How Do We Know Jesus Was a Real Person?

Proving Jesus' existence as a person with historical evidence.

Almost no one disagrees that Jesus existed as a person, although many obviously contest the paschal mystery and his resurrection. But some still deny the existence of Christ as a living person 2,000 years ago and we lay out here how we know that he was.

Firstly, such a debate never existed until relatively modern times. Rabbis and government leaders persecuted early Christians never doubted that Jesus existed, whether it was because they saw him themselves or because of historical record that was kept for generations. Although they did think he was a magician and someone who was harmful to the people, they never doubted his existence. This debate just didn’t exist then because everyone knew he was real.

Some people even doubted his hometown of Nazareth ever even existed. But, according to History.com, “archaeologists have unearthed a rock-hewn courtyard house along with tombs and a cistern.” Others argue that crucifixions never occurred in the region, but archaeologists found evidence of those too.

Obviously using the Gospels to prove his existence as a person to non believers wouldn’t be beneficial, since they would claim they are biased and written by Christians themselves. But there is something important to note about it. The basic detail of the gospel, that Jesus, a Jewish man with followers, was executed by the Romans, was confirmed by contemporaries of Jesus and other ancient historians.

One of the most important historians in documenting Jesus and confirming his basic existence was Flavius Josephus, a first century Jewish historian, and according to professor Bart D. Ehrman, he “is far and away our best source of information about first-century Palestine.” He mentioned Jesus in Jewish Antiquities, referring to him as a real person. It is important to highlight something about Josephus: he was a Jewish man and not part of the early Church, therefore giving him no incentive to lie about the existence of Jesus.

Similar to the accounts of Josephus, we have another first century Roman historian named Tacitus, who wrote Annals of Imperial Rome. Tacitus writes, according to History.com, that Nero falsely blamed the burning of Rome on “the persons commonly called Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius.” It is important to note two things about this. Firstly, Tacitus was Roman and not a member of the Church, rather just a historian, and like Josephus, had no reason to lie about the existence of Jesus. Secondly, according to Lawrence J. Mykytiuk, Tacitus would write some indication if he couldn’t completely vouch for the information he was providing, but there is no such indication with the existence of Jesus.

If people still deny he existed, then we must question whether Alexander the Great or King Leonidas existed. But we don't because it is just history. Why isn't it the same for Jesus?

Jesus was a real person. He is a real person now. Go to him. Speak to him. But most importantly, listen to him.