Jesus Christ the Man: Does the Physical Evidence Hold Up?

Live Science ^ | 04/14/2011 | Natalie Wolchover

[SeekAndFind]

Jesus Christ may be the most famous man who ever lived. But how do we know he did?

Most theological historians, Christian and non-Christian alike, believe that Jesus really did walk the Earth. They draw that conclusion from textual evidence in the Bible, however, rather than from the odd assortment of relics parading as physical evidence in churches all over Europe.

That's because, from fragments of text written on bits of parchment to overly abundant chips of wood allegedly salvaged from his crucifix, none of the physical evidence of Jesus' life and death hold up to scientific scrutiny.  [Who Was Jesus, the Man?]

Holy Hardware

In a documentary called "The Nails of the Cross," set to air April 20 on the History Channel, filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici tells the story of two nails allegedly discovered in a 2,000-year-old tomb in Jerusalem. He presents circumstantial evidence that seems to suggest the rusty relics once nailed Jesus to the cross.

The tomb in which the nails were found is believed by some to be that of the Jewish high priest Caiaphas, who presides over the trial of Jesus in the New Testament.

"If you look at the whole story — historical, textual, archaeological — they all seem to point at these two nails being involved in a crucifixion," Jacobovici says in the film. "And since Caiaphas is only associated with Jesus' crucifixion, you put two and two together and they seem to imply that these are the nails."

[Errant]

Doubts over 'second temple remains' in Jerusalem

[Jedidah]

“An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall be no sign given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah; for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Matthew 12: 39-40

[DrC]

“You have to admit Jesus Christ’s birth is way better documented than Obama’s.”

Though skeptics might point out that JC lacks a long form BC.

[Flying right]

Matthew 24 is an interesting read. Jesus predicted the temple would be destroyed, which did happen. The rest of Matthew 24 has still not happened. So, what? - did the author just write one fulfilled prophecy? No, I believe the temple had not been destroyed yet. Just as Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple, which was definitely destroyed in 70 AD, the rest will come pass.

[RobbyS]

No, it is not. Some texts do have inserts that say more than Joesephus intended, but the basic text is consistent with the rest of his writing. IAC, to reject the Gospels as evidence of his existence is disingenuous to say the least.

[RobbyS]

So does Julius Caesar.

[GonzoII]

Who can deny the Shroud of Turin?

If that is not enough there is plenty of moral historical evidence for Christ:

Testimony of the Evangelists - by Simon Greenleaf

[paudio]

I think every single year during Easter season there’s an article on this issue. Usually in Time or Newsweek, whose existences—either physical or virtual—are questionable.

[Vince Ferrer]

Ah, Easter and Christmas. The season for journalists to poke a stick in the eye of Christians everywhere just for the hell of it.

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:2-4:7

[Cvengr]

Thomas had a similar problem. He faced it.

[Tainan]

I place dis/non-believers in the same grouping as those who think Pete Rose should not be in the Hall of Fame.

[rollo tomasi]

Did Hannibal exist?

[circlecity]

What “physical evidence” is there ever going to be for a person who lived in antiquity other than historical accounts? And the historical accounts of Jesus are quite persuasive. Archeology has proved much of the detail of the Gospels, particularly Luke who was a historian, writing history. And the Josephus account is not a fraud. There have been accusations that certain words were added to the Testimonium Flavianum, which may very well be true. But few if any serious scholars believe the entire passage was fabricated. And if you take out the disputed words Josephus still confirms the life of Jesus, James and John the Baptist. While Faith is essential, biblical Faith is not “blind faith” or a “leap of faith”. There is certainly a rational component of faith, if for no other reason than that there is so much logical evidence as to the truth of the Gospels. There is more hard evidence to support the life, death and resurrection of Jesus than any other event in antiquity.

[ml/nj]

No, it is not. Some texts do have inserts that say more than Joesephus intended, but the basic text is consistent with the rest of his writing.

Twaddle.

