- David Moyes
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Hello and welcome to Van Life Devotions. Christians make claims that God stepped down from heaven and took on a form of a human named Jesus of Nazareth. But setting aside His teachings and the supernatural events recorded about Him, was Jesus a real historical person?
While the Bible—especially Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts—records His life, there are also sources outside the Bible that speak about Jesus. Even secular historians acknowledge His existence. In the left-leaning Paper The Guardian, Dr Simon Gathercole notes that the historical evidence for Jesus is both early and widespread. Within decades of His life, Jesus is mentioned by Jewish and Roman historians, as well as numerous Christian writings. The evidence for Jesus is strong and not based on legend.
Historians from the first and second centuries such as Tacitus wrote that Jesus was executed under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius. Josephus, a Jewish Historian mentions “James, the brother of Jesus who is called Christ,” and describes Jesus as a wise man and doer of remarkable deeds. Pliny the Younger recorded that early Christians sang to Christ “as to a god.” Other writers like Lucian and Celsus, though critical, still acknowledged Jesus’ existence and influence.
The earliest Christian writings, the letters of Paul, were written within 25 years of Jesus’ death. After mentioning the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, Paul wrote this: “He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive... Last of all, I also saw him” (1 Corinthians 15:5-8 NLT). The Gospels, written around 40 years after Jesus's death while eyewitnesses were still living, extensively detail his life.
Together, these sources—both Christian and non-Christian—provide strong historical evidence that Jesus of Nazareth truly lived, was crucified, raised back to life, and inspired a movement that continues to this day.
David Moyes
