Non Biblical Sources

124 For Jesus in the

Historical Record
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

For many years a great number of people

have maintained that there is no record of
Jesus outside the narrative of the Bible. For
this reason, some have concluded that He is
merely a myth or legend.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

From the non biblical record of history we

can reconstruct the entire life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. The majority of
these texts speak of Jesus in derogatory or
non-complementary terms.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

None of these texts are seeking to prove the

existence of Jesus nor validate Him as a
genuine person of history.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

In fact, by their non complementary and

often scathing remarks, these writers of
antiquity have preserved for us a
substantial and conclusive chronicle of the
same events that are a part of the
New Testament narrative.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

A majority of what we know about events

of antiquity, come to us from sources that
wrote about these events after the events
took place.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

Much of the world’s knowledge about

history come to us reliably from sources just
like Tacitus, Suetonius, and Dio Cassius.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

Those who exclude the works of authors

who wrote after the events took place,
distinguish themselves as unreliable scholars
or communicators of true facts.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

Every reliable scholar uses works from

writes who documented events after they
took place.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

As you read the following, remember that

these are not believers in Jesus, nor are they
seeking to validate Jesus as a real person.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

A majority of the following writings by these

non-Christian sources, are visibly hostile,
even hateful towards
Jesus and those who follow Him.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

This is the entire point

By their adversarial remarks, without being
aware, these non-Christian writers have
preserved for us, an empirical record from
history that Jesus did in fact live, die, and rose
from the dead.
Secular Confirmation of Jesus’ Birth
Ambrosius Theodosius
Macrobius c. 395-423
 Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius c. 395-423

A Roman Praetorian prefect, who vividly

describes crucial events that are described in
the New Testament, validating important
historical facts about Jesus, the Messiah.
 Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius c. 395-423

Herod was one of the most paranoid

individuals of all time. He was said to be so
afraid that someone would conspire to take
his throne, that he had his wife and sons
murdered.
 Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius c. 395-423
Confirmation of Herod’s vitriol fear of a
usurper to his throne comes from an extra-
biblical source by a Roman writer, Macrobius,
who described Herod’s paranoia in stating
that Caesar Augustus said it was safer to be
one of Herod’s pigs than his own son:
 Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius c. 395-423

“When he [emperor Augustus] heard that

among the boys in Syria under two years old
whom Herod, king of the Jews, had ordered to
kill, his own son was also killed, he said: it is
better to be Herod’s pig, than his son.” [A]
 Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius c. 395-423

[A] 1. Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius c. 395-423, Saturnalia, book II,

chapter IV:11: “Cum audisset inter pueros quos in Syria Herodes rex Iudaeorum
intra bimatum iussit interfici filium quoque eius occisum, ait: Melius est Herodis
porcum esse quam filium,”
2. Robinson, Robert Clifton. These Things Were Written: An Expositional
Treatise Of The Life, Death, And Resurrection Of Jesus . Teach The Word
Publishing, INC. Kindle Edition. Chapter: “Threatened With Death,” subheading:
“Non-Biblical Confirmation of Jesus’ Birth.”
 Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius c. 395-423

This comment by Macrobius also confirms the

Gospel account of Matthew 2:16-18,
describing the reason for this massacre of
innocent children: to kill the infant Jesus.
 Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius c. 395-423

As Herod issues an order to kill all of the baby

boys in Bethlehem who were two years old
and under, he also orders the execution of his
own son.
 Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius c. 395-423

This gives us an additional secular source for

confirmation of Jesus’ existence as a child in
Bethlehem, in fulfilment of the prophecy of
Micah 5:2 for the birth of the Messiah and
Jeremiah 31:15  for the unsuccessful attempt
on His life.
 Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius c. 395-423

Four facts of history that this Roman writer,

Macrobius, confirms from the Gospels of
Matthew and Luke in their account of Jesus’
birth:
 Ambrosius Theodosius Macrobius c. 395-423

1. Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 1:8, 2:1).

2. Caesar Augustus was Emperor (Luke 2:1).
3. An attempt was made on Jesus’ life (Matthew 2:16-18).
4. Herod was king of Judea (Matthew 2:3).
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus,
and Dio Cassius
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius

A secular source in the Roman Archives of

history states: “Christ had been executed in
Tiberius’ reign by the Governor of Judea,
Pontius Pilate.” [B]
[B] Tacitus, Annals 15.44
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius

Tacitus is a non-Christian source, who writes

in The Roman Annals that Jesus died during
the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Roman Emperors
always had the date of their death recorded.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius

The Roman writer Suetonius also recorded a

biography for Emperor Tiberius where he lists
the dates of the major events that took place
during the life of Tiberius.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius

The Roman historian Dio Cassius is a third

secular source that also lists the same dates
that Tacitus records.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius
These historians dated events in the standard
Roman way, which was to write that an event
happened during a particular year of the
Emperors reign, or to name the Roman consul
who was in office at that time.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius

In the Roman form of government, the consul

changed every year. This provides us with a
precise year to determine when events took
place.[C]
[C] Humphreys, Colin J. (2011-03-27T22:58:59). The Mystery of the Last Supper . Cambridge
University Press. Kindle Edition.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius

Both Suetonius and Dio Cassius, recorded

that Emperor Tiberius died on March 16, AD
37 A.D.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius

The term “A.D., represents the term, Anno

Domini, which is Latin for ‘in the year of the
Lord’, B. C. is an abbreviation for Before
Christ.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius

The A.D. term used to date events, came from

the Roman scholar and monk Dionysius
Exiguus. During the time for these dates, the
Romans used the Julian Calendar.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius

According to Roman historians, Suetonius,

Tacitus, and Dio Cassius, Emperor Tiberius
began to reign together with Emperor
Augustus, his stepfather,
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius
in 12 A.D. Roman history records that the
Roman Senate appointed Tiberius as the new
emperor when Augustus died in 14.4 A.D.
Emperor Tiberius ruled until his death on
March 16, 37 A.D.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius
Tacitus wrote in the Roman Annals that Jesus
died during the reign of Tiberius, starting
from the date he began his reign, 12 A.D.,
ruling jointly with Augustus until 14.4 A.D,
when Tiberius became the only Emperor of
the Roman Empire.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius

