How was Jesus portrayed outside of the Bible?
Jesus Christ - fascinating prophet? Mythical figure? Fraud? Son of God? Throughout history, many claims have been made about Jesus of Nazareth. Christians believe he is the only Son of God, who performed miracles and rose from the dead. Regardless of one’s personal beliefs, his life is worth examining. He single-handedly changed the course of history, built a massive following, allegedly performed miracles, and offered up “good news” to all who would receive him as the Messiah. Interestingly enough, there are many valid, non-Christian sources that speak of him. Take a journey with us as we examine what such documents have to say about Jesus of Nazareth. We will leave it to you to decide just who Jesus was. No matter where you fall in your belief of Jesus, we hope you fall somewhere. As his life was far too extraordinary to be passive about.
The Quran
It is deeply fascinating that the Quran, the primary doctrine of the Islamic faith, holds Jesus to such a high regard. Although it denies that he was the son of God, the Quran implies in Jesus a nature of divinity through claims such as, “born of a virgin,” “a prophet,” “miracle worker,” and more. Let's explore the writings of the Quran that pertain to Jesus.
Jesus, as a baby, calls himself a prophet of God.
So, she pointed to him. They said, " How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?" [Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the scriptures and made me a prophet" Sahir 19:29-30
Jesus was not crucified.
(Quran 4:158) And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.(4:159) Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.
Jesus performed miracles.
Healing the blind and the leper, resurrecting the dead, and predicting future activities of those around him. Surat al-Imran 3:49 states, I [Jesus] heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I raise the dead, by Allah's leave.
The second coming of Jesus
And he ['Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)] shall be a known sign for (the coming of) the Hour (Day of Resurrection) [i.e. 'Iesa's (Jesus) descent on the earth] . Therefore, have no doubt concerning it (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). And follow Me (Allah) (i.e. be obedient to Allah and do what He orders you to do, O mankind)! This is the Straight Path (of Islamic Monotheism, leading to Allah and to His Paradise). (43:61)
Non-Christian Historians
Josephus (37-101 AD)
The Jewish-Roman historian, Josephus, provides us with the most detail of all non-biblical ancient writers. He writes of Jesus in "the Antiquities of the Jews" in the year 93 A.D. Josephus was born four years after the death of Christ and was a consultant for Jewish rabbis along with a Galilean military commander at the age of 16. Under the rule of Roman emperor Vespasian, Josephus was allowed to write a history of the “Jewish messiah”. There is controversy about the writings of Josephus, because the first discoveries of his writings were late enough to have possibly been re-written by Christians accused of making additions to the text. Due to this possible theory, we’ll take a look at a scholarly reconstruction without possibility of Christian additions:
“Now around this time lived Jesus, a wise man. For he was a worker of amazing deeds and was a teacher of people who gladly accepted the truth. He won over both many Jews and many Greeks. Pilate, when he heard him accused by the leading men among us, condemned him to the cross, (but) those who had first loved him did not cease (doing so). To this day the tribe of Christians named after him has not disappeared.”
Thallus (52 AD)
Thallus is known as the earliest secular writer to mention Jesus - so ancient, his writings were lost. Luckily, another ancient writer, Julius Africanus, quoted Thallus in 221 AD, who previously attempted explaining away the darkness that occurred (according to the biblical text) during Jesus' Crucifixion:
“On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were torn by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. This darkness, Thallus, in the third book of his history, calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of the sun.” (Julius Africanus, Chronography, 18:1)
Although we do not have many of Thallus’s historical records, his account claims that Jesus did indeed live, died by crucifixion, and that an earthquake and darkness appeared at the point of his death by crucifixion.
Pliny the Younger (61-113 AD)
Pliny the Younger was a Roman Governor of Bithynia who persecuted Christians. In a letter to the Roman emperor Trajan, Pliny describes the lifestyles of these early “Christ-followers.”
“They (the 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, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food—but food of an ordinary and innocent kind.
Celsus (175 AD)
Celsus challenged the gospel claims but affirmed and reinforced the biblical authors and the details of their claims. With quite lengthy writings, Celsus alludes to over 80 Biblical quotes, seemingly confirming their placement in early history. He also says the miracles of Jesus were believed in the early 2nd century.
“Jesus had come from a village in Judea and was the son of a poor Jewess who gained her living by the work of her own hands. His mother had been turned out of doors by her husband, who was a carpenter by trade, on being convicted of adultery [with a soldier named Panthéra (i.32)]. Being thus driven away by her husband, and wandering about in disgrace, she gave birth to Jesus, a bastard. Jesus, on account of his poverty, was hired out to go to Egypt. While there he acquired certain (magical) powers which Egyptians pride themselves on possessing. He returned home highly elated at possessing these powers, and on the strength of them gave himself out to be a god.”
Celsus does admit that there were reports that Jesus was allegedly born of a virgin. He furthermore says this account could not be possible and instead argues the possibility that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a man by the name of Panthera (this was an idea that came from Jews who opposed Jesus at the time). Nonetheless, Celsus claims in his account that Jesus was born of a carpenter, possessed unusual magical powers and claimed to be God.
Other writers:
Suetonius (69-140 AD)
Phlegon (80-140 AD)
Tacitus (56-120 AD)
Talmud (400-700 AD)
So why is any of this relevant? These non-Christian authors making these claims had no incentive to do so. One could argue that, as non-believers, they had more incentive to refute the life of Jesus. Yet such evidence from secular writers or from documents of another religion point to the existence of Jesus.
Few atheist and agnostic scholars argue that Jesus never existed and was a purely mythical figure. Most would agree Jesus had an immense impact on civilization. Where the debate really starts is at his resurrection. This is the event that Christians believe is central to proving Jesus's divinity. Jesus being the Son of God and rising from the dead are the occurrences that atheists and agnostics deny. We think that what you believe about Jesus is quite possibly the most important thing about you. We urge you to explore the life and claims of Jesus with scrutiny and historical evidence. If Jesus did not resurrect then Christians have believed a lie. However…
We leave you with a final question, “If Jesus in fact existed and shaped the world we know, is it that crazy to believe he also raised from the dead and is in fact who He says He is?”