There are many proofs both from Christian and non-Christian scholars throughout history.  This page will share many of those facts that point toward Jesus' historical existence and even point toward His deity and resurrection.

There are 5 minimal facts that can be used as evidence for the historical Jesus.

1. Jesus of Nazareth died of Roman Crucifixion.

2. Jesus of Nazareth was buried in a private tomb.

3. His tomb was found empty after his burial.

4. The disciples, His followers, had experiences they believed were the appearance of the risen Jesus.

5. Because of those experiences, the disciples' lives were transformed, even leading to their willing deaths.

*BONUS*

• Early Church skeptics, James the half-brother of Jesus & Saul of Tarsus (later called Paul) were converted and became early church planters.  They were both killed for their claims about a risen Jesus.

• The Christian church has grown into the most global, multicultural faith movement that has ever been seen, even though the message is fairly unpopular with ideas such as giving money to the poor, abstinence, and the promise of persecution.  (This differs from other religions that promise many wives, rewards, and spoils of war.)

*Facts are taken from Dr. Gary Habermas and adapted by David "Goose" Mills.

Yes, there is!  There are Multiple Early Recorded Eyewitness Testimonies (MERET).  The fact that many of the accounts were firsthand accounts is very important!  They were also written within 60 years of Jesus' death and resurrection, which is unheard of in the realm of historical documents!

*FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS*

• • Matthew and John were disciples of Jesus and wrote biographies (that are commonly called the gospels) about the life of Jesus.  They were present for most of high adult ministry.

  • Another of Jesus' disciples, Peter wrote 2 letters and had a biography written by his translator Mark, whom the book of the Bible is named after.

  • Luke was a doctor and researcher who wrote a secondhand account of the life of Jesus by interviewing people who knew/witnesses Jesus (gospel of Luke) and he finished the story of Jesus' life and told about the start of the church in the book of Acts, which was told both secondhand and as a firsthand witness.

  • Within 60 years of Jesus' death (and resurrection) the biographies were being translated into many languages.  THAT IS UNHEARD OF and AMAZING!

*Notice the use of biographies vs. books of the Bible or gospels.  As these were written by people who were they, calling them biographies makes their purpose more understandable in the secular world that is full of biographies of many famous people.  Using the terms books of the Bible or gospels will cause some people to immediately close their mind to the discussion, but the idea of a biography will intrigue many.

• As is mentioned earlier in the page, Paul and James were early skeptics but they both saw Jesus: Paul claims to have seen a vision of Jesus, which changed him from a persecutor of Jesus' to the biggest advocate in history, and James grew up with Jesus and didn't believe until he saw Him after the resurrection.  Both men died for their beliefs.

• Many followers of Jesus, including 10 of His disciples, Paul, and other witnesses, died gruesome deaths as a result of their belief in His resurrection.  They could have denounced their faith and said they were making it up, but their beliefs were held so strongly that they died for them......in terrible, torturous, gruesome fashions.  

I am glad you asked!  There are so many, but here are two more:

*EMBARASSING MOMENTS*

• • In sharing their biographies, the disciples could have lifted themselves up.  Instead, they included instances where they showed unbelief and many that were quite embarrassing, including (but not limited to):

    • • • Peter denied Jesus three times on the night of his crucifixion.

        • The disciples questioned Jesus and did not understand His parables throughout His ministry.

        • The disciples panicked and ran away when Jesus was arrested.

*WOMEN*

• • In the time of Jesus' ministry women were not held in high esteem.  Having women as central figures or witnesses of such historic events would be insulting to men and seen as highly improbable in that society......

  • BUT....Jesus spent a lot of time with women.

  • The women were recorded as the first to the tomb and the first to see the risen Jesus!