A Roman coin struck

during that time, confirms
that Tiberius began his
[D] reign in 14 A.D.
[D] 1. A bronze coin dated from Antioch, the year 1 of Tiberius reign and year 45 of Actium.
The head of Tiberius is on the reverse side. From this double-dated coin we know that
Tiberius started to reign in AD 14.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius
All three Roman historians, Tacitus,
Suetonius, and Cassius Dio, count from the
date of this coin, 14 A.D., the year of Emperor
Augustus death, the beginning of Emperor
Tiberius reign.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius

Tacitus recorded that Jesus died during the

reign of Tiberius, defining His crucifixion from
14-37 A.D.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius
These are secular, Roman sources, confirmed
by three Roman historians, Tacitus, Suetonius,
and Cassius Dio, proving the presence of
Jesus in Jerusalem during the same period of
first century history the New Testament
places Him there.
Three Roman Historians: Suetonius, Tacitus, and Dio Cassius

Tiberius: Tertullian, Apology, V.

“Tiberius accordingly, in whose days the Christian name made its entry into the world,
having himself received intelligence from Palestine of events which had clearly shown the
truth of Christ’s divinity, brought the matter before the senate, with his own decision in
favour of Christ. The senate, because it had not given the approval itself, rejected his
proposal. Caesar held to his opinion, threatening wrath against all accusers of the
Christians.“
Serenius Granianus:
 Serenius Granianus:
Proconsul to Asia, writing to the Roman Emperor
Hadrian in the first century. The mention of
“Christians,” in the first century in the records of
one of the leading Romans of that day, is
evidence that Jesus was in Jerusalem, crucified,
and risen from the dead. Why?
 Serenius Granianus:
The Romans had no desire to preserve a
record of Jesus or His followers.  The only
reason we find this text in the records of the
Romans is because there were so many
serious problems with those who were called
Christians.
 Serenius Granianus:

In the minds of the Romans, Christians

believed the most damnable doctrine the
Roman Emperors could imagine.
 Serenius Granianus:

So much so, that this belief in the

resurrection of Jesus was considered a mental
illness that could only be cured by renouncing
this belief or be put to death.
 Serenius Granianus:

The inclusion of text confirming the existence

of Christians, is in its final analysis, empirical
evidence He existed.
124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

Serenius Granianus:

Only those who personally believed these

facts of Christ were called Christians., those
who firmly believed in the bodily crucifixion,
death, and resurrection of Jesus.
 Serenius Granianus:

The term “Christians” only began because of

the Christ who is described in great detail in
the 27 books of the New Testament.
 Serenius Granianus:

If Jesus never existed; He was not crucified

under Pilate; He did not rise from the dead as
the New Testament describes, how do we
account for so many references to Him in the
records of the Romans?
 Serenius Granianus:

Why were nearly 5 million Christians put to

death by the Romans simply because they
would not deny the resurrection?
 Serenius Granianus:

1. Serenius, in describing Jesus at Jerusalem,

records the treatment of Christians by the
Romans in the first century and the prejudice
and cruel treatment they received by leaders
of the Roman government.
 Serenius Granianus:

2. Serenius stated that Christians were

convicted without due process of the law.
 Serenius Granianus:

3. Serenius recorded that Emperor Hadrian

wrote that Christians should each be
examined and given the opportunity to
defend themselves, without harassment or
malicious proceedings.
 Serenius Granianus:

4. Letters written by Serenius about Jesus,

record that Emperor Hadrian instructed
Serenius to give fair treatment to Christians
during their examination.
 Serenius Granianus:

5. Serenius said that as a result of these

examinations, there should be no tainting of
testimony because of the petitions or
complaints that were made by those who
brought their accusations against Christians.
 Serenius Granianus:

6. Serenius stated that Christians were to be

judged strictly according to the “heinousness
nature” of their crimes, ie. unwillingness to
renounce the resurrection of Jesus and
worship a Roman god.
 Serenius Granianus:

7. Serenius noted in the Roman records that

Christians were frequently written about and
accused of crimes simply because they
believed in Jesus and His resurrection.
 Serenius Granianus:

7. Serenius noted in the Roman records that

Christians were frequently written about and
accused of crimes simply because they
believed in Jesus and His resurrection.
 Serenius Granianus:
Serenius Granianus
From the Archives: Emperor Hadrians moderate policies
This rescript, c. 124, protected Christians
“I received the letter written to me by your predecessor, the most illustrious Serenius Granianus, and it is not
my pleasure to pass by without enquiry the matter referred to me, lest the inoffensive should be disturbed,
while slanderous informers are afforded an opportunity of practicing their vile trade.
Now, if our subjects of the provinces are able to sustain by evidence their charges against the Christians, so as
to answer before a court of justice, I have no objection to their taking this course. But I do not allow them to
have recourse to mere clamorous demands and outcries to this end. For it is much more equitable, if anyone
wishes to accuse them, for you to take cognizance of the matters laid to their charge.
If therefore any one accuses and proves that the aforesaid men do anything contrary to the laws, you will pass
sentences corresponding to their offenses. On the other hand, I emphatically insist on this, that if anyone
demand a writ of summons against any of these Christians, merely as a slanderous accusation, you proceed
against that man with heavier penalties, in proportion to the gravity of his offense. And this, by Hercules; you
shall give special heed to, that if any man shall, through mere calumny, bring an accusation against any of
these persons, you shall award to him more severe punishments in proportion to his wickedness.”
Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger
Pliny was a lawyer, author, and magistrate of
Ancient Rome. The writer of ten books during
the first century, describing Christianity and
several facts concerning Jesus.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger
1. Pliny noted the presence of Christianity in
the world during the first century, was so
prevalent that many pagan temples had been
abandoned.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger
2. Pliny wrote to the Roman Emperor,
Trajan, and asked whether the Christians he
was interrogating should be afforded mercy if
they repented of their belief in the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger
3. Pliny confirms the existence of Christians
in the first century, and their flourishing
numbers, due largely to their belief in the
resurrection of Jesus.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger
4. Pliny informed the Emperor that there
was great concern a widespread belief in the
resurrection of Jesus would cause
tremendous difficulties for the government of
Rome.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger
4….
For this reason, those who believed in Jesus
were put to death if they refused to repent
and deny that Jesus had risen from the dead.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger
5. Pliny records that Christians were careful
to not act in any way that would bring
disrepute to the name of Christ, as they lived
their righteous lives.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger
6. Pliny mentions that Christians eating the
body and drinking the blood of Jesus during
their communion ceremonies was a
grotesque practice.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger

