Evidence of Jesus



I have come across a few people now and then who say "There is absolutely no evidence outside the Bible Jesus ever existed!". Maybe you have too. The information gathered here may be useful to prove otherwise. Feel free to use and share.


  • The first-century Roman, Tacitus, who is considered one of the more accurate historians of the ancient world, mentioned superstitious "Christians " ("named after Christus" which is Latin for Christ), who suffered under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius. (Annals 15.44) LINK
  • Suetonius, chief secretary to Emperor Hadrian, wrote in his Nero and Claudius letters of a persecution of Christians, and of how the Jews caused riots because of one named Chrestus (or Christ) who lived during the first century. LINK
  • Julius Africanus quotes the historian Thallus in a discussion of the darkness which followed the crucifixion of Christ (Extant Writings, 18). LINK
  • Pliny the Younger, in Letters 10:96, recorded early Christian persecution and worship practices including the fact that Christians worshiped Jesus as God and were very ethical, and includes a reference to the love feast and Lord’s Supper. LINK
  • The Babylonian Talmud (Sanhedrin 43a) confirms Jesus' crucifixion on the eve of Passover, and the accusations against Christ of practicing sorcery and encouraging Jewish apostasy. LINK
  • Lucian of Samosata was a second-century Greek writer who admits that Jesus was worshiped by Christians, introduced new teachings, and was crucified for them. He said that Jesus' teachings included the brotherhood of believers, the importance of conversion, and the importance of denying other gods. Christians lived according to Jesus’ laws, believed themselves immortal, and were characterized by contempt for death, voluntary self-devotion, and renunciation of material goods. LINK
  • Mara Bar-Serapion confirms that Jesus was thought to be a wise and virtuous man, was considered by many to be the king of Israel, was put to death by the Jews, and lived on in the teachings of his followers. LINK
  • From "Antiquities of the Jews" by Flavius Josephus (AD 37-100), Book 18, chapter 3, part 3:

    "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."

    From book 20, chapter 9, part 1...

    "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"
  • Historical places that have remembered Jesus, and places He spoke of: LINK

    I have also gathered an archive of EARLY CHRISTIANS who have commented on things Jesus said, things written by the first century Apostles and disciples of Christ, and before the Bible book was complete...

    Clement of Rome (c. AD 30-100)
    Flavius Josephus (c. AD 37-100)
    St. Ignatius (c. AD 50-117)
    Justin Martyr (c. AD 100-165)
    St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 130-200)
    Mathetes (c. AD 130-200)
    Quintus Florens Tertullian (c. AD 145-220)
    Titus Flavius Clemens (c. AD 150-220)
    Hippolytus of Rome (c. AD 170-236)
    Origenes of Alexandria (c.AD 185-254)
    Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus (c. AD 200-258)
    Melito, Bishop of Sardis (c. mid 200's AD)
    Lactantius (c. AD 260-330)
    Eusebius of Caesarea (c. AD 263-339)
    St. Victorinus of Petau (c. AD 270-305)
    St Athanasius (c. AD 295-373)
    Epiphanes (c. AD 315-403)
    John Chrysostom of Antioch (c. AD 347-407)
    Sulpcius Severus (c. AD 360-425)

    Then we have all the Gnostic writings (The Gospel of Truth, The Apocryphon of John, The Gospel of Thomas, The Treatise on Resurrection, etc.), all that mention Jesus.

    It is also important to recognize that by 70 A.D., the Romans had invaded and destroyed Jerusalem and most of Israel, slaughtering its inhabitants. Entire cities were literally burned to the ground! We should not be surprised, then, if much evidence of Jesus' existence was destroyed. Many of the eye-witnesses of Jesus would have been killed. These facts likely limited the amount of surviving evidence of Jesus.

    In conclusion, there is evidence for the existence of Jesus Christ, both in secular and Biblical history. Perhaps the greatest evidence that Jesus did exist is the fact that literally thousands of Christians in the first century A.D., including the 12 Apostles, were willing to give their lives as martyrs for Jesus Christ. People will die for what they believe to be true, but no one will die for what they know to be a lie.

    "Come to me everyone who is carrying a heavy load, I will set that right. Your sins, all of them, are wiped out, I can do that. I am re-birth, I am life. Eat me, drink me, I am your food. And finally, do not be afraid, I have overcome the whole universe." - Jesus


    • Would you like to download a FREE e-Bible?