The whole of Christianity fully depends on whether Jesus Christ really did live, die on the cross, and rise from the grave. Paul says that if Christ was not raised from the dead, then our faith is in vain, we are still in our sins, and we should be the most pitied people. (1 Corinthians 15:14-19). Of course, the Bible says that all these things are true, and we know that the bible is the inspired word of God, but is it possible to verify the events of Jesus Christ outside of the bible? The answer is undoubtedly “yes”. There are plenty of ancient, non-Christian historians that wrote of Jesus and the things he did.
Consider the words that the ancient Jewish historian Josephus wrote in his writing, Antiquities of the Jews (ca. AD 93)
“At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. His conduct was good, and [he] was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.”
Josephus is only one of many ancient historians who documents the life of Jesus. It is very comforting that we can look back at historical documents and see them being compatible with what the New Testament teaches. Many people are willing to die for something they don’t know is a lie, but nobody would die for something they do know is a lie. If the apostles had not seen Jesus risen from the dead, it would not make sense for them to have given their lives in defense of the gospel!
Acts 2:22-24 - “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
-Caleb Westbrook
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