Transcript Classical/historical sources

Historical Sources
Central Sources for
Understanding Jesus
Josephus
Tacitus
Pliny
Suetonius
Classical Sources
 Josephus: Antiquities of the Jews (94
CE)

References to Jesus, John the Baptist, and
others
Josephus


Jewish historian
Mentioned Jesus in his writings
toward the end of the first century
 Discusses disturbances that
were caused by the Jews
during the time Pontius Pilate
was governor of the region of
Judea.

These disturbances
centered around a
man named Jesus and
his followers.
Identifies Jesus as “a wise
man… a doer of wonderful
works, a teacher of men who
receive the truth with
pleasure.”
 Would have had no reason to
accept the historical reality of
Jesus

Classical sources
 Tacitus: History (105 CE)


References to a “Christus,
the founder of the name,” and
his death by Pontius Pilate.
References to Nero’s famous
early persecution of
Christians.
Classical sources
 Roman historian
 Referred to Jesus in his
account of a fire that
burned Rome in the
year 64 C.E.
 Had no great love for
that strange group of
people called
Christians
Classical Sources
 Pliny the Younger: Letters to
Trajan (110 CE)
 References to the early
Christian sect and early
persecution under
Emperor Trajan.
Classical Sources
 Governor of one of the Roman
provinces in Asia Minor
 He wrote to the emperor Trajan for
advice on what to do about the
Christians.
 The Roman officials were
always concerned about the
growth of any political or
religious sect
Classical sources
 Suetonius: Twelve Caesars (120
CE)
 References to expulsion of “Jews
of Rome” because of riots
instigated by “Chrestus”
Classical sources
 Roman historian and a lawyer.
 Compiled biographies of several
Roman emperors.
 He stated that Claudius expelled the
Jews from Rome because of the
riots they were constantly causing
“on the instigation of Chresturs.”
 Scholars agree that Chrestus
refers to Christ
 All of these men were
non-Christians.

Through their
writings they
support the
historical
existence of
Jesus