The Historicity Of Jesus

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The Historicity Of Jesus

• Lesson 1.

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Lesson 1 Who do you say I am

• Study of the historical character called
• Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
• In Matthew 16 15 Jesus said,
• But who do you say I am ?
• This is a question that all man-kind must
• answer.

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• It makes a difference whether or not
• passionate human beings could even
• be motivated to live morally with out
• believing in living Christ.
• Edward Wharton- Christianity A Clear
• Of History.

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History

• History is the witness that testifies to the
• Passing of time , illuminates reality,
• vitalizes memory , provides guidance in daily
• life, and brings us tidings of antiquity.
• Cicero

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History

• There is properly no history, only biography.
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
• History itself is nothing but the activity of
• men pursuing their purposes.
• Karl Marx

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History

• Only a good-for-nothing is not interested
• in his past. - Sigmund Freud.
• Every past is worth condemning.
• Friedrich Nietzsche
• History is more or less bunk. Henry Ford

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History

• History can be defined as
• A chronological record of events , as of
• the life or development of a people or
• institution, often including an explanation of
• or commentary on those events.

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• This historical journey is not with out
• its critics.
• The Gospel stories are no more historical
• than the Genesis creation accounts are
• scientific. They are filled with exaggerations,
• miracles and admitted propaganda.
• -Dan Barker , atheist

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• But also we cannot ignore that in the
• interest of theological doctrine,
• contemporary circumstances , and effective
• story telling , nothing wrong was seen in
• creating views for Jesus to express.
• J. Schoenfield The Passover Plot

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• We have become convinced that the
• story of Jesus is not the biography of a
• historical Messiah, but a myth based on
• perennial Pagan stories.
• - Timothy Freke Peter Gandy
• Page 3 Behold The Lamb
  Of God. Kyle Butt Eric Lyons

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• Behold the greatest cover up in history.
• Not only was Jesus Christ married, but
• He was a father.
• The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

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Who is this character ?

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And who is this ?
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Historical Events

• Does December 7 , 1941 bring to mind
• a profound historical event ?
• How do we know this event happened ?
• What about July 20 , 1969 ?

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Historical dialogue

• Who said this
• Ask not what youre country can do for
• you , but ask what you can do for youre
• country .

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• And this
• forgive your enemies ,but never forget
• their name.
• What famous President said this.
• Read my lips , no new taxes.

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• Famous movie quote .
• Heres looking at you , kid.

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Christs Birth

• The Gospel accounts
• Matthew 1 18
• Mark No account
• Luke 126
• John 1 13

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Birth account of historical figures

• Abraham Lincoln- Hardin County, Kentucky
• February 12 , 1809.
• George Washington- Virginia Colony
• February 11 , 1731 under the Julian calendar.
• When Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar
• his birth was changed to Feb. 22, 1732.
• Jesus Christ A.D. 4 ? Bethlehem , Judah.

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Eyewitness accounts

• Luke 1 1-4
• eyewitnesses and ministers of the word
• delivered then to us.

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Evidence from out side the Bible

• First type of evidences comes from what
• is known as hostile sources.
• In no way were they friendly to the
• Christian cause.

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Tacitus A.D.56- 117

• Member of the Roman upper class.
• Held several positions under
• Emperor Nerva and Emperor Trajan.
• Wrote Annals in A.D. 115

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Tacitus wrote

• Their originator, Christ, had been executed
• in Tiberius reign by the governor of Judea,
• Pontius Pilatus. But in spite of the temporary
• setback the deadly superstition had broken out
• afresh , not only in Judea ,but even in Rome.

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Suetonius

• Lived nearly 30 years under the Caesars.
• Had access to Imperial and Senatorial
• archives.
• Author of The Lives Of The Caesars.
• Because of he had access to contemporary
• documents and memoirs , his testimony
• becomes reliable historical evidence.

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Suetonius wrote

• Because the Jews at Rome caused
• continuous disturbance at the instigation
• of Chrestus (Christos), he ( Claudius)
• expelled them from the city.
• Note See Acts 182

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And also

• Punishments were also inflicted on the
• Christians , a sect professing a new and
• mischievous religious belief.

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Pliny The Younger

• Pliny was sent by the Roman emperor
• Trajan (A.D.110-111) to govern the
• region of Bithynia.

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Pliny wrote

• that they 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 any wicked deeds.

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Josephus

• Born a few years after Jesus died.
• Galilean military command in A.D. 66.
• Deserted to the Roman Army.
• Became a writer and wrote
• Antiquities Of The Jews in A.D. 93.
• Wrote a vivid account of John the Baptist
• and King Herod. Matt 146 , Mark 621

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Josephus wrote

• .convened the judges of the Sanhedrin
• and brought before them a man named
• James , the brother of Jesus who was called
• the Christ , and certain others. He accused
• them of having transgressed the Law and
• delivered them up to be stoned.
• He Walked Among Us pg. 38 Josh McDowell

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And wrote

• About this time there lived Jesus, a wise
• man, if indeed one ought to call him a man.
• Wrought surprising feats.
• He won over many Jews and many of
• the Greeks.
• Talks about Pilate, the crucifix,
• Jesus resurrection ,and His appearance to
• others.

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On historical events

• Josephus documents the destruction of
• Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
• Claims 1.1 million Jews were killed.

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Early Christian writers

• Polycarp A.D. 69-155. Wrote several
• letters including one titled
• The Epistle to the Philippians.
• Had conversation with John and others
• that had seen the Lord.

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• Mara Bar Serapion Stoic philosopher.
• Some time after 70 AD wrote a letter
• from prison to his son.
• What advantage did the Jews gain from
• executing their wise king ? It was just after
• that their kingdom was abolished.

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Others include

• Origen
• Justin Martyr
• Thallus
• Clement of Alexandria
• All of these men made reference to
• Jesus Christ and His church.

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Implications of not believing

• No hope. Acts 2415
• No peace. Romans 1417 John 1427
• No paradise Luke 2343
• No salvation Acts 412

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Implications of His resurrection

• Implies His Godhead Romans 14
• Jesus is trustworthy to keep
• his promises. John 1125 1 Peter 13-4
• Christianity stands or falls on the reality
• of the resurrection of Jesus.
• If Christ has not been resurrected , then
• all is futile. 1 Cor. 15 12-17

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Our Questions

• Is Jesus Christ a historical figure?
• Can we believe in the accounts of
• His life?