Discuss the non-Christian sources for the historical Jesus that date within one hundred years of his death. How helpful are these sources? What information do they give us?

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The Answer is There are only three pagan sources that date within one hundred years of Jesus' death: Pliny, Suetonius, and Tacitus. Pliny and Suetonius give some information about Christians and early Christian practice but offer no information about Jesus himself. Tacitus, on the other hand, does corroborate information found in the New Testament about Jesus' death (Jesus was executed at the hands of Pontius Pilate during the reign of Tiberius). Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, mentions Jesus twice in his Antiquities of the Jews. In one instance, Josephus says that Jesus had a brother named James who was executed under the rule of Ananus the high priest. Josephus' other reference to Jesus is problematic. In this passage, Josephus confesses that Jesus was the messiah. Since Josephus never converted, scholars believe Christian scribes embellished this passage. Scholars suggest, however, that the passage does contain some information from Josephus himself: Jesus had a following of Jews and Gentiles, and he was condemned by Pilate because of the accusations of the Jewish leaders and was crucified.

Discuss the Non-Christian Sources for the Historical Jesus That Date