[longtermmemmory]

as a strictly historical issue, it is simple enough to prove that the people in the bible existed from NON-biblical sources.

There are references to Pilot, the crucification, and there are pleanty of "carved in stone" (literally) references of the Diciples in Ancient Greek ruins. (particularly Corinth, the place with the isthmus.)

This is just a lie athiests are asserting as often as possible to try and make up a controversy where no controversy legitimatly exists.

[TheStraightDope]

Indeed. Has this idiot ever heard of the historian by the name of Josephus? We know from numerous other sources that much of what is written in Josephus' histories really occured, so why would he write stuff about a Jesus from Nazareth (including a physical description) if he never existed? And why the hell should it even matter to an atheist if some Jewish reformist started his own religion?

[Robert A Cook PE]

Actually, one expert claims there are more contemporary references to Christ (very early Christians) than there are to many Greek scholars: who are known only by secondary or tertiary sources.

Even almost all famous Egyptians leaders are less "proved" than Jesus.