Evidence of Jesus, and early Christians

Almost 2,000 years after Christ’s alleged crucifixion, it is hard to know for certain (other than what the Bible tells us), that a Jesus of Nazareth even existed. Statements like this can make us question our faith, unless we’ve got a strong, evidence-based foundation. Fortunately, there are evidences that clearly support the claims that the Bible makes, that can help tremendously in building a stronger faith. For example:

 

 Flavius Josephus – In his writings (Antiquities, Book 18, ch. 5, par. 2gs, Antiquities, Book 18, ch. 3, par. 3, Antiquities, Book 20, ch. 9.) he mentions John the baptizer, Jesus, and Jesus’ brother, James.

 

The first reference is:

 "Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness."

 How amazing! Josephus records that John the Baptizer actually lived, baptized, was killed by Herod, Just like the bible claims (Matthew 14:10, Mark 6:27, Luke 9:9)!

 

The second record make by Josephus is:

“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles.  He was [the] Christ.  And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him.  And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.”

This is exactly what the bible tells us! Jesus was not just a mere man, but God in the form of man (John 1:1). He performed miracles, or “a doer of wonderful works” (Matthew 15:30) He taught Jews and Gentiles (Galatians 3:28, Acts 26:23). Pilate condemned Him to the cross (Mark 15:15).

 

Lastly:

"Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some of his companions]; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned: but as for those who seemed the most equitable of the citizens, and such as were the most uneasy at the breach of the laws, they disliked what was done."

Again, it is astonishing to see how everything we know to be truth, was truth to Josephus, who lived 2,000 years ago! In order for Jesus to have a brother, Jesus would have had to exist.

 

There are more historians who have written about Jesus (Tacitus, Thallus, and Pliny the Younger), but we won’t discuss them in this article.