7. Pliny states that Christians are described

as worshiping on Sunday.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger

8. Pliny asked the Emperor if Christians

could be spared if they were willing to deny
Christ and, instead, worship the Roman gods.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger

9. Pliny writes that those who believed in

Christ would not repent of their belief.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger
10. Pliny mentions deaconesses in the
Christian church who were tortured, in order
to gain information about their dangerous
religion.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger

11. Pliny described those who believed in

Jesus and His resurrection, as meeting
regularly for worship.
 Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus,
known as Pliny the Younger
Pliny The Younger: Pliny, Letters, transl. by William Melmoth, rev. by W.M.L. Hutchinson
(Cambridge: Harvard Univ. Press, 1935), vol. II, X: 96.
“They (the Christians) were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light,
when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by
a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery,
never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it
up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food —
but food of an ordinary and innocent kind.”
Emperor Trajan
 Emperor Trajan:
Emperor of Rome in the first century, writing
a great deal regarding many problems that
took place with Christians and their fervent
faith in the resurrection of Jesus, in response
to Pliny’s letters in the first Century.
 Emperor Trajan:

1. Trajan instructs Pliny to punish

unrepentant Christians with some
restrictions.
 Emperor Trajan:

2. Pliny was not to seek out Christians.

 Emperor Trajan:

3. Trajan stated that the worship of Roman

gods by repentant Christians was cause to
commute their sentence of death.
 Emperor Trajan:

4. Trajan instructs Pliny to ignore any

evidence presented to him, containing names
of those who followed the Christ.
 Emperor Trajan:
Trajan: Pliny, Letters, transl. by William Melmoth, rev. by W.M.L. Hutchinson (Cambridge:
Harvard Univ. Press, 1935), vol. II, X: 96
“The method you have pursued, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those denounced to
you as Christians is extremely proper. It is not possible to lay down any general rule which
can be applied as the fixed standard in all cases of this nature. No search should be made
for these people; when they are denounced and found guilty they must be punished; with
the restriction, however, that when the party denies himself to be a Christian, and shall give
proof that he is not (that is, by adoring our Gods) he shall be pardoned on the ground of
repentance, even though he may have formerly incurred suspicion. Informations without
the accuser’s name subscribed must not be admitted in evidence against anyone, as it is
introducing a very dangerous precedent, and by no means agreeable to the spirit of the
age. “
 Emperor Trajan:
Hadrian: Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, IV:IX.
“I do not wish, therefore, that the matter should be passed by
without examination, so that these men may neither be harassed,
nor opportunity of malicious proceedings be offered to informers.
If, therefore, the provincials can clearly evince their charges against
the Christians, so as to answer before the tribunal, let them pursue
this course only, but not by mere petitions, and mere outcries
against the Christians. For it is far more proper, if any one would
bring an accusation, that you should examine it.”
Hadrian was Roman emperor from 117 to 138. He
was born into a Roman Italo-Hispanic family that
settled in Spain from the Italian city of Atri in
Picenum. His father was of senatorial rank and
was a first cousin of Emperor Trajan.
Tacitus
 Tacitus:

A Roman Senator and recorder of events from

the Roman Senate, first Century.
 Tacitus:
Roman historian and senator, Tacitus,
describes Jesus Christ and His execution by
Pontius Pilate as well as the existence and
formation of the early Christian church in
Rome, in his “Annals,” Book 15, Chapter 44. [E]
 Tacitus:
[E] P.E. Easterling, E. J. Kenney (general editors), The Cambridge History of Latin Literature,
page 892 (Cambridge University Press, 1982, reprinted 1996). ISBN 0-521-21043-7

P.E. Easterling, E. J. Kenney (general editors), The Cambridge History of Latin Literature, page
892 (Cambridge University Press, 1982, reprinted 1996). ISBN 0-521-21043-7

A political history of early Christianity by Allen Brent 2009 ISBN 0-567-03175-6 pages 32-34
Robert Van Voorst, Jesus Outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient
Evidence, Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2000. p 39- 53
 Tacitus:

Tacitus was 7 years old when the Great Fire of

Rome took place. He was well aware of this
massive inferno that destroyed most of the city.
 Tacitus:

Tacitus knew, in great detail, the accusations of

Nero and the reasons why Christianity was
spreading so quickly throughout the world—the
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 Tacitus:

Tacitus never refutes either; and being a patriot

of Rome, he certainly was not sympathetic to
Christians whom he believed were responsible for
the destruction of the city he loved.
 Tacitus:

Tacitus simply recorded the facts of Jesus’

crucifixion, as they were dictated to him by Nero
and those who had firsthand knowledge of the
event. [F]
[F] Jesus & the Rise of Early Christianity: A History of New Testament Times by Paul Barnett
2002 ISBN 0-8308-2699-8 page 30.
 Tacitus:

Tacitus received his information from Suetonius,

who recorded the events of the great fire in the
records of the Roman Senate:
 Tacitus:

