Just like there are a few people who actually think the earth is flat, a few people who think the earth is hallow inside and an alien civilization lives there, there are actually people who think Jesus Christ never existed.
Where did all the Christians come from then? What about the Roman Empire converting to Christianity? The western calendar being changed to show BC ,Before Christ and AD, After His Death? Did everyone just drink some really old and bad wine and go wonkers and then made up the Christ thing?
The vast majority of historians and researchers agree that Jesus did exist, that he was baptized by John the Baptist and He was put to death by the orders of Pontius Pilate who was the fifth prefect of the Roman province of Judaea from AD 26 to 36.
Everyone can argue about everything else, His purpose, His miracles, etc., but no serious researcher doubts that Jesus Christ existed.
I have some links you can explore at the end of this, but I am displaying what I consider to be the strongest evidence from history. Excluding the Bible itself, of course.
- Roman/Jewish historian Flavius Josephus references:
- Antiquities of the Jews, written around 93–94 AD, two references to the biblical Jesus Christ in Books 18 and 20 and a reference to John the Baptist in Book 18.
- Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day. (Antiquities of the Jews, 18.3.3)
- “But the younger Ananus who, as we said, received the high priesthood, was of a bold disposition and exceptionally daring; he followed the party of the Sadducees, who are severe in judgment above all the Jews, as we have already shown. As therefore Ananus was of such a disposition, he thought he had now a good opportunity, as Festus was now dead, and Albinus was still on the road; so he assembled a council of judges, and brought before it the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ, whose name was James, together with some others, and having accused them as lawbreakers, he delivered them over to be stoned. (Antiquities of the Jews, 20.9.1)
- Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod’s army came from God: and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the baptist. For Herod slew him [About Feb. A.D. 32.]; who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue; both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God; and so to come to baptism. For that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away, [or the remission] of some sins [only,] but for the purification of the body: supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. Now when [many] others came in crouds about him; for they were very greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words; Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise rebellion: (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise:) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause; and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod’s suspicious temper, to Macherus; the castle I before mentioned; and was there put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion, that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod; and a mark of God’s displeasure to him. (Antiquities of the Jews, Chapter 5, 2.)
- Antiquities of the Jews, written around 93–94 AD, two references to the biblical Jesus Christ in Books 18 and 20 and a reference to John the Baptist in Book 18.
- The Roman historian and senator Tacitus
- Tacitus referred to Christ in one page of his final work, Annals (written ca. AD 116), book 15, chapter 44.[1]
- 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.
- Tacitus referred to Christ in one page of his final work, Annals (written ca. AD 116), book 15, chapter 44.[1]
- Letters written by Pliny, the Roman governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor.
- In one of his letters, dated around A.D. 112, he asks Trajan’s advice about the appropriate way to conduct legal proceedings against those accused of being Christians. Pliny says that he needed to consult the emperor about this issue because a great multitude of every age, class, and sex stood accused of Christianity. At one point in his letter, Pliny relates some of the information he has learned about these Christians:
- They 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.
- In one of his letters, dated around A.D. 112, he asks Trajan’s advice about the appropriate way to conduct legal proceedings against those accused of being Christians. Pliny says that he needed to consult the emperor about this issue because a great multitude of every age, class, and sex stood accused of Christianity. At one point in his letter, Pliny relates some of the information he has learned about these Christians:
- Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, (c. 69 – after 122 CE), was a Roman historian and close friend of senator and letter-writer Pliny the Younger.
- In the book book The Twelve Caesars (also known as Lives of the Caesars), written ca. 112 CE he mentions the Christians.
- Punishment was inflicted on the Christians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition.
- In the book book The Twelve Caesars (also known as Lives of the Caesars), written ca. 112 CE he mentions the Christians.
So, the fact is that Jesus did exist. You can argue about who or what He is, but you cannot argue that He never existed.
Some links on the subject:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Jesus
https://bible.org/article/ancient-evidence-jesus-non-christian-sources
https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/26-historicity-of-jesus-christ-the