Jesus Outside the Bible

The letters of Paul are thought to be very early (c. AD 52) and the Gospel of Mark was likely created about AD 70. Despite these sources being nearly contemporaneous with the life of Jesus, they are labeled by some as "biased," and in need of extra-biblical corroboration. Some, (the co-called "mythicists"), have even gone so far as to suggest that Jesus was only a mythical figure conjured up by devotees of the Christian "cult."

Although careful study of the scriptures along side other histories and archeology of the period strongly suggests the reliability of the New Testament, doubters should be advised that there do exist a number of extra-biblical references to Jesus and his early followers in the works of pagan writers. These references are particularly powerful proofs of his existence in that their number is greater than those attesting to the existence many universally accepted figures from antiquity.

Author: Thallus
Circa: AD 52
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Author: Mara son of Serapion
Circa: AD 73
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Author: Phlegon
Circa: AD 80
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Author: Josephus
Circa: AD 93
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Author: Pliny the Younger
Circa: AD 112
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Author: Tacitus
Circa: AD 115
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Author: Suetonius
Circa: AD 120
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Author: Quadratus
Circa: AD 124
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Author: Lucian
Circa: AD 166
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Author: Celsus
Circa: AD 170
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