“After the great fire at Rome… Punishments were

also inflicted (by Nero) on the Christians, a sect
professing a new and mischievous religious
belief.” [G]—Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus
[G] “The Twelve Caesars,” by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus. Graves, Robert (2014-03-05). The
Twelve Caesars (Kindle Locations 3661-3662). RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
 Tacitus:

The fact that Tacitus and the history of the Roman

government record the same events that occurred
during the same period of history, when the four
Gospels also record these events of Jesus’ life,
death, and resurrection,
 Tacitus:
The fact that Tacitus and the history of the
Roman government record the same events
that occurred during the same period of
history, when the four Gospels also record
these events of Jesus’ life, death, and
resurrection,
 Tacitus:

should cause any serious historian to conclude

they are authentic. There is no conflicting
evidence in any of the writings of Tacitus that
contradicts the New Testament narrative of
Jesus Christ.
 Tacitus:

Scholars today have discovered that Tacitus

had access to Acta Senates, the official
records of the Roman Senate, from where he
derived an accurate basis for his writing. [H]
[H] “The annals by Cornelius Tacitus,” Anthony John Woodman 2004 ISBN 0-87220-558-4
pages 10-20
 Tacitus:
Critics who have stated that because Tacitus
was not alive when Jesus is alleged to have
been crucified and resurrected, and therefore
disqualifies him as a valid witness of these
events, have been proven wrong in their
theories.
 Tacitus:

All of the work that Tacitus has accomplished

in his Annals originated from the year-by-year
records of the official Roman Senate
transcripts.[I]
[I] 1.The Annals: The Reigns of Tiberius, Claudius, and Nero by Cornelius Tacitus and J. C.
Yardley ISBN 0-19-282421-X Oxford pages 2-27.
2.”Tacitus and the Writing of History,” by Ronald H. Martin 1981 ISBN 0-520-04427-4, pages
104–105.
 Tacitus:
Tacitus did not create or embellish any of the
accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion or resurrection;
he simply wrote, in his Annals, what the
Roman Senate had already recorded during
the time Jesus was tried under Pontius Pilate.
 Tacitus:
Tacitus did not create or embellish any of the
accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion or resurrection;
he simply wrote, in his Annals, what the
Roman Senate had already recorded during
the time Jesus was tried under Pontius Pilate.
 Tacitus:

The most credible scholars today have

confirmed that this text from Tacitus is
authentic and reliable.[J]
[J] Robert E. Van Voorst, Jesus Outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient
Evidence, Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2000. p 39- 53
Tradition and Incarnation: Foundations of Christian Theology by William L. Portier 1993 ISBN 0-
8091-3467-5 page 263
 Tacitus:
1. Tacitus describes the followers of Jesus as
“Christians.”
2. Tacitus recorded that Jesus was Crucified
by Pontius Pilate.
 Tacitus:

3. Tacitus said that Jesus was executed

during the reign of Emperor Tiberius.
4. Tacitus wrote that Jesus’ death stopped
the evil superstition of Christianity.
 Tacitus:

5. Tacitus describes the Believers in Jesus as

resurfacing after their persecution.
6. Tacitus said that the followers of Jesus
were seen in Judea.
 Tacitus:
7. Tacitus stated that those who believed in
Jesus took their testimony of His resurrection
to the Roman capital.
8. Tacitus recorded that Emperor Nero had
blamed Christians for the fires that destroyed
Rome.
 Tacitus:
9. Tacitus said that Christians were hated
because of their faith in Jesus.

10. Tacitus described the followers of Jesus

were arrested.
 Tacitus:
11. Tacitus said the followers of Jesus were
convicted for not denying Jesus.

12. Tacitus placed into the record that the

followers of Jesus were mocked.
 Tacitus:
13. Tacitus said that the followers of Jesus
were tortured.

14. Tacitus also wrote that the followers of

Jesus were themselves crucified.
 Tacitus:
15. Tacitus noted that the followers of Jesus
were burned to death for refusal to deny
Jesus’ resurrection.
16. Tacitus stated that as a result of all these
actions, the people of Rome felt compassion
for Christians.
 Tacitus:

17. Tacitus said that in response to the public

outcry against the treatment of Christians,
this caused the Roman government to change
their view of Christians.
 Tacitus:

18. Tacitus concluded that the fervency of

Christians was due to their firm belief that
Jesus had risen from the dead.
 Tacitus:

19. Tacitus concluded that the reason

Christians were crucified was due to their
founder also being crucified.
 Tacitus:

20. Tacitus wrote that the reason Christians

would not deny Jesus was because they were
certain He had risen from the dead.
 Tacitus:
Tacitus:15:44
“Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a
class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its
origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators,
Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in
Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of
the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded
guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing
the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the
skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames
and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the
spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a
charioteer or stood aloft on a car. Hence, even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment,
there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man’s
cruelty, that they were being destroyed“
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

commonly known as Suetonius, was a Roman

historian who wrote during the early Imperial
era of the Roman Empire. Secretary to the
Roman Emperor, Hadrian, in the first Century.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,
Suetonius as a primary Roman historian, give
us further evidence that Jesus was known as
Chrestus, in the archives of the Roman
government, left to us by the writings of
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

For more than 30 years, Suetonius had access

to the Imperial and Senatorial archives, and
many other contemporary memoirs and
public documents.[K]
[K] Graves, Robert (2014-03-05). The Twelve Caesars (Kindle Locations 30-34). RosettaBooks.
Kindle Edition.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

According to historical experts of that period,

much of the information left to us from
Suetonius about the Roman Caesars came
from eyewitness accounts.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,
Unlike Tacitus, Suetonius fact-checked the
material that was contained within the
Roman archives, for accuracy. According to
Suetonius, Jesus was well known to the
Roman government.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,
He was known as Chrestus—the one
responsible for the disturbances reported by
Pontius Pilate, in Jerusalem. In “The Twelve
Caesars,” by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, he
says:
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

“Because the Jews at Rome caused

continuous disturbances at the instigation of
Chrestus (Christ), he expelled them from the
City.” [L]
[L] Graves, Robert (2014-03-05). The Twelve Caesars (Kindle Locations 3343-3345).
RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

