Bible Question:
Did Jesus really exist? I was surprised to read in a wiki article that many bible scholars question the existence of Jesus. I am actually very surprised to see that there are *no* contemporary writings (by which I mean written when Jesus was alive) on his life and actions. You'd think that someone as momentous as Jesus would have been written about *at the time* rather than 40 years later. Help (Faith shaken a bit)! |
Bible Answer: Hi Curious, I wouldn't worry. That wiki article is wrong. There are, to my knowledge, no Biblical scholars presently employed at a academic institution who question the existence of Jesus. It is, in fact, largely an internet myth. There is, in fact, no historical, peer-reviewed work that argues that Jesus did not exist. This argument only really exists on conspiracy theory, hack websites, and they play fast and loose with the truth- ergo that ridiculous claim that Biblical scholars doubt Jesus existed. As for the contemporary writings, outside of the sources of the gospels, Josephus does mention Jesus, and dozens of historians within a hundred years of Jesus' life mention him and his followers. Jesus probably gains the most mention in historical sources for a peasant in the Roman Empire. |