Jesus Christ: Real or Fiction?

Jesus Christ: Fact or Fiction?

Many skeptics repeat the idea that Jesus was either “invented” or that no ancient writers ever spoke of Him as divine. But that is far from the truth. Below are only a few of the many sources that openly acknowledge Jesus as a historical figure, how he was worshiped as God, and the truth from Christianity at its roots. As the atheist journalist turned Christian determined, Christ is either God as he claimed to be, a liar or he was insane. What does the Bible say and does the historical record align?

Let’s look at the Bible first!

Here are key verses where Jesus or the biblical text indicates he is God:

Straightforward Claims and “I AM” Statements

John 8:58: “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am'”.
John 10:30: “I and the Father are one”.
John 14:9: “…Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…”.
John 10:33: The Jewish leaders accused him, “…you, a mere man, claim to be God”.
John 8:24: “…for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins”.

Divine Authority and Identity Claims

Mark 2:5-7: Jesus forgives sins, a prerogative understood to belong only to God.
John 5:18: Jesus was making himself “equal with God”.
John 20:28: Thomas confesses to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” which Jesus accepts.
Matthew 28:9: Jesus accepts worship from his disciples.
Revelation 1:17-18: Jesus calls himself “the first and the last” (a title for God in Isaiah 44:6).

Biblical Declarations of Jesus as God

John 1:1: “…and the Word was God”.
Colossians 2:9: “For in him [Christ] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily”.
Titus 2:13: “…our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”.
Isaiah 9:6: Prophesies the Messiah as “Mighty God, Eternal Father”.

Historical Recognition of Jesus Christ and His Divinity 1. Pliny the Younger (c. 112 AD). A Roman governor writing to Emperor Trajan. He reports Christians gathering every week before dawn to sing hymns to Christ as to a God. This is a secular Roman source confirming that early believers worshiped Jesus. 2. Tacitus (c. 116 AD). The famous Roman historian. He records that Jesus was executed under Pontius Pilate and confirms the explosive spread of the Christian movement. Tacitus had no love for Christians, but he documented Jesus as a real, historical figure. 3. Suetonius (c. 120 AD). A Roman historian who mentions disturbances in Rome caused by followers of “Chrestus,” a reference to Christ. This shows the early presence and influence of Jesus followers in the Roman Empire. 4. Josephus (c. 90 AD). Widely recognized by secular sources, this Jewish historian records Jesus as a miracle worker, teacher, and the one called the Christ. Even secular scholars acknowledge that Josephus contains at least two historical references to Jesus. 5. The Didache (late first or early second century). As an early Christian teaching manual predating much of the New Testament canon circulation, this document speaks of Jesus as Lord and Savior, confirming the earliest Christian belief. 6. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 AD).Ignatius is a disciple of the Apostle John who repeatedly calls Jesus “our God” in multiple letters while on his way to martyrdom. This is within one generation of the apostles. 7. Justin Martyr (c. 155 AD). As a philosopher who left paganism for Christianity. He boldly defends Jesus as God in flesh in his writings to the Roman Empire. 8. Tertullian (c. 200 AD).A North African Christian writer who openly declares Christ as divine, long before the 300 year mark. (Historical record taken from: “Bible Answers”)