“The historicity of Christ is as axiomatic for an unbiased historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar. It is not historians who propagate the ‘Christ-myth’ theories.” F.F.Bruce
The following chart* lists numerous ancient sources (i.e. historians, writers, etc.) that have commented on the historical existence of Jesus Christ. These ancient authorities include Cornelius Tacitus, c. AD 112; Suetonius, AD 120; Flavius Josephus, AD 37-100; Thallus, c. AD 50 (Extant Writings, 18 as quoted by Julius Africanus, AD 221); Pliny the Younger, AD 112; Emperor Trajan; the Babylonian Sanhedrin 43a, AD 100-500; Lucian, 2nd century; Letter of Mara Bar Serapion, c. AD 75; Valentinus, early 3rd century; Justin Martyr, c. AD 150; and Phlegon, as cited by Origen, c.1st century.
The chart lists eight things one would expect of a historical figure, along with the fulfillment as recorded by the above-mentioned sources. In other words, one would expect historical proof as to the mention of his name, something about his lifestyle, and support for an alleged supernatural element. We would know something about his teachings, the record of the events of his death, and some evidence of any claim beyond the grave.
*This chart can be found by going to eDocs, scrolling down to "The Jesus Series", and then opening "The Historical Evidence For Christ."
“No search should be made for these people; when they are denounced and found guilty they must be punished; with the restriction, however, that when the party denies himself to be a Christian and shall give proof that he is not (that is, by adoring our gods) he shall be pardoned on the ground of repentance, even though he may have formerly incurred suspicion..."
Emperor Trajan, emperor from AD 98-117 (replying to Pliny’s letter)
Cornelius Tacitus
“Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures of a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their center and become popular." 15:44, c. AD 112
Suetonius
“After the great fire at Rome . . . punishments were also inflicted on the Christians, a sect professing a new and mischievous religious belief.” Life of Nero, 16, AD 120
Flavius Josephus
“At this time there was a wise man named Jesus. His conduct was good and [he] was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who became his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.” Flavius Josephus, AD 37-100, 18:3, Arabic Version
Pliny the Younger
“They (believers) were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to do any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food—but food of an ordinary and innocent kind..." AD 112, 10:96
Lucian
“The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day—the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account. . . . You see, these misguided creatures start with the general conviction that they are immortal for all time, which explains the contempt of death and voluntary self-devotion which are so common among them; and then 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. All this they take quite on faith, with the result that they despise all worldly goods alike, regarding them merely as common property." ”Death of Pelegrine," 2nd century
Phlegon
“Jesus, while alive, was of no assistance to himself, but that he arose after death and exhibited the marks of his punishment, and showed how his hands had been pierced by nails” (cited in Origen, 4:455).
“These independent accounts prove that in ancient times even the opponents of Christianity never doubted the historicity of Jesus, which was disputed for the first time and on inadequate grounds by several authors at the end of the 18th, during the 19th, and at the beginning of the 20th centuries.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th ed., 1974
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