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Jesus Outside the Bible-The Top Ten Historical References: Digging for Truth Episode 222

Associates for Biblical Research・19 minutes read

Various non-Christian historical sources, including Mara Bar Serapion, Pliny the Younger, Suetonius, Flavius Josephus, and Tacitus, provide evidence of Jesus as a wise king, influential man, and virtuous figure who was crucified and believed to have resurrected. These sources confirm the historical authenticity of Jesus and the impact of his life and teachings, even from a secular perspective.

Insights

  • Mara Bar Serapion's reference to Jesus as a wise king and the subsequent fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD underscores the significant impact of Jesus's life and death, even from a non-Christian perspective.
  • Various historical sources, including Pliny the Younger, Suetonius, Flavius Josephus, and Tacitus, provide evidence of Jesus's existence, teachings, crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, and the belief in his resurrection, corroborating details from the New Testament Gospels and establishing the historical validity of Jesus.

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Recent questions

  • Who is Mara Bar Serapion?

    A writer referencing the Jews killing their wise king.

  • What did J. Warner Wallace summarize about Jesus?

    Described Jesus as a wise and influential man who died for his beliefs.

  • Who is Pliny the Younger?

    A Roman governor who wrote about Christians worshipping Christ.

  • What did Suetonius mention about Christians?

    Noted disturbances caused by Christians instigated by "Chrestus."

  • Who is Flavius Josephus?

    A historian who mentioned Jesus as a wise man crucified by Pilate.

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Summary

00:00

Mara Bar Serapion on Jews and Jesus

  • nor the wise king because of the new laws he laid down." So here we have Mara Bar Serapion, who is writing about the Jews killing their wise king and losing their kingdom as a result. This is a clear reference to Jesus and the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. It's a powerful testimony to the impact of Jesus's life and death even from a non-Christian source.

14:22

"Jesus: Wise King, Crucified, Resurrected"

  • Jesus is referred to as a wise king in a passage, with the title "King of the Jews" associated with him.
  • J. Warner Wallace summarizes Jesus as a wise and influential man who died for his beliefs, with the Jewish leadership held responsible for his death.
  • Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor, wrote about Christians meeting to worship Christ, abstaining from crimes, and facing persecution.
  • Suetonius, a Roman historian, mentions disturbances caused by Christians instigated by "Chrestus," likely referring to Christ, leading to their expulsion from Rome.
  • Flavius Josephus, a historian, mentions Jesus as a wise man, virtuous, crucified by Pilate, with disciples claiming his resurrection.
  • Tacitus, a Roman historian, writes about Nero blaming Christians for the Great Fire of Rome, mentioning Christ's crucifixion under Pontius Pilate and the belief in his resurrection.
  • Jesus was born of a poor virgin, had a carpenter father, taught, prophesied, performed miracles, claimed to be God, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and his followers worshipped him as God.
  • Belief in Jesus caused disturbances with the Jews, leading to their eviction from Rome under Claudius.
  • The historicity of Jesus is firmly established through extra-biblical historical sources, affirming details from the New Testament Gospels.
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