Atheists, theists (of all faiths), liberals, conservatives, Christians, Jews, and 99% of all professional scholars have concluded these are the facts we can know about historical Jesus of Nazareth.
The purpose for this article is to give Christians sound information and facts that they can use and prove to defend their faith and to evangelize to others.
There are a lot of assertions by people about Jesus that no learned person - be it atheist, agnostic or theist - would say are true, or have any basis in reality. but these things you can use.
-Kevin Henderson
The purpose for this article is to give Christians sound information and facts that they can use and prove to defend their faith and to evangelize to others.
There are a lot of assertions by people about Jesus that no learned person - be it atheist, agnostic or theist - would say are true, or have any basis in reality. but these things you can use.
-Kevin Henderson
There are a lot of things in the Bible I take on faith, a lot of things I do not claim I can prove historically. Things like the virgin birth of Jesus, YHWH splitting the sea for Israel, Christ walking on water. Those are things I would not try to prove. Even if I did prove those things what would that do? Would that make people repent and believe in the life, death, burial and Resurrection of Christ? I don't think so.
But even with the things I can prove textually and historically I believe those things by faith. Without faith nobody can please God, so I urge people to lean on their faith, rather then the facts about their faith I am about to present to you.
These are things that Jesus said for people who want to see God or have some sort of sign - these are the only facts they will have. He said these things 2000 years ago, and these are the main facts of the Christian faith. We can prove these events actually happened in history, unlike the virgin birth, the sea splitting or Christ walking on water. I love what Jesus said here, and how it has lasted through the generations:
Matthew 12:39-41
Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here...
Fact #1
FACT JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED BY PONTIUS PILATE
It is a historical fact by universally all scholarship
Jesus of Nazareth was crucified between 30 and 33 AD
Reason for the fact:
This is historically attested by canonical (biblical) and non-canonical (not in the bible or extra biblical) sources.
Reason for the fact:
This is historically attested by canonical (biblical) and non-canonical (not in the bible or extra biblical) sources.
but I want this article to be somewhat short with simple facts. You can google these things, if your serious about having credible arguments.
In the Antiquities of the Jews (written about 93 AD) Jewish historian Josephus, stated (Ant 18.3) that Jesus was crucified by Pilate, writing that:
Fact #2
FACT JESUS WAS BURIED IN A TOMB
It's a historical fact agreed on universally by all historians;
After Jesus crucifixion Jesus was buried in a tomb by Joseph of Aramathia.
Reason for the fact:
1: Jesus burial is multiply attested in early independent sources IE; Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul and Peter.
But you say but that is the Bible, and I don't believe the Bible, well all of professional scholarship atheist, agnostic and theist all believe the Gospels and Epistles have historical truth within them because of critical research.
These are men who know the languages and spend there lives trying to disprove Christianity even so these men/women ALL agree on the fact Jesus was buried in a tomb by Joseph of Aramathia.
Late New Testament Scholar Dr. Raymond Brown say's;
"It is very probable (the tomb burial), since it's almost inexplicable why Christians would make up a story that a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin that had Jesus judicially murdered would do right by Jesus by burying Him"
Critical Historian Scholar Rudolph Pesh;
Has dated the testimony of the burial of Christ within 7 years of the events. ((That is incredible in comparison to any and all ancient history certainty ))
The late Historian teacher John Robinson from Cambridge University says;
"The burial of Jesus is one of the earliest and best attested FACTS about Jesus"
http://www.equip.org/article/the-f-e-a-t-that-demonstrates-the-fact-of-resurrection/
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2014/09/04/an-atheists-defense-of-the-historicity-of-jesus/
http://infidels.org/library/modern/matthew_green/resurrection.html
Fact #3
FACT JESUS TOMB WAS FOUND EMPTY BY HIS WOMEN FOLLOWERS
It's a historical fact agreed on universally by all historians;
The 3rd day after the crucifixion Jesus tomb was found empty by a group of His women followers.
Reason for the fact:
1. The empty tomb is multiply attested by independent sources. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the book of Acts. ( Scholars approach the Gospels as biographical sources not Scripture as Christians do)
2. The tomb was found empty by "women" followers. The reason that is significant is because in that patriarchal Jewish society the testimony of women was not highly regarded.
Evidence: The Jewish Historian Josephus says, Quote:
"Women were not even permitted to serve as witnesses in the Court of Law"
In Historical studies there are many criteria to establish fact. One of the criteria is the "Criteria of Embarrassment"
The fact that it was recorded that women were the first people to testify to the empty tomb is a extremely embarrassing instance, making critical historians believe and assert the story of the empty tomb is a fact of history.
William Lane Craig; Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology says;
"Any later legendary embellishment would have certainly made males be the discoverers of the empty tomb"
Yakov Kramor a Austrian Specialist on the Resurrection states:
"by far most exegiets (critical explanation or interpretation of a text) hold firmly to the reliability of the Biblical statements concerning the empty tomb"
(I know these are weird facts but these are simple the attested facts of scholars and historians)
Fact #4
THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS SAW HIM ALIVE 3 DAYS AFTER HIS CRUCIFIXION
It's a historical fact agreed on universally by all historians;
Jesus was seen ALIVE 3 days after He was crucified.
