Are there any texts (outside of the Bible) that corroborate Jesus' existence?
151411
There are few mentions of Jesus outside religious sources.\n\nThe Roman historian Tacitus mentioned the followers of Christ, in his Roman Annals(written around 115 AD)He states that Christ was executed by Pilate in the reign of Tiberius.\n\nChrist is also mentioned by Pliny the younger in his correspondence with Trajan, about 111 D.\n\nJosephus, a jewish historian also mentions Christ in his writtings on the Jewish War.\n\nA large library of Gnostic gospels and literature found in Egypt around 1950's also tells of Christ from a religious view point.
278372
Wasn't it like the Bible, written by some person, but actually written by Jesus Himself?
557088
Seems right. However, no one really knows the truth as to Jesus' real appearance. Isaiah gives a brief description but nothing was ever recorded when He walked the earth in human flesh.
397199
I believe the gospel accounts of the conception and birth of Jesus.\n\nAnd everything else, for that matter.
390789
I cannot prove it to be false because I have had a personal experience with the Lord Jesus Christ (see my question: "Have I met Jesus?" to read my testimony). I could not deny His existence as a result. \n\nSome people will say they have a "blind faith" which I also believe but Jesus is not afraid for us to want evidence - in fact He tells us to "Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). He also tells us to: "Prove all things…" (1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV).  Believers and non believers are simply doing what Jesus tells us!  Christians should never be disgruntled when someone asks us to if prove God or Jesus does or does not exist!  \n\nSee also: http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/cgi-bin/tw/tw-mag.cgi?category=Magazine36&item=1115662606 for 7 further proofs if you wish.
462578
The primary question, as written, demands an answer of "nothing." There is a considerable amount of written text attributed to Jesus' followers, though perhaps to no one who actually knew him. But I've yet to run across anything that claims Jesus' own authorship.
908845
How much proof can there be for a book writen under the auspices of a pagan roman emperor who worshiped the sun God to his death.\n\nEven The four gospels were not written by the apostles.\n\nThey were written close to the end of the first century long after the apostles were dead and gone. The john who wrote revelations was not the apostle john. He was a poor man kept in prison so long that he simply lost his mind and started to imagine a vengeful God who would punish his captors and anyone like them.\n\nThe bible was created 2 centurys later by the roman empire to change the message of Jesus to something that the Romans found more acceptable.\n\nThis is why it is often difficult to understand. The message of Jesus on the other hand is elegant and simple to understand. You need to separate the message that Jesus left for us from all of the nonsense that the Romans overlaid it with and it will start to become quite easy to understand.\n\nDon't take my word for any of this. Study biblical history for your self and draw your own conclusions. There are many good books on this subject by some intelligent and thoughtful people. Take advantage of their efforts. \n\nEmail if you are interested and I will send so suggested reading material.\n\nLove and blessings.\nDon
600670
I don't know how to answer your question because I have never doubted the existence of Jesus - physically or spiritually.  But I do know my opinion on the Bible being a work of fiction... Think about it this way for a second : Why would the writers of the Bible put so much work into it if it were a work of fiction?  Why would men die for their belief in Jesus if he weren't 'real'?
385739
Actually, there are other references too.  Historical documents exist to suggest other versions as well.  Other gospels, like the gospel of Thomas, the gospel of Mary Magdalene, the gospel of Judas, etc. including the Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John were all written decades after Jesus' death and were not actually written by the named induviduals.  They were marketing tools for the new Christian religion aimed at converting the pagan nonbelievers.
