Posted on 01/21/2025 9:11:05 AM PST by daniel1212
The reliable Gospel eyewitness accounts aren’t the only ancient description of Jesus. There are also non-Christian descriptions of Jesus from the late 1st to 5th Century. What do the non-Biblical accounts say about Jesus and how are we to assess them?[...]
Hostile Non-Biblical Pagan Accounts[...]
Thallus (52AD)[...]
“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.” (Julius Africanus, Chronography, 18:1) [...]
Tacitus (56-120AD)[...]describes Emperor Nero’s response to the great fire in Rome and Nero’s claim that the Christians were to blame:[...] “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 Judea, 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.”
Mara Bar-Serapion (70AD)[...]refers to Jesus as the “Wise King”:
“What benefit did the Athenians obtain by putting Socrates to death? Famine and plague came upon them as judgment for their crime. Or, the people of Samos for burning Pythagoras? In one moment their country was covered with sand. Or the Jews by murdering their wise king?…After that their kingdom was abolished. God rightly avenged these men…The wise king…Lived on in the teachings he enacted.”
Phlegon (80-140AD [...]
“Phlegon records that, in the time of Tiberius Caesar, at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun from the sixth to the ninth hour.” (Africanus, Chronography, 18:1) [...]
Pliny the Younger (61-113AD )[...]
“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.”
Phlegon is also mentioned by Origen (an early church theologian and scholar, born in Alexandria): [...]
“Now Phlegon, in the thirteenth or fourteenth book, I think, of his Chronicles, not only ascribed to Jesus a knowledge of future events . . . but also testified that the result corresponded to His predictions.” (Origen Against Celsus, Book 2, Chapter 14) [...]
“And with regard to the eclipse in the time of Tiberius Caesar, in whose reign Jesus appears to have been crucified, and the great earthquakes which then took place … ” (Origen Against Celsus, Book 2, Chapter 33) [...] “Jesus, while alive, was of no assistance to himself, but that he arose after death, and exhibited the marks of his punishment, and showed how his hands had been pierced by nails.” (Origen Against Celsus, Book 2, Chapter 59) [...]
Suetonius (69-140AD) [...] “Because the Jews at Rome caused constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus (Christ), he (Claudius) expelled them from the city (Rome).” (Life of Claudius, 25:4) This expulsion took place in 49AD [...]
[...] “Nero inflicted punishment on the Christians, a sect given to a new and mischievous religious belief.” (Lives of the Caesars, 26.2) [...]
Lucian of Samosata: (115-200 A.D.) [...]
Celsus (175AD) [...]
Hostile Non-Biblical Jewish Accounts [...]
Josephus (37-101AD) [...]
Jewish Talmud (400-700AD) [...]
The Toledot Yeshu (1000AD) [...]
Many elements of the Biblical record are confirmed by these hostile accounts, in spite of the fact they deny the supernatural power of Jesus.
‘Is There Any Evidence for Jesus Outside the Bible?’
Is water wet? Of course.
It’s anecdotal, but according to lore in the temple city of Puri, Jesus is said to have journeyed to Puri to visit the Jagannath temple there for the purpose of study.
Prophecy is the only evidence needed.
Prophecy, which Jesus is that Spirit, telling us before it happens so that we can ‘be not deceived’ when it does. Showing us all the end from the beginning. Being the Alpha and the Omega.
“And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said unto me, “See that thou do it not! I am thy fellow servant and one of thy brethren, who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10
I thought there was evidence that Pontius Pilot wrote about the trial of Jesus of Nazareth. That there were letters and records from the Romans?
I thought that was one aspect of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
I thought there was evidence that Pontius Pilot wrote about the trial of Jesus of Nazareth. That there were letters and records from the Romans?
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I’ve heard that.
The gospel of Nicodemus was also known as the Acts of Pontius Pilate. It isn’t verified, of course, but it is an interesting read.
https://sacred-texts.com/bib/lbob/lbob10.htm
He lifted me up when I was down.
All the evidence I need.
If in fact there was three hours of darkness (”at full moon” being irrelevant to its cause), that would have to be a supernatural event, even a rogue asteroid in an odd orbit could not hold its position long enough to cause more than a few seconds of darkness and no such asteroid is known to exist anyway.
Only an advanced technology we might associate with God or aliens could explain this report. Smoke from distant fires have caused periods of near darkness in other regions but that is (a) not consistent with the climate of the region, and (b) would likely have been detected by its smell and included in the reports cited.
We are left with two possibilities, either the references are not to be taken as literal, or, an advanced power was at work making a statement about the crucifixion.
Evidence? All you need is faith. My humble heart testifies to the magnificence that is Jesus Christ.
The Testimony of Jesus Is the
Spirit of Prophecy!
.
REVELATION 19:10
.
Tell the End from the Beginning.
“It Is Written!”
Those lights in the firmament are evidence..
It helps having the bible as a key, though.
Without that key, they’re just lights in the firmament up there, instead of a witness and evidence..
Philo never mentioned him in any of his writings.
Thank you.
I learned that from "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel.
There is literally more evidence of Jesus than there is of Shakespeare.
Muslims believe in the virgin birth, and believe Jesus was a great prophet, and will return some day. They do NOT, however, believe in his divinity.
Here is one of his (hard to get) books:
Ump for later - excellent informative
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