Was Jesus an Historical Figure?

• “Yes”

  

  “A Reliable Reference to a Historical Jesus”

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A Reliable Reference to a Historical Jesus

J.P. Holding

Founder, Apologetics Ministries

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There are two quotes that mention Jesus in Josephus' Antiquities: A smaller and a larger one.  Here is the first and smaller quote:

Antiquities 20.9.1 But the younger Ananus who, as we said, received the high priesthood, was of a bold disposition and exceptionally daring; he followed the party of the Sadducees, who are severe in judgment above all the Jews, as we have already shown. As therefore Ananus was of such a disposition, he thought he had now a good opportunity, as Festus was now dead, and Albinus was still on the road; so he assembled a council of judges, and brought before it the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ, whose name was James, together with some others, and having accused them as law-breakers, he delivered them over to be stoned.

Here is the second, larger quote:

Antiquities 18.3.3 Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. When Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.

This reference is of particular value because Josephus, as a native of Palestine in the middle to late first century, is quite close to the source, as it were. He is considered a reliable historian overall (though not as reliable as Tacitus).

Next Argument

"Yes" JP Holding

• Tacitus: A Reliable Reference to Jesus
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• Out of Context: : An Inadequate Argument Against Josephus
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• 'Silence' of Other Writers – An Inadequate Argument (Part 1)
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• 'Silence' of Other Writers – An Inadequate Argument (Part 2)
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"Yes" John W Loftus

• Who is the Best Candidate for Starting the Jesus Movement?
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• Jesus Was a Failed Doomsday Prophet.
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• The Eschaton Did Not Happen
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• Final Note: Mythical Elements Were Indeed Added
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"No" American Atheists

• Evidence For a Would-Be Messiah is Shaky
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• Burden of Proof
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• The Old Testament "Evidence"
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• The New Testament "Evidence"
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• The Gospels
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• Mark
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• John
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• Saint Saul and His Letters
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• Extrabiblical "Evidence"
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Most Objections

• Tacitus: A Reliable Reference to Jesus
  6
• The New Testament "Evidence"
  8
• Mark
  6
• John
  4
• Saint Saul and His Letters
  6
• Extrabiblical "Evidence"
  5

Was Jesus Real?

• Yes
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