Many references to Jesus Christ can be found in the New Testament. Some scholars believe the Gospels were written in the second century C.E., more than 100 years after Jesus’ death. Even if this were the case, texts written fewer than 200 years after events are regarded very solid evidence in terms of ancient evidence. Furthermore, the vast majority of experts agree that Paul wrote the Epistles around the middle of the first century C.E., less than 40 years after Jesus’ death. This is extremely strong evidence of the presence of a person named Jesus in Israel in the early first century C.E. in terms of ancient text evidence.

It is also vital to remember that the Romans invaded and destroyed Jerusalem and most of Israel in 70 C.E., murdering the people who lived there. Entire cities were practically consumed by fire. As a result, we should not be astonished if substantial evidence of Jesus’ existence was obliterated. Many of Jesus’ eyewitnesses would have been executed. Because of these circumstances, the amount of surviving eyewitness testimony of Jesus is likely to be restricted. Given that Jesus’ career was mostly confined to a minor territory in a small portion of the Roman Empire, secular historical sources can provide a remarkable amount of information about Jesus. The following are some of the major historical evidences for Jesus:

Tacitus, a first-century Roman historian regarded as one of the most accurate of the ancient world’s historians, mentioned superstitious “Christians” who suffered under Pontius Pilate during Tiberius’ reign. Suetonius, Emperor Hadrian’s principal secretary, wrote about a person named Chrestus who lived in the first century. The most famous Jewish historian is Flavius Josephus. He refers to James as the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ” in his Antiquities. There is a verse in the Bible that reads, around this time, there was Jesus, a wise man, if it is permissible to call him that. For he was a man capable of incredible feats….He was the Christ…he appeared to them alive on the third day, as the holy prophets had predicted these and ten thousand other marvelous things about him.

According to one narrative, “There was a wise man named Jesus at the time. His behavior was admirable, and he was regarded as virtuous. Many Jews as well as individuals from other nations became his disciples. Pilate sentenced him to death and crucifixion. Those who became his disciples, on the other hand, did not desert him. They said that he appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was still alive; thus, he could be the Messiah, about whom the prophets have spoken of signs and wonders.”

In a consideration of the darkness that followed Christ’s crucifixion, Julius Africanus quotes historian Thallus. Pliny the Younger reported early Christian worship traditions in Letters 10:96, including the fact that Christians worshiped Jesus as God and were exceedingly ethical, and he mentions the love feast and Lord’s Supper. The Babylonian Talmud supports Jesus’ crucifixion on the eve of Passover, as well as the allegations of sorcery and promoting Jewish apostasy leveled against him. Jesus was venerated by Christians, brought new doctrines, and was executed for them, according to Lucian of Samosata, a second-century Greek writer.

According to him, Jesus’ teachings included the signifi

cance of conversion and refusing other gods, as well as fellowship of believers. Christians followed Jesus’ teachings, believed in their own immortality, and were marked by a hatred of death and a rejection of earthly possessions. Mara Bar-Serapion affirms that Jesus was regarded as a smart and ethical man, was widely regarded as Israel’s ruler, was crucified by the Jews, and lived on in the teachings of His disciples. Then there is the Gnostic literature, which all refers to Jesus.

In fact, early non-Christian sources can almost completely rebuild the gospel: According to Tacitus, Jesus claimed to be God and would return, which his followers believed, worshiping Him as God. According to Josephus, Jesus performed “magic,” led Israel into new doctrines, and was crucified on Passover for them in Judea. In both secular and biblical history, there is overwhelming proof for the presence of Jesus Christ. The fact that multitudes of Christians in the first century AD, including the twelve apostles, were willing to die as martyrs for Jesus Christ is perhaps the most compelling evidence that he existed. People will die for what they perceive to be true, but no one will die for a falsehood.