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Historicity of Jesus
Some people have been decieved regarding whether Jesus Christ
was a real person who walked this earth. For those who believe
in the Gospel Jesus as Savior is a fact but to those who doubt
below I will provide some sources outside the Bible (outside
of what Christians call the Word of God)/
First a Jewish Historian who did not believe in Jesus Christ
as Messiah named "Flavius Josephus" testifed of Him:
The Learned and Authentic Jewish Historian: "And when
Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had
condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at first did
not forsake him".
The above record shows him not being a Christian testified
of the crucifixion of Christ.
Evidence from the Babylonian Talmud (written around A.D. 70-500)
References to Jesus are made in the Babylonian Talmud, a collection
of Jewish rabb writings composed around A.D. 70-500. Given this
time frame, it is naturally supposed that earlier references
to Jesus are more likely to be historically reliable than later
ones. In the Talmud, the earliest period of compilation occurred
between A.D. 70-200. The most compelling reference to Jesus
from this time period says: "On the eve of the Passover
Yeshu (or Jesus) was hanged. For forty days before the execution
took place, a herald . . . cried, “He is going forth to
be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel
to apostasy.” SO even though it accuses Jesus of black
magic (unfounded criticism) it does testify of Him. Why would
a non-Christian source testify of Jesus unless He was an actual
person?
From Lucian Lucian of Samosata we see Evidence that as a second
century Greek skeptic. In one of his works, he wrote of the
early Christians as follows:
"The Christians . . . worship a man to this day–the
distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and
was crucified on that account. . . . [It] was impressed on them
by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from
the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece,
and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws."
A 2nd-century Christian writer named Hegesippus, records that
descendants of Jude living in the reign of Domitian (81-96).
It records that they we're related to Christ Himself. Eusebius
relates in his Historia Ecclesiae (Book III, ch. 19-20):
"But when this same Domitian had commanded that the descendants
of David should be slain, an ancient tradition says that some
of the heretics brought accusation against the descendants of
Jude (said to have been a brother of the Saviour according to
the flesh), on the ground that they were of the lineage of David
and were related to Christ himself. Hegesippus relates these
facts in the following words.
"Of the family of the Lord there were still living the
grandchildren of Jude, who is said to have been the Lord's brother
according to the flesh.
"Information was given that they belonged to the family
of David, and they were brought to the Emperor Domitian by the
Evocatus. For Domitian feared the coming of Christ as Herod
also had feared it. And he asked them if they were descendants
of David, and they confessed that they were. Then he asked them
how much property they had, or how much money they owned. And
both of them answered that they had only nine thousand denarii,
half of which belonged to each of them;
and this property did not consist of silver, but of a piece
of land which contained only thirty-nine acres, and from which
they raised their taxes and supported themselves by their own
labor."
Then they showed their hands, exhibiting the hardness of their
bodies and the callousness produced upon their hands by continuous
toil as evidence of their own labor. And when they were asked
concerning Christ and his kingdom, of what sort it was and where
and when it was to appear, they answered that it was not a temporal
nor an earthly kingdom, but a heavenly and angelic one, which
would appear at the end of the world, when he should come in
glory to judge the quick and the dead, and to give unto every
one according to his works. Upon hearing this, Domitian did
not pass judgment against them, but, despising them as of no
account, he let them go, and by a decree put a stop to the persecution
of the Church. But when they were released they ruled the churches
because they were witnesses and were also relatives of the Lord.
And peace being established, they lived until the time of Trajan.
These things are related by Hegesippus.[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jude_(brother_of_Jesus)
There are many other historians who testified of Christ, not
to meantion the church fathers. But outside of the church leaders,
non-Christian sources make a compelling case for Christ's existence.
Although some of our belief in Jesus Christ as Savior takes
faith their is no doubt, He was an actual historial figure,
and that many died for what they believed to be true. In Acts
7:59 they stoned (killed) Stephen.
If you will repent and do the following He will come into your
life and you are assured the promises of Heaven (John 3:16),
Revelation 3:20 says, "...and Behold, I stand at the door,
and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will
come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
Admit, Believe, Confess and you will be saved. If you accept
Him with a sincere heart, real intent He will come into your
heart and forgive you of your sins.
After praying that prayer you can rejoice for you are now a
member of the family of God and can be sure of life in Heaven.
Now all you need to do is go and live your life for Jesus and
sin less, and believe in Him always.