Jesus is a Myth?
February 1, 2008 – 11:57 am - By Derek- a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.
- -stories or matter of this kind: realm of myth.
- -any invented story, idea, or concept: His account of the event is pure myth.
- -an imaginary or fictitious thing or person.
- -an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution. (1)
Historically speaking, the evidence for the existence of a man named Jesus, Son of Joseph of Nazareth who lived between 4 B.C. and 33 A.D. (estimated) is overwhelming and immutable. No other historical person from the first century or earlier has had as much written about Him within 100 years of his life as did Jesus. There are at least 19 other texts from the first and second century outside of the bible from non-Christian writers and historians that talk about this man, and none of them ever once deny He existed. To believe that Jesus is a myth is to deny factual history. One has to have a legitimate basis to make an assertion that denies history, and there is none that even skeptical historians can rely on, therefore; they don’t. In other words, no one of any scholarly merit, even those who argue against the Bible’s claims, would even dare to assert that Jesus never existed. It is easier to claim that Julius Caesar is a myth, then it is Jesus since Julius has about one tenth of the amount of documentation written about him within 100 years of his life.
Jesus had a public life for only 3 and ½ years and only lived to the age of about 33 years, when He was publicly executed. How is it then that the measurement of years which we use today is based on His birth; yet some try to assert that he never existed? Absurd would be an understatement. Historically ignorant would be an accurate characterization. History cannot support any notion to the contrary of the historical man Jesus of Nazareth living and dying in the first century A.D. Anyone who makes such a claim is either relying on bad information, exceedingly ignorant of history, or deliberately rejecting the truth or worse… deliberately lying.
(1) Dictionary.com, 2008
2 Responses to “Jesus is a Myth?”
I think a more important question for people is whether Jesus was actually God Himself. This answer is based in faith and has nothing to do with the amount of written history or whether one is of a “scholarly merit”. Faith in Christ comes by hearing the Word, and believing He first loved us with His ultimate sacrificial act. It does not come through logically proving God’s existence.
HOLLA IF YA HEAR ME
By bartmoran on Feb 3, 2008
bartmoran says: “This answer is based in faith and has nothing to do with the amount of written history or whether one is of a “scholarly merit” —
I guess you would also say the same for Joseph Smith? Is he a prophet of God just because somone believes he is? Do you realize that any religion can be (and is) believed by blind-faith? The evidence is what distinguishes truth from a lie. Faith is required to be actively trusting in God’s word regardless of circumstances. Without evidence that your faith is well-founded you may be liable to believe anything.
Peace out.
-Jay
By jmorton on Feb 6, 2008