Apologetics 6: Historical Jesus
Have you ever heard of the Jesus mythicists? They teach that Jesus never existed, that he’s a myth. How would you go about debunking this claim? Are you aware of what historical sources mention Jesus and early Christianity? In this lecture you’ll learn what’s out there from biblical authors, historians, and hostile witnesses. The cumulative case for the historicity of Jesus of Nazareth is nothing short of staggering.
If you would like to take this class for credit, please contact the Atlanta Bible College so you can register and do the necessary work for a grade.
Notes:
New Testament is not one witness. It was not originally published as a single volume.
Pre-Pauline Quotations
- 1 Corinthians 15.3-4
- Philippians 2.6-10
Paul (wrote between a.d. 51 and 62)
- earliest written documents that mention Jesus
- written 20 – 30 years after death of Jesus
- born of a woman (Gal 4.4; Rom 1.3)
- had disciples (1 Cor 15.5)
- had brothers (1 Cor 9.5; Gal 1.19)
- Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11.23-25)
- crucified (1 Cor 2.2; 11.23; Gal 3.1)
- put to death by Jews (1 Thes 2.15)
- buried (1 Cor 15.4; Rom 6.4)
- raised from the dead (1 Cor 15.21)
- ascended into heaven (Eph 1.20-23)
James (a.d. <62)
- slave of Jesus (1.1)
- Jesus is Lord Messiah (1.1)
- he is coming back (5.7)
- coming is near (5.8)
Peter (a.d. <62)
- Christ suffered, sinless, bore our sins, did not revile (1 Peter 2.21-24)
- eyewitness of his majesty (transfiguration) (2 Peter 1.16-17)
- he is coming back (2 Peter 3.2-4)
Jude (?)
- slave of Jesus
- several mentions of him, but not historical, mostly future
Mark (a.d < 62)
- got his gospel from Peter
- miracles
- some sayings
- passion narrative
- resurrection stated
- Simon of Cyrene (Mark 15.21)…as if his audience knew Alexander and Rufus
Matthew (after Mark)
- eye-witness
- birth narrative
- extensive teachings
- miracles
- passion narrative
- resurrection appearances
Luke (after Mark)
- investigator, second hand
- birth narrative
- extensive teachings
- miracles
- lots of dinners
- passion narrative
- resurrection appearances
- ascension
- continuity with the church (Acts)
Hebrews (after 62 before 70)
- mostly theological concerned with making the point that Jesus is superior to angels, Moses, Aaron, etc. because he is priest after Melchizedek, better covenant, better promises, etc.
- Christ died (9.26; 10.12; 12.2)
- tempted yet sinless (4.15)
- made like his brethren in all things (2.17)
John (<a.d. 100)
- eye-witness
- pre-ministry miracle (wedding at Cana)
- miracles as signs
- attending festivals
- self-revelatory (“I am… statements)
- resurrection appreances
Flavius Josephus (a.d. 93)
- first non-Christian to write about Jesus
- Passage 1 (about James)
- “but this younger Ananus, who, as we have told you already, took the high priesthood, was a bold man in his temper, and very insolent; he was also of the sect of the Sadducees, {a} who are very rigid in judging offenders, above all the rest of the Jews, as we have already observed; when, therefore, Ananus was of this disposition, he thought he had now a proper o