823390
As one opens a New Testament, he or she cannot get past the first page without confronting the doctrine of the virgin birth. The writer Matthew says: "When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 1:18). Joseph, perplexed over the fact that his wife-to-be was pregnant, was given this explanation by an angel in a dream: "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 1:20).\n\nAnother Gospel writer tells of Mary's pregnancy from her perspective. He tells how the angel Gabriel appeared to her to help prepare this young girl for the great event which would occur in her life. He told her, "And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus" (Luke 1:31). Startled at such a thing, for she was a virgin, the angel continued: "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God " (Luke 1:35).\n\nAll four of the Gospels assume the doctrine of the virgin birth; two of them give de- tails about it. And it is all the more amazing that one of these writers (i.e., Luke) is a physician whose training and experience would incline him to deny the possibility of such a birth. Careful historian that we know Luke to have been, he investigated thoroughly and affirmed without hesitation that Jesus of Nazareth was born of a virgin.\n\nSome seven hundred or more years before the birth of Jesus, the Holy Spirit had moved the prophet Isaiah to foretell the miraculous birth of the Messiah. "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Skeptics have tried to eliminate the phenomenon of predictive prophecy from the Bible, but this and many other divinely revealed predictions - all of which came to pass - make their efforts futile.\n\nIsaiah predicted the virgin birth, New Testament writers recorded its occurrence, and it stands as a sign from God as to the identity of Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God and Savior of the world.
288049
#1   I really hope you didn't just say that the bible is historical evidence (maybe it was just misread on my part) \nweather or not jesus was here on this planet is not the real question. there very well could have been a man fitting his description that lived on this planet. The real question is weather or not he is a divine being or not. If there was evidence of his exsistance your best shot would be through roman literature from jesus's contemporary period. not afterward, that would be tainted.
118589
I once read a book that basically studied the life of Jesus. It stated that Jesus was either speaking the truth, or an absolute raving lunatic. Nothing in between...therefore, not a prophet, not an angel, nothing other than God the Son here to fulfill the prophecies of the old testament. \n\nBased on the impact God has had on my life, the real relationship that I have with Him, and the true change that has made in my life, I am positive that every word that came out of Jesus' mouth, was absolutely TRUTH.
525822
Nowhere at all.  In fact, even in the earliest Greek manuscripts of the NT, the word Jesus doesn't exist. In fact in the 1611 Authorized Version the word Jesus doesn't exist. Mostly because the letter J didn't exist yet.  It was the King Iames version back then (isn't Iames a dog food?)\n\nThe Hebrew manuscripts of Matthew indicate that his name was Yeshua.  This is also the name that appears on the Oshuary of James (actually "Yaakov"). The name Yeshua means "Salvation" in Hebrew and exists a number of places. For example, the song that Moses sang after crossing the Red Sea: "The LORD my God is my strength and my song, He also has become my Yeshua". Do some research on the many places that this word is used, you will find it quite interesting.
226984
We cannot really argue who Jesus was according to the Bible, because of the agreed lack of a process of authentic transmission. Can we really put our faith into an English translation of a Greek/Latin translation of another translation of another translation of Aramaic/Hebrew/Syriac writings of Hellenistic Jews who never met Jesus and, according to the Bible actually fought against the Original Disciples and their teachings? Even the sincere men who put together the most accurate translation to date (NIV) say that we still know very little about Jesus. \n\nHence as much as it is great to see passion in believing in Jesus, I hope that we can be sincere enough to review our beliefs for the sake of God. May God guide us all.
693555
On the contrary my friend...\n\nThe writings you mention date from after the time of Christ (and after the writings of the NT gospels).\n\nThe NT gospels were authenticated by immediate disciples of Jesus Christ.\n\nLater writings from 150-1000 years after Jesus were NOT authenticated by the disciples of Jesus Christ (the ones who had actually spent time with Jesus, and so were eyewitnesses of the things he said and did).\n\nCordially,\nJohn
548000
yes, I am intersted. I also have to remember that other writings outside of the Bible aren't always true. If what those "early Christians" wrote doesn't match up Biblically, than I have to choose to reject it. not to say that you can't learn things about the time period and culture from these writings.
587935
I've always thought so..  Even if Jesus did exist (not saying he didn't), seems to me that the church will read the bible how it wants to, and what is that if not an attempt to control the masses and force them to behave acceptably?