Why Critics of Christianity Cannot Refute the Historicity of the Life, Death and Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ

 Why Critics of Christianity Cannot Refute the Historicity of the Life, Death and Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ 

It's always hard nut to crack for critics of Christianity to disprove the historical evidence supporting Christianity especially the bodily death (crucifixion) and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In doing this, they usually almost dabble into reconstructing history by reject established historical facts and search for pseudohistorical material written by skeptics or mythicists desperately seeking for alternative explanations and denying the authenticity of the biblical and historical accounts. 

The question begging for answer is "Is history a lie?". About 50 years ago it was much easier to deny the accuracy and authenticity of the Bible. That was before they found the Dead Sea Scrolls. Today we have over 6,000 pieces of proof that corroborate the accuracy of the Bible. To put that in context, we trust Aristotle, and we only have 49 pieces of proof to corroborate what he said. More proof for the accuracy of the Bible exists than proof of what is written about Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Caesar, or Tacitus combined!

Many numerous examples exist but critics just ignore these corroborative historical sources in order to believe non-historical conspiracy theories. This anti-scholarship stance can on succeed in deceiving the ignorant and not people who are well informed. The Christian faith is very historically reliable and appealing to the intellectual reasons. That's why it keep being attractive to scientists, philosophers and intellectuals of all ages.

There are extra-biblical evidences of the historical of the life, teachings, miracles, crucifixion, resurrection of Jesus Christ. Aside the historically reliable eyewitnesses accounts of the four Evangelist in the first four books of the New Testament call Gospels, there are several extra-biblical evidences of the historical life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Some examples of these historical accounts and their sources are listed below: 

Evidence for Jesus' Death and Resurrection 

Didache:

Even earlier than all of these is a manuscript known as the Didache (ca. 50-70 AD), a sort of early discipleship manual explaining how Christians should act. It recites some of the teachings of Jesus and lays out instructions for celebrating communion, remembering Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Clement:

Clement was a first-century leader of the church at Rome who wrote a letter to the church at Corinth (ca. AD 70-96). In it he speaks of the teachings of Jesus (13:1), his death (21:6), and his resurrection from the dead (24:1).

Flavius Josephus:

Flavius Josephus, a 1st-century Jewish historian, wrote about Jesus in his work "Antiquities of the Jews." He wrote:

"About this time there was a wise man named Jesus, if indeed we should call him a man. For he was one who did surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks" (18.3.3, NIV).

This passage, known as the Testimonium Flavianum, has some textual issues and scholars debate its authenticity. However, many scholars believe that it is a genuine reference to Jesus by Josephus.

Ignatius of Antioch:

Ignatius of Antioch wrote a letter to the Smyrnaeans (ca. AD 110) in which he claims that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate and Herod the tetrarch (Ch. 1) and that “he suffered all these things for us; and He suffered them really, and not in appearance only, even as also He truly rose again” (Ch. 2).

Tacitus:

Tacitus, a Roman historian of the 2nd century, wrote about the persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero in his work "Annals." He mentioned Jesus by name and his execution by Pilate:

"Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus" (15.44, NIV).

This passage, known as the Tacitus passage, is widely accepted as a genuine reference to Jesus by Tacitus.

Pliny the Younger:

Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor of the early 2nd century, wrote to Emperor Trajan about the beliefs and practices of Christians. He mentioned their worship of Christ:

"They [Christians] 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" (Epistles 10.96, NIV).

This passage provides evidence of the early Christian belief in the divinity of Christ.

The Babylonian Talmud:

The Babylonian Talmud, a Jewish text compiled in the 5th century, contains references to Jesus and his crucifixion. For example, it states:

"On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged" (Sanhedrin 43a, Soncino edition).

This passage, while hostile to Jesus and the early Christians, confirms the historical reality of his crucifixion.

These extra-biblical evidences, along with the biblical accounts, provide strong historical support for the life, teachings, miracles, death, resurrection, and post-resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ.

Mara Bar-Serapion:

The Jewish historian, Mara Bar-Serapion, wrote a letter to his son in prison in the late 1st or early 2nd century, in which he mentions the execution of Jesus:

"What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise King?...After that, the kingdom of the Jews was abolished. God rightly avenged these men...Nor did the wise King die for good; he lived on in the teaching which he had given" (Fragments from Three Inscriptions of a Syriac Grotto, 43, trans. J. Rendel Harris).

This passage confirms the historical reality of Jesus' execution and the enduring impact of his teaching.

Suetonius:

The Roman historian, Suetonius, wrote about the expulsion of Jews from Rome by Emperor Claudius in the late 1st century, and connected it with a "Chrestus":

"As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he [Claudius] expelled them from Rome" (Life of Claudius 25.4, trans. J. C. Rolfe).

While there is debate among scholars about whether the "Chrestus" referred to here is a reference to Christ, the passage provides evidence of early Christian presence and activity in Rome.

Lucian of Samosata:

The Greek satirist Lucian of Samosata, writing in the 2nd century, made reference to Jesus and his followers:

"The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day--the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account" (The Passing of Peregrinus 11-13, trans. A. M. Harmon).

While Lucian's account is satirical and dismissive of Christianity, it confirms the historical reality of Jesus' crucifixion and the early Christian belief in his divinity.

Interestingly, these extra-biblical evidences, in addition to the biblical accounts, provide a strong historical foundation for the life, teachings, miracles, death, resurrection, and post-resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ.

References:

1. Flavius Josephus, "Antiquities of the Jews," 18.3.3.

2. Tacitus, "Annals," 15:44.

3. Pliny the Younger, "Epistles," 10.96.

4. The Babylonian Talmud, "Sanhedrin" 43a.



5. Mara Bar-Serapion, "Fragments from Three Inscriptions of a Syriac Grotto," 43, trans. J. Rendel Harris.


6. Suetonius, "Life of Claudius," 25.4, trans. J. C. Rolfe.


7. Lucian of Samosata, "The Passing of Peregrinus," 11-13, trans. A. M. Harmon.

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