This is a direct corroboration of the text of

Tacitus, who also received his information
from the Roman archives.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,
When we team both Tacitus and Suetonius
together, there is no doubt that the text in the
Roman record describing Jesus in Jerusalem,
creating a disturbance that resulted in His
crucifixion under Pilate, is a true record of
these events.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

This serves as empirical evidence for Jesus as

a genuine person of history, in specific
confirmation of the New Testament narrative
of Him.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

The text above from Suetonius, describing the

expulsion of Christians from Rome, is also
reported by the New Testament Book of Acts:
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,
“After these things Paul departed from Athens
and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew
named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently
come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because
Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart
from Rome); and he came to them.” [M]
[M] Acts 18:1-2
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

This serves as further evidence for the precise

nature of the New Testament accounts of Jesus
and the influence He presented in both Jerusalem
and Rome.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

The fact that Suetonius recorded the expulsion of

Christians in Rome, while Luke writes in describing
the same event, is incredible proof of Biblical
accuracy.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

1.Suetonius recorded that the reason for the

disturbances in Rome was due to Jews who
objected to those who believed in Jesus Christ.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

2.Suetonius said that the belief of Christians that

Jesus died and rose again was viewed by the
Emperors as dangerous superstitions.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

3.Suetonius said the entire reason that five million

Christians were crucified over a 250-year period of
time was due to their unwavering faith in the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

3.Suetonius said the entire reason that five million

Christians were crucified over a 250-year period of
time was due to their unwavering faith in the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus,

Suetonius, Claudius, 25.

“Because the Jews at Rome caused continuous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus,
he expelled them from the city.”
Josephus
 Josephus:

Primary Jewish historian during the period of

history when the followers of Jesus were
spreading Christianity throughout Israel and the
Roman Empire. First Century..
 Josephus:
1) Jesus was known as a wise teacher who was
alleged to have been without sin.
2) The people who believed in Him were both Jews
and Gentiles.
3) Jesus was executed by Pontius Pilate as he
ordered Him to be crucified.
 Josephus:
4) Josephus writes that the followers of Jesus
reported that He had risen from the dead.
5) The allegation that people were saying that
Jesus had risen from the dead on the third day.
6) As a result of Jesus alleged resurrection, His
followers grew in number.
 Josephus:

7) The allegation that Jesus was the promised

Messiah.
8) The Jesus who was crucified was the brother of
James.
 Josephus:

9) Many people in Israel at that time believed that

Jesus was the Messiah.
10) Josephus was likely the brother of Nicodemus
and received testimony about Jesus from him.
 Josephus:
11) Matthew and Josephus were both alive during
the same period of history. Josephus had likely
read Matthew’s account of Jesus’ death and
resurrection, and this is likely the source from
where he received his information in writing
about Jesus crucifixion and resurrection.
 Josephus:
Josephus: Antiquities 18:3
“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.”
Josephus: Jesus Within Judaism, p. 95.
“At this time there was a wise man who was called 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 had
become 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.“
 Thallus:
writer of history for the Eastern
Mediterranean period of the
Trojan War. His works commented
on by scholar Julius Africans. First
Century.
 Thallus:

1) Thallus records commentary on the darkness

that encompassed Jerusalem during the time
when Jesus was crucified.
 Thallus:

2) The Christian Gospel was being preached in the

region of the Mediterranean in the first century.
 Thallus:

3) Because of the profound implications of the

miracles that Jesus instituted, many explanations
were being made by those who did not believe in
Jesus or the supernatural origin of the things
attributed to Him.
 Thallus:
4) Julius Africans described the darkness during
Jesus crucifixion as supernatural because the
occurrence of a Solar Eclipse at that time was
scientifically impossible; taking place during a
new moon.
 Thallus:

5) Because of Thallus and the Africanus

commentary, the darkness that was described by
writers of that period, was defined as a fulfillment
of prophecies from the prophet Amos.
 Thallus:

Thallus: Julius Africanus, Extant Writings, XVIII in the Ante– Nicene Fathers, ed. by Alexander
Roberts and James Donaldson (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1973), vol. VI, p. 130.
“On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an
earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. This darkness
Thallus, in the third book of his History, calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of
the sun..”
Jewish Talmud:
Rabbi’s Judah, Akiba, and
Meir are cited as writing
in opposition to Jesus in
the Mishna and Gemaras
Talmud. Second Century.
 Jewish Talmud:
1) Jesus is described as “hanged on a tree,” which
was common language of that day for describing
crucifixion.
2) The Talmud confirms Jesus’ crucifixion as
occurring during the same period that the New
Testament records these events.
 Jewish Talmud:

3) The crucifixion of Jesus took place on Passover,

which is profoundly important to the Messiah’s

4) The Talmud describes Jesus as destined to be

stoned forty days before they crucified Him.
 Jewish Talmud:
5) Jesus was found guilty of sorcery and apostasy
when He taught doctrine that was considered
misleading to the people of Israel.
6) During the trial of Jesus, no witnesses were
found to testify on His behalf.
 Jewish Talmud:
7) Jesus had many disciples who followed Him.
These persons were also considered dangerous by
the Sanhedrin.
8) The Jewish record in the Talmud shows that
these leaders of Israel treated Jesus with greater
scorn and disrespect than others’s who had been
accused of similar crimes.
 Jewish Talmud:

9) The Talmud records that Jesus age at

crucifixion was between 33 and 34 years.

10) Mary, is described as the mother of Jesus.

