Quote:
Originally Posted by nof60
True...there are also coins with the image of Julius Caeser, graffiti with his name, busts, carvings, written egyptian and greek records, and his name carved into the many buildings and monuments he had built. There is absolutely no doubt that he existed, conquered large sections of Gall, and became the first emperor of rome. We even know what he looked like as a young man and the injuries he sustained at his murder. The surviving copies of his book are just that, copies of a book that he himself wrote. Quoting a wanted poster with a fairly common name of a man who committed a fairly common crime is a little weak in the evidence department, No? I am not saying I don't believe or do believe he existed. I am just saying for such a historical figure their is absolutely no proof that he existed at all.
Also the reason so little survives is that the church burned everything that did not support their views and pointed to the humanism or against the devinity of Christ.
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Evidence for the existence of Jesus would need to be bases on various sources. The authenticity of Josephus is often challenged because it was handed down to us from the early church and therefore is believed to have been altered with fictitious details. However, in 240 AD Origen made reference to Josephus which predated all presently known Joseph manuscript. In his notes, Origen made reference to Jesus being the brother of James and went on to note that Josephus did not accept Jesus as Christ. This would indicate that there was likely an earlier works by Josephus than the one that is commonly used.
The writings of Tertullian (a Roman citizen 155-160 AD), in his defence to the senate about his faith states:
“At His own free-will, He with a word dismissed from Him His spirit, anticipating the executioner's work. In the same hour, too, the light of day was withdrawn, when the sun at the very time was in his meridian blaze. Those who were not aware that this had been predicted about Christ, no doubt thought it an eclipse. You yourselves have the account of the world-portent still in your archives. But, lo, on the third day there a was a sudden shock of earthquake, and the stone which sealed the sepulchre was rolled away, and the guard fled off in terror: without a single disciple near, the grave was found empty... All these things Pilate did to Christ; and now in fact a Christian in his own convictions, he sent word of Him to the reigning Cæsar, who was at the time Tiberius.”
This is describing the account of the death of Jesus, kept in the Roman’s archives, written and given to the emperor by Pilate. To my knowledge there has not been any Roman document that denies or objected to the Christian claims that Christ was crucified at their hands. Considering the legalistic minds of the Romans, before and during their attempt to purge the earth of Christians, I would think there would be in existence a written objection?
Julian the apostate (331-363 AD), the last Roman Emperor to apposed Christianity, made reference to their records of Jesus being put to death. One can only conclude then that these records were genuine and still available during his time.