During COVID shutdowns i took the opportunity to go searching for external evidence that supports the Bible. Historical sources are very hard to deny and one of them on this very subject is below...
en.wikipedia.org
Tacitus was a patriotic
Roman senator.
[51][52] His writings show no sympathy towards Christians, or knowledge of who their leader was.
Sed non ope humana, non largitionibus principis aut deum placamentis decedebat infamia, quin iussum incendium crederetur. ergo abolendo rumori Nero subdidit reos et quaesitissimis poenis adfecit, quos per flagitia invisos vulgus Chrestianos appellabat. auctor nominis eius Christus Tibero imperitante per procuratorem Pontium Pilatum supplicio adfectus erat; repressaque in praesens exitiabilis superstitio rursum erumpebat, non modo per Iudaeam, originem eius mali, sed per urbem etiam, quo cuncta undique atrocia aut pudenda confluunt celebranturque. igitur primum correpti qui fatebantur, deinde indicio eorum multitudo ingens haud proinde in crimine incendii quam odio humani generis convicti sunt. [14] | But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judæa, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. |
The above should not be confused with what is said to be a fraudulent letter written by Pontius Pilot
Letter of Pilate to Tiberius
The Letter of Pontius Pilate, Which He Wrote to the Roman Emperor, Concerning Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Upon
Jesus Christ, whose case I had clearly set forth to you in my last, at length by the
will of the people a bitter punishment has been inflicted, myself being in a sort unwilling and rather afraid. A man, by Hercules, so
pious and strict, no age has ever had nor will have. But wonderful were the efforts of the people themselves, and the unanimity of all the
scribes and chief men and elders, to crucify this ambassador of
truth, notwithstanding that their own
prophets, and after our manner the sibyls, warned them against it: and supernatural signs appeared while he was hanging, and, in the opinion of
philosophers, threatened destruction to the whole world. His
disciples are flourishing, in their work and the regulation of their lives not belying their master; yea, in his name most beneficent. Had I not been afraid of the rising of a sedition among the people, who were just on the point of breaking out, perhaps this man would still have been alive to us; although, urged more by fidelity to your dignity than induced by my own wishes, I did not according to my strength resist that innocent blood free from the whole charge
brought against it, but
unjustly, through the malignity of
men, should be sold and suffer, yet, as the
Scriptures signify, to their own destruction. Farewell. 28th March.
What is 100% certain is that historically Jesus Christ really existed and was crucified. Of those things there is absolutely no doubt. What we cannot prove beyond doubt using external evidence is whether or not He (Jesus) rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. That requires faith and the internal biblical evidence.
