Foundations of Faith

FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH IN JESUS
M. M. NINAN
CHAPTER TEN
NON CHRISTIAN SOURCES
It is not surprising that there are very little writings about Jesus outside of the Christian circles
during the period soon after the resurrection. The witnesses to Jesus' teachings, crucifixion and
his resurrection were essentially jewish disciples of Jesus. Rabbis were many and people who
claimed to be mesias were dime a dozen. Crucifixion was a common form execution under the
Romans for rebels and criminals. It was a common feature in the life of the semitic people.
Public executions were common in the middle east until very recently. So it is not surprising that
no one cared about these to take an effort to write about it at a time writing was an expensive
hobby of the rich. Resurrection was serious affair but it was evident and the post resurrection
appearances were limited to the disciples. So until the Christians became powerful enough
socially and politically we cannot really expect secular reference to them. Hence if we find a
reference it would be in a hostile mode.
The references can be found in the writings of
.
• Publius Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman historian who was hostile to the Christian movement
• Josephus, a Jewish historian,
• Mara bar Serapion, a Syrian prisoner.
Each of these references confirms three central facts:
• that there was a leader of a movement called Jesus (or Christ),
• that Jesus was executed, and
• that the movement that Jesus was part of survived his death.
Jesus, however, is variously portrayed in these writings as
• a troublemaker (Tacitus),
• a teacher (Josephus),
• a wise king (Serapion).
84