Are there any documents proving Jesus existence?

Answer 1

Yes. They are called the New Testament, which has been repeatedly confirmed as historically reliable in details which can be checked.

Outside the Bible there are a number of documents which demonstrate Jesus existence. Tacitus the Roman Historian refers to Him, as does Phlegon in reference to the darkness at the time of the crucifixion. Josephus, the Jewish historian also refers to a number of Gospel details and certainly assumes the existence of Jesus himself.

These reinforce the claims of the New Testament itself to be the work of either eyewitnesses or of those who knew them. Thus making it, as a historical document, of first-rate importance. In addition to these, there are many other non-canonical gospels that confirm Jesus' existence. Also we have the writings of Irenaeus and others who learned of Jesus from their own teachers (Polycarp in the case of Irenaeus). Polycarp was a pupil of Jiohn the apostle.There are many times more ancient references to the existence of Jesus Christ, that have better providence, than Julius Carear, Alexander the great and Shakespeare all put together, but sadly it seems trendy these days for pseudo-intellectuals claiming that Jesus never existed, presumably because they know better than the countless learned figures who have written about this carpenter from Nazareth over the last 2000 years. Evidence from a 'Hostile Witness'

Julian 'the apostate' born in 331 AD was so called since, even though he was raised as a Christian, he renounced Christianity when he came to the imperial throne as Emperor in the year 361. As Emperor he had access to all the imperial records and so wrote in a defiant tone when speaking of the enrolment of Mary and Joseph at Bethlehem, as it is mentioned in the census referred to in Luke 2.

"There is absolutely no known record of evidence that Jesus was "enrolled as one of Caesar's subjects," unless it was at the time which Julian affirms. He says : "Jesus, whom you celebrate, was one of Caesar's subjects. If you dispute it, I will prove it.....for yourselves allow that he was enrolled by his father and mother at the time of Cyrenius." (Lardner, Works, 7:626-27) as quoted from Merril F Unger, The New Unger's Bible Dictionary,Moody, Chicago 1988. p. 231. This document is hardly in favor of Christianity, but in fact is from a fierce opponent, who would have been all too keen to disprove Jesus' existence. Quite possibly, the point of Julian's argument is that Jesus was only a man and not God. This is obviously a matter of faith, whereas Jesus' earthly existence is merely a matter of fact, as evidenced by the reference cited by Julian. Evidence from Patristic Sources The references to the works of Justin Martyr and Tertullian below are relevant in that they appeal to the records of the Romans. Such were evidently still extant at the time they wrote, and so could have and would have been gladly used by the opponents of Christianity at the time. Justin Martyr (born 105 AD) says: "Now there is a village in the land of the Jews, thirty five stadia from Jerusalem, in which Christ was born, as you can ascertain also from the registries of the taxing under Quirinius your first procurator in Judea." (First Apology, chapter 34.) The context was Justin defending the Christians from persecution by the government. He is most unlikely to appeal to their own records if they did not exist or contradicted his account and so thus giving them a further reason for accusation against the Christians. Tertullian (born 160 AD) in similar context of defense also appeals to the Romans own records. In referring to the same enrolment event Tertullian says: "There is historical proof that at this very time a census had been taken in Judea by Sentius Saturninus, which might have satisfied their inquiry respecting the family and descent of Christ." (Marcion 4.19). With respect to Luke's reference, it must be pointed out that Luke refers to the timing of the census, not who carried it out. Although, of course, it is likely that Quirinius was involved in the census where he had jurisdiction.

The Bible is the only textual-direct reference to the existence of Jesus. Any outside documents that reference Jesus were only made after Christianity became a major cult movement thus inferring that the references of Jesus in the Roman texts are not independent but from outside sources i.e. Christianity. Regardless of current writings-the Bible was still written many years after the death of Jesus and his Disciples, which one must conclude there may be some exaggerations. Regardless of other documents that mention Christ-One must keep in mind the impact Christianity was having on the world even around 105 AD and that there was not a direct source of the knowledge of Christ; yet, a past down story. So consequentially, the Bible is the only direct source at the time of Christ to prove existence.

Answer 2

There are no contemporary documents that prove Jesus of Nazareth to have lived. The gospels prove that people were taught that Jesus had lived, but these were written decades after the time he would have lived. Similarly, the books of Josephus and Tacitus refer to Christians of their own time who believe that Jesus had lived, but these books are not primary evidence. We may accept the evidence of the gospels simply because it is easier to believe a person lived if that person is mentioned in ancient writings.

Answer 3

If you are looking for external writings (other than the 4 Gospels) that note the life of Jesus then there
are ten known non-Christian sources and about four times as many Christian
sources which include the Gospels. The 10 are: Josephus, the Jewish historian
for the Roman Government; Tacitus, the Roman historian; Pliny the Younger a
Roman politician; Phlegon, a freed slave who wrote histories; Thallus, a first
century historian; Seutonius, a Roman historian; Lucian of Samosata, a Greek
satirist; Celsus, a Roman philosopher; Mara Bar-Serapion, a private citizen who
wrote to his son; and lastly, the Jewish Talmud. All of these writings are
within a 150 year timeframe of the life and times of Jesus.

Interestingly, compare these 10 writings to only the 9 non-Christian writings
(during same 150 year timeframe) for Tiberius Caesar, the Roman emperor at the
time of Jesus' ministry. Strange how few doubt his existence or writings.

Modern writers Norman Geisler and Frank Turek in their 2004 book "I Don't Have
Enough Faith to be an Atheist', summarizes the 10 non-Christian writers noted
above (some very anti-Christian) as follows: 'They attest that Jesus lived
during the time of Tiberius Caesar, lived a virtuous life, was a wonder-worker,
had a brother named James, was acclaimed to be the Messiah and was crucified
under Pontius Pilate on the eve of the Jewish Passover, accompanied by darkness
and earthquake...The further affirm that His disciples believed He rose from the
dead, were willing to die for their belief, spread Christianity rapidly as far
as Rome and denied the Roman gods, instead worshipping Jesus as God ' (p. 223).

The above sounds like it could be a summary of the Gospels, Acts and some of the
other books in the New Testament.

Answer 4

No.