 Jewish Talmud:

Talmud: The Babylonian Talmud, transl. by I. Epstein (London: Soncino, 1935), vol. III,
Sanhedrin 43a, p. 281.
“On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took
place, a herald went forth and cried, “He is going forth to be stoned because he has
practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy. Any one who can say anything in his favour,
let him come forward and plead on his behalf.” But since nothing was brought forward in his
favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover!”
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):

Describing the early feelings of Jews regarding the

man called “Jesus.” These documents were
reported as compiled in the fifth century, but
historical evidence suggests that these writing
existed in the second century.[N]
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):
[L] 1) This Chronicle of Jesus was already known by the archbishop Agobard of Lyons in 827
A.D. Schäfer, “Agobard’s and Amulo’s Toledot Yeshu” in Toledot Yeshu (“the Life Story of
Jesus”) Revisited. Also:
2) Sarit Kattan-Gribetz, “Hanged and Crucified: The Book of Esther and Toledot Yeshu,”
Toledot Yeshu (“the Life Story of Jesus”) Revisited.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):

1) Describing the widely held tradition that the

disciples of Jesus had removed His body from the
tomb in order to convince people that He had
risen from the dead.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):
2) A man called “Juda,” is described as discovering
this plan to remove Jesus’ body by the disciples.
The disciples planned to dig a new grave for Jesus
body and bury Him there, after they stole Him
from the tomb donated by Joseph of Aramenthea.
124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record
Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):

3) The Jews of the first century had ignored the

rapid rise in numbers for those who believed in
Jesus.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):

4) Writing to ridicule Jesus’ miracles, His birth,

and crucifixion.

5) Descriptions of the foundation principles of

Jesus’ ministry by satire and criticism.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):
6) According to this narrative, Jews would read
the Tolodeth Yeshu on Christmas Eve. Marc
Shaprio, “Torah Study on Christmas Eve,” The
Journal of Jewish Thought and Philosophy 8:2
(1999): 334.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):
7) Jesus allegedly stole the name of God from the
temple and gained His powers from this process.

8) Jesus fooled the people by magic and false

miracles.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):

9) Jesus died a charlatan’s death, as experienced a

criminal’s burial.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):
10) Alternative views describe Jesus as a brilliant
student who was wrongfully discarded by Rabbi,
Joshua ben Perachia of the Sanhedrin. (cf.
Sanhedrin 107b; Sotah 47a).[8] Echoes of this
storyline sometimes appear in Toledot Yeshu.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):
11) In subsequent versions of the Toledot Yeshu, there
were many accusations of Jesus’ virgin birth, the
scandal of His true father, accusations that Mary was
raped or a participant in adultery. These were included
in the written degradation of Jesus’ life. Toledot Yeshu
seminar, Princeton University (2009).
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):
Greek Philosopher, Celsus: Second Century. First
Christian Apologist, Origen wrote a complete
impeachment of all Celsus’ attempts at refuting Jesus
in the New Testament in 248 A.D.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):
Often Origen quoted Celsus verbatim, often
paraphrasing, frequently referring to the New
Testament letters that existed at that time, where
Celsus attempted rebuttal.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):
Origen restates many of Celsus’ arguments, with his
refutation. Accuracy was crucial to Origen’s refutation
of The True Doctrine, leaving history with the reliable
source for what Celsus said, and how easy it was for
Origen to refute every assertion that atheists presented
at such an early date.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):

1. Celsus derided Jesus in his writings, His origin, and

those who followed Him.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):

2. Celsus makes comments about statements that are

made in the Hebrew Toledot Yeshu, further confirming
that the Jews also recorded Jesus in their texts.
 Traditions of the Jews, Toledoth
Jesu (Chronicles of Jesus):
3. We can reconstruct nearly the entire text and
narratives of the New Testament, just from the
commentary and rebuttals of Origen. This is substantial
evidence that the New Testament was fully intact by
248 A.D., and regarded as accurate and reliable
testimony about Jesus, His death and resurrection.
Greek Satirist, Lucian:

Greek Satirist, Lucian: In

the second century, many
derisions against Jesus
and His followers.
 Greek Satirist, Lucian:
1) Early Believers in Jesus were naive, and lacking good
judgment; easily deceived by charlatans, giving large
sums of money to support the cause of Jesus.

2) Lucian writes that Jesus was crucified and those who

believe in Him believed that they would live forever.
 Greek Satirist, Lucian:

3) Early believers worshipped Jesus as God.

4) Those who believed in Jesus, studied His teaching in
context with the Greek language, comparing Him to
early Greek philosophers.
 Greek Satirist, Lucian:
5) Jesus’s followers believe in Him by faith.
6) Jesus’ followers sold their possessions in order to
gain money to care for other less fortunate believers.
7) The early church, relied upon the writings of letters
that were distributed to various places, for their
doctrine and teaching.
 Greek Satirist, Lucian:

8) Lucian refers to Jesus as “a crucified sage.”

9) Those who follow the teaching of Jesus were easily

taken advantage of, because of their tender hearts.
 Greek Satirist, Lucian:
Lucian: Lucian, The Death of Peregrine, 11-13, in The Works of Lucian of Samosata, transl.
by H.W. Fowler and F.G. Fowler, 4 vols. (Oxford: Clarendon, 1949), vol. 4.
“The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day — the distinguished personage who
introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account. . . . You see, these misguided
creatures start with the general conviction that they are immortal for all time, which
explains the contempt of death and voluntary self-devotion which are so common among
them; and then it was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all
brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and
worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws. All this they take quite on faith, with the
result that they despise all worldly goods alike, regarding them merely as common
property.”
Syrian, Mara Bar-Serapion:

Syrian, Mara Bar-Serapion:

between the first and third
century, writes from prison
about the man called Jesus and
His teaching.
 Syrian, Mara Bar-Serapion:

1) Asks the question: “what advantage did the Jews

gain from executing their wise King?”

2) Questioned if the destruction of Jerusalem in 70

A.D., was a direct result of their denial of Jesus.
 Syrian, Mara Bar-Serapion:

3) Alleges that the Jews were driven from their land, as

a result of denying Jesus as their Messiah.

4) The suggestion that Jesus was unjustly killed.

