H at Jesus really lived? Is there any evidence of this?
Our entire calendar is based on Jesus, the man from Nazareth. Millions of people around the world count themselves among his successors to this day. But can it be conclusively proven that it really existed? In fact, proof is difficult to provide, after all we are talking about a person who died 2,000 years ago, but there is plenty of historical evidence for a Jesus who was called Christ and was executed on the cross.
Jesus in the Bible
The most important reports are those of his successors, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They tell us in great detail about Jesus, his life and death. They were created decades after Jesus, but historically these reports are relatively close to the person of Jesus and those around him. In the Gospels there is a mixture of strong correspondence on key content and clear differences in many details. For historians, this underlines their credibility as sources. Compared to other historical sources, the Gospels are very close to the action: The first biographies about Alexander the Great were written by Plutarch and Arrian a good 400 years after his death. Nevertheless, historians consider them to be credible sources.
Jesus in Jewish accounts
The oldest non-biblical mention of Jesus comes from the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus. In his “Jewish Antiquities” he reports on the execution of a James. According to his account, the brother of Jesus was called "the Christ". Later Jewish writings also refer to Jesus - some refer to him as the false messiah. However, it is never a question of whether Jesus lived or performed miracles, but only about whether he did it in the authority of God.
Jesus in historical sources
Several Roman historians also mention Jesus in one form or another. In the first century, Thallus wrote an overview of the history of the Eastern Mediterranean from the war for Troy to his present. He tries to refute the miracles surrounding Jesus and his death - but he assumes that he exists. Suetonius, Tacitus and Pliny the Younger also mention Jesus, his crucifixion and Christianity in passing while they talk about Rome and its provinces.
In terms of content, the Greek Lukian of Samosata deals with Jesus around the year 170. He writes: By the way, these people (the Christians) worshiped the well-known Magus who was crucified in Palestine for introducing these new mysteries into the world ... these poor people got it into their heads that they are immortal in body and soul and would live in all eternity: That is why they despise death and many of them even voluntarily run into its hands. "
Did Jesus Really Live?
The existence of an ancient man is difficult to prove overall. But the sources described above were created in completely different contexts. Its authors are opponents, skeptics and sympathizers of Christianity. The only thing they all have in common is that they see no reason to doubt the existence of Jesus. No wonder that historians call the death of Jesus the best documented event of antiquity. With this historical question, however, it remains completely open what significance it has for us that Jesus really lived. And whether he really was the Son of God.