roman side, Pontius Pilate was a historical Roman figure at that time, he was the governor of the area and the top Roman official there. That's a historic fact. It is clearly recorded in the Bible that Jesus stood before Pilate and was sentenced to Crucifixion. Anyone that would have written a lie about a "fictional man" that came before the top officials and kings of that era would have been stoned to death or called a lunatic or all of the above and perhaps their entire family and friends would have been as well. Yet there are many Bible books and thousands of eyewitnesses to the events concerning Jesus. If it was factual, and it was, then the authorities wouldn't have said anything about it.



THE ROMAN SOLDIERS THAT CRUCIFIED JESUS AND WHIPPED AND BEAT HIM. AND PUT A CROWN OF THORNS ON HIS HEAD. THEY ARE ALL EYEWITNESSES.

Is it likely that someone would fabricate a lie and circulate testimony and books about soldiers that never happened? Not at all likely. Those soldiers or their friends would go out and kill or beat someone for saying false statements. Soldiers of today would likely do the same, or just a policeman or sheriff would as well.





KING HEROD, TOP JEWISH OFFICIAL MET JESUS

Jesus taught thousands of people at times and performed miracles before them. Many of those eyewitnesses were still alive when the Bible books were written and distributed. Other officials beside Pilate were also in contact with Jesus. Such as King Herod, who Jesus was before .. Pilate sent Jesus to King Herod the morning Jesus was to be crucified. How do you think Herod or another Roman official would react if a book was written about this and it wasn't true?





THE LEADING TEACHER OF ISRAEL, EYEWITNESS

There were plenty of eyewitness testimony and in fact the Empty tomb as well. The tomb of a rich man, Joseph of Aramathia.. as well as one of the top men in the entire country Nicodemus. Both Joseph of Aramathia and Nicodemus are recorded as preparing the body of Jesus and put Jesus' crucified body in the tomb for it to be sealed by the Roman guard watching it. If that wasn't true then someone in authority would also go after someone for writing lies. But the fact of the matter is, they were there and the testimony in the Bible was true.

Furthermore, Jesus referred to Nicodemus when Nicodemus met him late at night as THE Teacher of Israel. That meant that Nicodemus was probably one of the top 3 teachers in all the country. He was obviously well known and highly respected. Nicodemus was an eyewitness to the events and participated in burial of Jesus' crucified body.



CHURCHES SPRINGING UP SHORTLY AFTER JESUS ROSE FROM THE GRAVE

Furthermore, the Christian churches rapidly sprang up months and years later and there were eyewitnesses to that. People went to their deaths that became Christians. They are testimony that Jesus existed.. some of them actually met Jesus or heard Him speak. Some of them were healed by Jesus as well.





TOP LAWYER TURNS TO JESUS CHRIST, MEETS OTHER GOVERNORS AND TELLS THEM ABOUT JESUS

Paul the Apostle, turned 180 degrees from killing Christians to becoming the chief Missionary.

He left a cushy life as a top member of the highest court in Israel.. he was an expert in the law.

Paul also stood before others of Historical note, such as King Agrippa and Festus. Festus was married to one of the most beautiful women of that time and Paul also stood before her as well in defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ and in testimony of who Jesus was. The men Paul stood before are historical figures. They would have sought out false statements about themselves. They had the privilege and the political power and the ability to go after someone writing and saying lies.





THOUSANDS OF EYEWITNESSES TO JESUS' LIFE, THE DISCIPLES AS WELL AND HUNDREDS WITNESSING JESUS BEING ALIVE AFTER HE ROSE FROM THE GRAVE... JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED AND MANY PEOPLE, PERHAPS THOUSANDS, WITNESSED THAT CRUCIFIXION AS WELL.

All true, all fact.





MORE FACTS ABOUT JESUS

He's the Creator, He's the Messiah, He's the only way to Heaven.

He's YHWH, He's God the Son.





God the Son always existed with God the Father. Jesus is God the Son, YHWH.

GOD (JESUS) HAS ALWAYS EXISTED.

The Bible says that Jesus is the only BEGOTTEN Son of God.

"Begotten" is translated from the Greek word monogenes (mon-og-en-ace'), which means "single of its kind; only." God didn't Beget a son..didn't procreate, this Son is the only one and this Son is exactly like, is God but in a different form, a different personage. God refers to Himself in the Garden of Eden when God looks at Adam after God created Adam and breathed life into Adam. God said to Himself: "Behold he (Adam) is like one of Us" Go and read that in scripture.





THE MESSIAH, PROPHECIES FULFILLED IN ONE MAN; ODDS AGAINST 1-123RD POWER.

The entire Bible has references to God and the coming Messiah. Jesus is the one that fulfilled all the prophecies of the Messiah. The odds against one person fulfilling all of them is at least 1 to the 123rd power. Jesus also accepted worship. He was worshiped as God. Nobody can get that except God Himself. The Jews even picked up stones to kill Jesus on more than one occasion for accepting worship and Him stating "Before Abraham was, I Am." Jesus claimed to be God. Jesus was never laid a hand on except when He was crucified on the cross for our sins.



JESUS ROSE FROM THE GRAVE. ROMAN GUARD PROTECTED TOMB

Jesus died and rose again 3 days later. The enemies of Jesus who, put Him on the cross, obtained a Roman guard . This guard was battle hardened soldiers put around the tomb but they couldn't prevent the God Man, Jesus from rising from the grave or as they stated and feared that Jesus' Disciples would come and steal the body. When they asked Pilate for help in preventing the theft of the body, they were told by Pilate "you have a guard, go and make (the tomb) AS SECURE AS YOU KNOW HOW." Therefore, I would assume they had dozens of soldiers there to prevent any grave robbery. HISTORICAL NOTE: during the time of Passover of that time, the Romans placed a large group of soldiers under the direction of the Jews to keep the peace since a million or more people would flood into Jerusalem. When Pilate say "you have a guard" they already had one.



MIRACLES OF JESUS PERFORMED BEFORE THOUSANDS OF EYEWITNESSES

Even the enemies of Jesus admitted that he performed miracles. He brought people back from the dead, He touched and healed people of all sorts of ailments. Jesus healed at least one Blind man who was blind from birth. That man appeared before the top court in Israel and was examined by those lawyers as well and even his parents were brought in to be examined. The lawyers couldn't discount that this was a true miracle, not at all, there were too many witnesses and far to much evidence to the contrary. The scripture records crowds laying the sick and crippled people out on the roads as Jesus passed by and they were healed. Jesus commanded the elements, the storms to cease and be still, He walked on water in front of 12 men as witnesses. He multiplied a handful of fish and bread and feed at least 5,000 men and their families on more than one occasion. There were thousands of witnesses to these acts and had any of this been written down in scripture and they lied about it, then his disciples could have been executed on the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses. This is only part of the case for Jesus being God.





HOW GOD SAVED US FROM HELL. LEGAL ISSUES GOD HIMSELF WORKED OUT

FOR US BECAUSE HE LOVES US

Jesus, who is God the Son, took on humanity, coming as a man to save us. Satan orchestrated a contract with sin with Adam in the Garden of Eden. Since that time, sin passes through man, therefore, Jesus was born of a virgin in order to save us of our sins & get us out of the contract. God worked out legal grounds, through Abraham, in order to save us & pour the sins of humanity on to Jesus on the Cross. Roughly 2000 years after Abraham was asked to kill / sacrifice his son, God sent His Son, on the same spot, to die for us. A man (Adam) put us in sin, a man (Jesus) gets us out of the contract



ROMANS 10:9-13 explains how you can be saved from Hell



I'll recommend free resources at www_ttb_org for more on this subject.