 Syrian, Mara Bar-Serapion:
Mara Bar-Serapion: British Museum, Syriac Manuscript, Additional 14, 658. For this text, see
Bruce, Christian Origins, p. 31.
“What advantage did the Athenians gain from putting Socrates to death? Famine and
plague came upon them as a judgment for their crime. What advantage did the men of
Samos gain from burning Pythagoras? In a moment their land was covered with sand. What
advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise King? It was just after that that their
kingdom was abolished. God justly avenged these three wise men: the Athenians died of
hunger; the Samians were overwhelmed by the sea; the Jews, ruined and driven from their
land, live in complete dispersion. But Socrates did not die for good; he lived on in the statue
of Hera. Nor did the wise King die for good; he lived on in the teaching which he had given.
Gnostic teacher, Valentinus:
From the first century. Clement
of Alexandria said that
Valentinus was a follower of
Theudas, who was a follower of
Paul, a writer of the New
Testament.
Gnostic teacher, Valentinus:

Gnosticism is generally
regarded as contrary to the
teachings of the New Testament
regarding the true nature of
Jesus.
 Gnostic teacher, Valentinus:

1) Discusses the historical reality of Jesus’ in Israel.

2) Refers to Jesus as “the Son of God.”
3) Describes Jesus as teaching His followers about His
Father.
4) Is careful to deny that Jesus came as God in the
flesh, which is the basis of all Gnostic doctrine.
 Gnostic teacher, Valentinus:
5) Calls Jesus: “the Word.”
6) Speaks of Jesus death on a tree, which is an early
manner of speaking to describe crucifixion.
7) States that the followers of Jesus believed that His
death brought salvation to those who believe.
8) Writes that the followers of Jesus affirm that He was
resurrected from the dead.
 Gnostic teacher, Valentinus:

Valentinus: The Gospel of Truth 26: 4-8. The edition used here is Robinson.
“For when they had seen him and had heard him, he granted them to taste him and to smell
him and to touch the beloved Son. When he had appeared instructing them about the
Father . . . . For he came by means of fleshly appearance.”
The Acts of Pontius Pilate:
The Acts of Pontius Pilate: Described by
Justin Martyr and Tertullian from 150-
200 A.D. There are later historical
records that are known by the same
name, which are known fabrications of
this genuine record.
 The Acts of Pontius Pilate:

1) Justin Martyr described the descriptions of Jesus’

crucifixion as validated in the report by Pilate.
2) The term: “They pierced my hands and my feet,” as
used in Psalm 22, describing the event of Jesus
crucifixion 1,000 years later, included in Pilate’s report.
 The Acts of Pontius Pilate:

3) Pilate’s report also references the prophecy in Isaiah

53, describing the gambling of Jesus’ clothing by the
Roman soldiers.
 The Acts of Pontius Pilate:

4) Pilate’s report details several of Jesus’ miracles and

His assertion that He is God, brought to the attention
of the Roman Senate by Emperor Tiberius. Because the
Roman Senate did not endorse Jesus, they rejected his
proposal to include these matters into the senate
record.
 The Acts of Pontius Pilate:

Acts of Pontius Pilate: Justin Martyr, First Apology, XXXV. Quotations from Justin Martyr and
Tertullian are from the Ante-Nicene Fathers, ed. by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson
(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1973), vol. III.
“And the expression, “They pierced my hands and my feet,” was used in reference to the
nails of the cross which were fixed in His hands and feet. And after He was crucified, they
cast lots upon His vesture, and they that crucified Him parted it among them. And that
these things did happen you can ascertain in the “Acts” of Pontius Pilate.”
 Phylegon:

a freed slave of Emperor Hadrian, born in 80 A.D. His

writings are preserved by other historical documents,
primarily, Origen.
124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

Phylegon:
1) Describing Jesus’ ability to accurately predict events
of the future that were later confirmed by history as
fulfilled.
2) Describing Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s future death
by crucifixion.
3) Describes the crucifixion of Jesus at Jerusalem.
 Phylegon:
4) Describes an alleged solar eclipse that took place
during the time of Emperor Tiberius, during the time of
Jesus crucifixion.
5) Described the earthquakes that took place during
Jesus crucifixion.
6) States that Jesus retained wounds from the
crucifixion after He was resurrected.
 Rheginos:

Rheginos, who is possibly Valentinus: The Treatise on

Resurrection. From the second century.
 Rheginos:
1) Jesus, the man, was also fully God as He is the Son of
God.
2) Through His death as the Son of God, He defeated
death.
3) States the facts of Jesus’ death.
 Rheginos:

4) States the facts of Jesus’ resurrection.

5) Since Jesus has been raised, Rheginos is encouraged

to count himself as raised.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

What all this information means to you, the reader:

The man called “Jesus of Nazareth” is a genuine person
from the historical record.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

If Jesus is simply a myth, why do we find over 100

references to Him in the non-biblical records of the
Romans, Jews, Greeks, and other Secular documents?
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

In fact, we can completely reconstruct the primary

events of Jesus life, death, and resurrection; strictly
from these non-biblical sources.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

The primary purpose of Jesus in coming to earth was to

demonstrate that God exists and that it is His desire to
cleanse us from our sins and make every person fully
ready for heaven.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

Jesus repeatedly stated that He and God are one and

the same. Then He demonstrated that this is true by
performing works that only God could accomplish.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

In many of the discussions that I have had with those

who claim to an atheist or agnostic, they repeatedly
state that “there is no evidence for God.” The type of
evidence that they are implying is scientific, empirical,
testable, and observable.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

In recent years, there has been a great attempt to

discredit the New Testament narrative of Jesus—
altogether. There are claims made that Jesus never
existed; that His life, death, and resurrection are
fabrications.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

Assertions are made that there is no other evidence for

the existence of Jesus, other than the accounts written
in the New Testament Bible.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

This premise ignores the vast evidence that exists from

the Jewish Talmud and the records of the Roman
Senate. The ancient scribes of Israel who chronicled
Jesus in their writings, had no interest in preserving any
historical information about Him, nor Christianity.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

The Jews who recorded their commentary about Jesus

in the Talmud, regarded Him and His followers as the
latest of many cult religions of their day.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

