Jesus

Non-Christian sources regarding Jesus are very limited, but these independent accounts do prove that in ancient times even the opponents of Christianity never doubted the historicity of Jesus.

Josephus, a Jewish historian of the court of Emperor Domitian, wrote about the events of the Jewish–Roman Wars (66–70 C.E.). Josephus Antiquities XX (200 C.E.), writes about the stoning (in 62 C.E.) of James, the brother of Jesus, who was the socalled Christ. Josephus uses the proper name “Jesus,” for as a Jew he knows that “Christ” is a translation of Messiah, so he adds the qualifier “so-called” to the second name that was familiar in Rome.

Another Roman historian, Suetonius, writing on the life of Emperor Claudius, stated, “Claudius expelled the Jews, who had on the instigation of Chrestus continually been causing disturbances from Rome” (Vita Claudii 25:4). This no doubt refers to the problems of the Roman Jews being upset by the Christians in their midst. Suetonius mistakenly used the name Chrestus, instead of Christ.

The 1st- and 2nd-century Talmud writings of some rabbis also mention Jesus. The Talmud, a compendium of Jewish law, lore, commentary, apologetics, and polemics, reveals an acquaintance with the early Christian tradition. The picture offered in these writings may be summarized as follows: Jesus was born illegitimate, worked magic, mocked the wise, seduced and stirred up the people, and was crucified on the eve of the Passover. The writings of the Life of Jesus or The Toledot Yeshu were one such collection of assertions among the Jews of the Middle Ages.

Current Christian sources for Jesus are many, but have to be read as coming from a faith community who saw this Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ or Messiah of history. Christianity is the faith of those who recognize Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ, the Son of God, and accept him as their Lord and Savior. Christianity's beliefs and practices are the result of the experiences of those who knew Jesus during his earthly life, and of those since who know him through the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by God to those who put their trust in him. Most Christians believe in One God Creator, Jesus the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit the Sanctifier—all of which is called One God the Trinity.

The main source for knowledge about Jesus is the Christian Scriptures, also called the New Testament, especially the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These writings were compiled between 70 and 100 C.E. All of them coming from an original faith community, first by way of eyewitness and oral tradition, and later being written down by the followers of the eyewitnesses.

The consensus among modern Scripture scholars designates Mark as the earliest of the Gospel writers around 65–70 C.E. Jesus in Mark's Gospel is a man with a purpose. In fact, the Gospel of Mark has been dramatized as a one-man play. There is no mention of Jesus' birth or childhood. Jesus' ministry begins with being baptized by John the Baptizer. Then he calls his disciples and announces the coming of the Kingdom of God. Mark's community comprised the Roman followers of Jesus.

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