Is There Evidence Jesus Really Existed

The effect Jesus had on the world greatly surpasses that of anyone else in history.

Below is a partial list of historical sources that prove the existence of a man named Jesus.

Cornelius Tactitus	Tactitus was a Roman historian who wrote the following about Christians in 112 AD regarding the fire in Rome during Nero’s reign. He lived from 55-120 AD and was known as the ‘greatest historian of ancient Rome .’	“Hence to suppress the rumor, he falsely charged the guilt, and punished with the most exquisite tortures, 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.”
Pliny the Younger	Pliny was an author and administrator who served the governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor around 112 AD	“They (the Christians) were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god, and bound themselves by a solemn oath, not to any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft, or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up; after which it was their custom to separate, and then reassemble to partake of food – but food of an ordinary and innocent kind.” He went on the say that he also, “made them curse Christ, which a genuine Christian cannot be induced to do.”
Lucian of Samosata	Lucian was a Greek satirist in the latter half of the second century (~190 AD).	“The Christians, you know, worship a man to this day – the distinguished personage who introduced their novel rites, and was crucified on that account.”
Flavius Josephus	Josephus was a Jewish historian who lived from 37 AD to 97 AD. Josephus wrote his major work, the Antiquities around 90 AD.	“At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. His conduct was good and (he) was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. But those who had become this disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive;accordingly he was perhaps the Messiah, concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.” - Translation from Professor Schlomo Pines of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem .
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillas	Suetonius was the chief secretary of Emperor Hadrian (AD 177-138) and had access to the imperial records.	First Mention from ‘The Life of Claudius’: “Because the Jews at Rome caused continuous disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he expelled them from the city.” The word ‘Chrestus’ is a variant spelling of Christ. This event is referred to in Acts 18:2 Second Mention from ‘The Lives of the Caesars’: “After the great fire at Rome … Punishments were also inflicted on the Christians, a sect professing a new and mischievous religious belief.”
The Talmud	The Talmud was a collection of Jewish oral tradition that was written down between 70 AD and 200 AD.	“On the eve of the Passover Yeshu (Jesus) was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, ‘He is going forth to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy. Any one who can say anything in his favour, let him come forward and plead on his behalf.” But since nothing was brought forward in his favour he was hanged on the eve of the Passover!” Note: The term ‘hanged’ is a variant of ‘crucified.’

Edwin Yamavchi, professor of history at Miami University states that the quantity and quality of the historical evidence of Jesus is superior to that of any other religious leader (Zoroaster, Buddha, or Mohammad).