The historical record of “Jesus of Nazareth” is a physical historical fact! We should know where the historical references to Jesus are, who said them and what was said as they provide extra Biblical proof of the physical existence of Jesus.
Josephus– Written c 93A.D. by Jewish historian Josephus, Christ is mentioned twice in his annals. Antiquities 18:63 Summarized “At this time there was a wise man called Jesus, and his conduct was good…And the tribes of the Christians, so named after him, has not disappeared to this day.” 1. Also Antiquities 20: Chap 19 Paragraph 1. “Festus was now dead,…so he assembled the Sanhedrim of the judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James…” 2. For a Biblical tie in see Acts 25 and 26. Also, Acts 12:17 and the book of James.
Pliny-the younger- A Roman governor of Bithynia, who corresponded with the Emperor Trajan about 110 A.D. Pliny enforced the Roman laws against association and enforced the laws of the cult of Emperor Worship. Documents saved for us in history are letters between Pliny and Trajan concerning these “criminals” called Christians. First a letter from Pliny to Trajan: “The method I have observed toward those who have been denounced to me as Christians is this: I interrogated them whether they were Christians; if they confessed it I repeated the question twice again, adding the threat of capital punishment; if they still persevered, I ordered them to be executed. The temples, which had been almost deserted, begin now to be frequented… and there is a general demand for sacrificial animals, which for some time past have met with but few purchases.
To which Trajan replied:
The method you have pursued, my dear Pliny, in sifting the cases of those denounced to you as Christians is eminently proper… NO search should be made for these people; when they are denounced and found guilty they must be punished; but were the accused party denies that he is a Christian, and gives proof… by adoring our gods, he shall be pardoned… Information without the accuser’s name subscribed must not be admitted in evidence against anyone”. 5.
Tacitus– A Roman Historian of c115 A.D. wrote “The Annals”“…Christus, the founder of that name, was put to death as a criminal by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea, in the reign of Tiberius: but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time, broke out again, not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also.” 3.
Seutonius-A Roman Historian of c125A.D. who wrote the “Twelve Caesars”. Concerning Nero and the great fire of Rome…”Punishments were also inflicted on the Christians, a sect professing a new and mischievous religious belief…”4.
Lucian– a second century satirist in the “Passing of Peregrinus” alluded to Christ as, …”the man who was crucified in Palestine because he introduced this new cult into the world…” 6.
References: 1 &2) Josephus Antiquities 18:63 and 20:200 (chapter 19 P1). 3) Tacitus, The Annals XV,44. 4) Suetonius, The Twelve Caesar’s, Nero Xvi. 5) Pliny the younger, Letters X,Xcvi. 6) Lucian, The Passing of Peregrinus 12,13.
