Lord Jesus Christ

The historical existence of Jesus of Nazareth is one of the best-attested facts of the ancient world. While the Gospels remain our richest source, a remarkable number of non-Christian writers from the first and second centuries mention Jesus, his followers, or his execution — often in passing, precisely because his existence was not in dispute. These sources confirm the broad outline of the Gospel narrative: a Jewish teacher from Palestine who gathered followers, was executed under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius, and whose movement spread rapidly across the Roman Empire.

The distinguished historian E.P. Sanders writes: “The almost universal verdict of modern scholarship is that Jesus of Nazareth was a real historical figure.”^(a) Even Bart Ehrman, a prominent agnostic scholar, states: “He certainly existed, as virtually every competent scholar of antiquity, Christian or non-Christian, agrees.”^(b)

Josephus was a Jewish historian who served as a commander in the First Jewish–Roman War before becoming a Roman citizen and court historian under the Flavian emperors. His two major works, The Jewish War and Antiquities of the Jews, are indispensable sources for first-century Jewish history. He mentions Jesus in two separate passages.

This passage has been the subject of intense scholarly debate. Most scholars agree that the core of the passage is authentic but that later Christian copyists inserted or modified certain phrases — particularly “if indeed one ought to call him a man,” “He was the Christ,” and the reference to the resurrection.^(a) The reconstructed “core” that most scholars accept as genuinely from Josephus confirms: Jesus existed, he was a teacher, he was reputed to perform remarkable deeds, Pilate crucified him at the instigation of Jewish leaders, and his followers continued after his death.

This second passage is almost universally accepted as authentic.^(b) It identifies James by his relationship to “Jesus, who was called Christ” — a natural way for Josephus to distinguish this Jesus from the many other men named Jesus in his writings. The passage confirms the existence of Jesus, that he was known as “the Christ” (Messiah) by his followers, and the existence of his brother James, who led the Jerusalem church.

Cornelius Tacitus is widely regarded as the greatest Roman historian. Writing around AD 116, he describes Nero’s persecution of Christians after the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64. In doing so, he provides the most important Roman reference to Jesus.

This passage is of immense historical value. Tacitus was no friend of Christianity — he calls it a “mischievous superstition” and an “evil.” His testimony is therefore hostile and independent, making it all the more reliable as historical evidence.^(a) He confirms: the founder was called “Christus,” he was executed under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius, the movement originated in Judea, and it had spread to Rome by the 60s AD despite the execution of its founder.

Pliny the Younger was a Roman senator and governor of Bithynia-Pontus (modern-day northern Turkey). Around AD 112, he wrote to Emperor Trajan asking how to deal with Christians in his province. His letter provides a remarkable window into early Christian worship.

Pliny’s letter confirms several key facts: within 80 years of the crucifixion, Christians in a Roman province were worshipping Christ “as to a god” (quasi deo), meeting on a fixed day (Sunday), singing hymns, binding themselves to moral conduct, and sharing a common meal (the Eucharist).^(a) The rapid spread of Christianity from Palestine to Asia Minor and the intensity of devotion to Christ as divine requires historical explanation.