Reason for the fact:
His appearance to His 12 disciples is certain, tho many scholars agree He was seen by at-least 500 at one time. A good amount of His disciples came to believe that Jesus had risen because they believed to have seen Him alive, so much so that quite a few of them were martyred brutally, for believing they had seen Jesus raise from the dead and were proclaiming it.
In reference to 1st Corinthians 15:3-8 Jewish Scholar Pinchahs Lapide has said, this creed "may be considered the statement of eyewitnesses." which states:
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
William Lane Craig; Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology says about this portion of Scripture:
"The evidence that Paul is not writing in his own hand in I Cor. 15.3-5 is so powerful that all New Testament scholars recognize that Paul is here passing on a prior tradition"
Read more: http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-witness-of-the-pre-pauline-tradition-to-the-empty-tomb#ixzz4D1bqYDeT
I know you say "ah but thats the Bible" well professional scholars who know the language and the history conclude this portion is trustworthy historical account.
source: http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/historical-evidence-for-the-resurrection
fact #5
HIS DISCIPLES WENT TO THEIR DEATH PROCLAIMING HIS RESURRECTION
It's a historical fact agreed on universally by all historians;
Reason for the fact: (From biblical and many non-biblical sources)
The first martyr was the disciple Stephen. Most scholars are beginning to agree more and more that the Book of Acts is highly accurate to history. We have this portion of Scripture that shows the martyr of Stephen. (I see the love of Christ upon Stephen here.)
54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he [a]fell asleep.
source: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+7%3A54-60&version=NASB
here is a ancient historical source outside of the Bible and outside of any believing group.
Josepheus a Jewish historian wrote in "The Antiquities of the Jews" book 20 (or book XX) chapter 9:
"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 ... "
Another non-biblical historical document called the "Martyrdom of Bartholomew" states:
"And when he had thus spoken, the king was informed that this god Baldad and all the other idols had fallen down, and were broken in pieces. Then the king rent the purple in which he was clothed, and ordered the holy apostle Bartholomew to be beaten with rods; and after having been thus scourged, to be beheaded." - Martyrdom of Bartholomew.
Source: http://www.about-jesus.org/martyrs.htm
THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS SAW HIM ALIVE 3 DAYS AFTER HIS CRUCIFIXION
It's a historical fact agreed on universally by all historians;
Jesus was seen ALIVE 3 days after He was crucified.
Reason for the fact:
His appearance to His 12 disciples is certain, tho many scholars agree He was seen by at-least 500 at one time. A good amount of His disciples came to believe that Jesus had risen because they believed to have seen Him alive, so much so that quite a few of them were martyred brutally, for believing they had seen Jesus raise from the dead and were proclaiming it.
In reference to 1st Corinthians 15:3-8 Jewish Scholar Pinchahs Lapide has said, this creed "may be considered the statement of eyewitnesses." which states:
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
William Lane Craig; Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology says about this portion of Scripture:
"The evidence that Paul is not writing in his own hand in I Cor. 15.3-5 is so powerful that all New Testament scholars recognize that Paul is here passing on a prior tradition"
Read more: http://www.reasonablefaith.org/the-witness-of-the-pre-pauline-tradition-to-the-empty-tomb#ixzz4D1bqYDeT
I know you say "ah but thats the Bible" well professional scholars who know the language and the history conclude this portion is trustworthy historical account.
source: http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/historical-evidence-for-the-resurrection
fact #5
HIS DISCIPLES WENT TO THEIR DEATH PROCLAIMING HIS RESURRECTION
It's a historical fact agreed on universally by all historians;
Reason for the fact: (From biblical and many non-biblical sources)
The first martyr was the disciple Stephen. Most scholars are beginning to agree more and more that the Book of Acts is highly accurate to history. We have this portion of Scripture that shows the martyr of Stephen. (I see the love of Christ upon Stephen here.)
Acts 7:54-60New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Stephen Put to Death
54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he [a]fell asleep.here is a ancient historical source outside of the Bible and outside of any believing group.
Josepheus a Jewish historian wrote in "The Antiquities of the Jews" book 20 (or book XX) chapter 9:
"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 ... "
Another non-biblical historical document called the "Martyrdom of Bartholomew" states:
"And when he had thus spoken, the king was informed that this god Baldad and all the other idols had fallen down, and were broken in pieces. Then the king rent the purple in which he was clothed, and ordered the holy apostle Bartholomew to be beaten with rods; and after having been thus scourged, to be beheaded." - Martyrdom of Bartholomew.
Source: http://www.about-jesus.org/martyrs.htm
There are at least 10 more documents including non-biblical and credible biblical testimony of the disciples that went to their death proclaiming the resurrection of Christ,
These are just considered historical facts for the Christian faith. If you deny these facts, or say the foolish thing that "Jesus never existed" you will not be taken seriously.
In Christ
-Kevin Henderson
In Christ
-Kevin Henderson
This was truly an eye opener. Most preachers don't teach what they learned in seminary and I think they should so we are better equipped to share the reality of Jesus Christ. Knowledge is power.
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