Jesus — The Myth?

Bruce ♦ April 4, 2011 ♦ Leave Your Comment

Recently, Bryan Singer, the director of “Superman Returns” commented on the reasons he thought that movie did not do so well at the box office a few years ago. At first, he said it was because he had tied the story too strongly to the first Superman movies with Christopher Reeves. Then, he lamented that he had used too much religious imagery. He portrayed Superman as a Christ figure but the statement that really got me was how much he had relied on the “myth of Christ” to construct the character of Superman.

What was even more interesting were the to and fro comments to his comments that followed. Followers of Christ were told they were “living a fantasy” and “following a mythical figure”. I could not stay silent on this issue. Even Bart Ehrmann, the Christian who has lost his faith and who now writes books deconstructing the Gospels admits that Jesus was a real figure in history. So, I thought I would share some facts with our readers regarding the extra-Bibilical historical support for the existence of Jesus of Nazareth:

Tacitus, Roman Historian
Nero fastened the guilt . . . on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of . . . Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome. . . .
Pliny, the Younger
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, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food–but food of an ordinary and innocent kind.
Josephus
About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he . . . wrought surprising feats. . . . He was the Christ. When Pilate . . .condemned him to be crucified, those who had . . . come to love him did not give up their affection for him. On the third day he appeared . . . restored to life. . . . And the tribe of Christians . . . has . . . not disappeared.
The Babylonian Talmud
On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald . . . cried, “He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy.”
Lucian of Samosata
The Christians . . . worship a man to this day–the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account. . . . [It] was impressed on them by their original lawgiver that they are all brothers, from the moment that they are converted, and deny the gods of Greece, and worship the crucified sage, and live after his laws.
In Summary
First, both Josephus and Lucian indicate that Jesus was regarded as wise.
Second, Pliny, the Talmud, and Lucian imply He was a powerful and revered teacher.
Third, both Josephus and the Talmud indicate He performed miraculous feats.
Fourth, Tacitus, Josephus, the Talmud, and Lucian all mention that He was crucified. Tacitus and Josephus say this occurred under Pontius Pilate. And the Talmud declares it happened on the eve of Passover.
Fifth, there are possible references to the Christian belief in Jesus’ resurrection in both Tacitus and Josephus.
Sixth, Josephus records that Jesus’ followers believed He was the Christ, or Messiah. And finally, both Pliny and Lucian indicate that Christians worshipped Jesus as God!

So, you see, Jesus was NOT a myth. Jesus is NOT a fantasy. Jesus was a real human being living in first century Palestine an He IS a real person today! He IS the way, the truth, and the life.