These leaders of Israel had no desire to document the

existence of Jesus, His crucifixion, nor those who
followed Him—yet this is precisely what they
accomplished by their adversarial comments regarding
His arrest and execution.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

These records were written during the period of history

in which Jesus is reported to have been in Israel, as
described by the narrative of the New Testament
scriptures.[O]
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

[O] Talmud:
[2] The following are specific references to Jesus of Nazareth, as found in the Talmud under
passages on execution in Sanhedrin 43 a-b.1
Herzog 1: On the eve of Passover, they hanged Jesus the Nazarene.
Vatican 130: He went and brought up Jesus the Nazarene.
Vatican 140: He went and brought up Jesus.
Munich 95: On the eve of the Passover, they hanged Jesus of Nazareth.
Firenze 11.1.8-9: On the Sabbath eve and the eve of Passover, they hanged Jesus the
Nazarene.
Karisruhe 2: On the eve of Passover, they hanged Jesus the Nazarene.
Barco: On the eve of Passover, they hanged Jesus of Nazareth.
1 English translations of the Talmud from Peter Schäfer, pp 133–140
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

In the ancient records of the Roman Senate, Jesus was

known as Chrestus, as described by the writings of
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus. For more than 30 years,
Suetonius had access to the Imperial and Senatorial
archives, and many other contemporary memoirs and
public documents.[P]
[P] Graves, Robert (2014-03-05). The Twelve Caesars (Kindle Locations 30-34).
RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

According to historical experts of that period, much of

the information that is left to us from Suetonius about
the Roman Caesars, came from eye-witness accounts.
Unlike Tacitus, Suetonius fact checked the material that
was contained within the Roman archives for accuracy.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

According to Suetonius, Jesus was well know to the

Roman government. He was known as Chrestus, the
one responsible for the disturbances reported by
Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. In “The Twelve Caesars,” by
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, he says:
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

“Because the Jews at Rome caused continuous

disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus (Christ), he
expelled them from the City.” [Q]

[Q] Graves, Robert (2014-03-05). The Twelve Caesars (Kindle Locations 3343-3345).
RosettaBooks. Kindle Edition.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

This is a direct corroboration of the text by an

impartial, uninterested leader of the Roman
government, who received his information from the
Roman archives.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

Both the Jews and the Romans would rather that Jesus
had not existed, yet they found themselves recording
many of the events of His life and death—in their
preserved records of history.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

The evidence that is extant of antiquity, demands that

Jesus existed as a real person in Israel, during the
period of history in which the New Testament describes
Him.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

“No credible Biblical scholar today believes that Jesus

was not a real person of history. The evidence for His
existence is so overwhelming, that to deny Jesus lived
in Galilee at the time depicted by the New Testament
would place any writer in a classification of
incompetency.”[R]
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

[R] Robert E. Van Voorst Jesus Outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient
Evidence Eerdmans Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-8028-4368-9 page 16 states: “biblical scholars
and classical historians regard theories of non-existence of Jesus as effectively refuted”
James D. G. Dunn “Paul’s understanding of the death of Jesus” in Sacrifice and Redemption
edited by S. W. Sykes (Dec 3, 2007) Cambridge University Press ISBN 052104460X pages 35-
36 states that the theories of non-existence of Jesus are “a thoroughly dead thesis”
The Gospels and Jesus by Graham Stanton, 1989 ISBN 0192132415 Oxford University Press,
page 145 states : “Today nearly all historians, whether Christians or not, accept that Jesus
existed”.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

All opposition to the existence of Jesus has now been

refuted; and the fact that He lived and conducted
Himself in the events described by the four Gospels of
the New Testament, is incontrovertible.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

Since we know for certain that the historical record of

Jesus is verified by secular, as well as Biblical texts, we
must now consider what Jesus stated about Himself.
Jesus claimed to be the True and Living God; presented
to us in the body of a man.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

As we examine Jesus claims, we find that there is no

mistake, no misunderstanding—what Jesus said; He
believed Himself to be God. Then Jesus supported His
claim to be God by doing things that only God could do:
Heal the sick, make the blind see, cause the disabled to
walk, heal the leper, cast out demons, and raise the
dead.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

The people who observed Jesus said that He was

without sin and that they believed that He is
Jehovah/God, the Creator of the universe (Colossians
1:1, Hebrews 1:1, John 1:1).
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

If this claim is true, and this book validates these facts;

then God has proven His existence by empirical
evidence.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

According to the United States Library of Congress, we

have just over 20,000 documents written by Abraham
Lincoln, from 1833-1916.[S] The documents that
describe the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus
Christ, which have survived time and decay, are 24,593.

[S] http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/connections/abraham-lincoln-
papers/file.html
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

We know more about Jesus of Nazareth and the events

surrounding His life than we do the 16th president of
the United States of America.
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

The man, Jesus Christ, is a real person from history—

whose life has been recorded for us by honest men who
documented the amazing things that He has said and
done. There is more historical evidence for the man
called Jesus than practically any other person in the
chronology of the world. [T]
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

[T] 1.Grant, M., Jesus: An Historian’s Review of the Gospels New York: Scribner’s, 1977,
Page 176
2.Van Daalen, D. H., The Real Resurrection, London: Collins, 1972, Page 41
3.Kremer, Jakob, Die Osterevangelien — Geschichten um Geschichte, Stuttgart: Katholisches
Bibelwerk, 1977, Pages 49-50
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

“I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which

is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort, to
the understanding of a fair inquirer.” —Dr. Thomas
Arnold, Oxford history professor
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

“The evidence for the resurrection alone is better than

for claimed miracles of all other religions. There leaders
are buried and still in their graves. Jesus tomb was
found empty!” —Anthony Flew, former atheist
 124 Non Biblical Sources For Jesus in the Historical Record

“The evidence for the resurrection alone is better than

for claimed miracles of all other religions. There leaders
are buried and still in their graves. Jesus tomb was
found empty!” —Anthony Flew, former atheist