I guess you haven't read much Josephus. I doubt there is a secular scholar anywhere who thinks the two passages that refer to Jesus are actually from Josephus. These are short passages inserted into the text almost as non-sequiturs. Josepehus was extremely long-winded. To think that he might only have given a few sentences to someone as import as Jesus is absurd.

ML/NJ

[Biggirl]

You got it. FAITH is what is important.

[onedoug]

Documentation clearer than barry´s....

[RobbyS]

I know what the text says. Obviously John the Baptist was to him the better known and significanrt figure. Accoding to Luke, the scion of a priestly family to whom Mary was related.The reference to Jesus is almost an aside. Even in the Gospels, we read that Herod knew him only in connection with John. We can speculate and say that Joseph knew of his family. The whole message of the gospel is the relative obscurity of Jesus, and his sudden appearence in Jerusalem ,dramatic confrontation with the powers that be, his brutal death at the hands of the authority, and the reports of his resurrection. The God of Israel incognito, disappearing almost as suddenly as he came, and leaving behind followers at first stupified by events and then emerging with quiet violence to evangelize the world.

But I do not argue.

[Zuriel]

Here’s the clincher: It’s called the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Remember, the Christ had to go away or the Comforter would not come. (John 15:7)

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he” (the Father) “may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the WORLD CANNOT receive, because it SEETH HIM NOT, neither KNOWETH him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth WITH YOU, and shall be IN YOU. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more, but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also......AT THAT DAY YE SHALL KNOW that I am in my FATHER, and YE in ME, and I in YOU.” John 14:16-20

That’s why when someone is filled with the Holy Ghost they glorify God in a language that they had previously not known. The experience is so amazing that Simon the sorcerer offered money for that power.

The ‘shroud’, nomatter who was covered by it, portrays a dead man; the Holy Ghost baptism testifies of one that was dead, but is alive forevermore!

[Uncle Miltie]

"The Western Wall (Hebrew: הכותל המערבי‎, translit.: HaKotel HaMa'aravi), Wailing Wall or Kotel (lit. Wall; Ashkenazic pronunciation: Kosel); (Arabic: حائط البراق‎, translit.: "Ḥā'iṭ Al-Burāq", translat.: "The Buraq Wall") is located in the Old City of Jerusalem at the foot of the western side of the Temple Mount. It is a remnant of the ancient wall that surrounded the Jewish Temple's courtyard, and is one of the most sacred sites in Judaism outside of the Temple Mount itself. Just over half the wall, including its 17 courses located below street level, dates from the end of the Second Temple period, having been constructed around 19 BCE by Herod the Great."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Wall

"The Second Temple was completed and dedicated in around 19 BCE Herod the Great began a massive expansion project on the Temple Mount. He artificially expanded the area which resulted in an enlarged platform. Today's Western Wall formed part of the retaining perimeter wall of this platform. Herod's Temple was destroyed by the Roman Empire, along with the rest of Jerusalem, in 70 CE during the First Jewish-Roman War."

[Errant]

Today's Western Wall formed part of the retaining perimeter wall of this platform. Herod's Temple was destroyed by the Roman Empire, along with the rest of Jerusalem, in 70 CE during the First Jewish-Roman War.

Thanks for posting. Many people, including myself at one time, think that the Wailing Wall was part of the Temple. It was actually a part of the Temple Mount retaining wall, said to have been built when the Temple Mount area was enlarged. To this date and to my knowledge, no part of the actual Temple (walls, floor, walkways) have been found, or any ruins proved to have been part of the Second Temple.

So, not only did Jesus predict the destruction (in itself significant), he also said, “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” - Mark 13:1

Nothing now exists of these massive buildings, though scholars agree they did exist. If massive buildings can disappear, why must we have "physical" evidence before we can believe Jesus walked among these same buildings?

We have the words of Jesus, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." - Matthew 24:35

Contrast the total obliberation of the Jewish temple, as predicted by Jesus, with the ruins of Egypt, Greece, Rome, Babylon, Mayans, Stonehenge, ...

It doesn't take a rocket scientist, only someone willing to open their eyes.