While it's easy for some to question whether Jesus was God come to earth to save His creation, there is also a lot of debate about whether he was an actual person or something more like a religious legend. Below are the major, widely accepted, non Christian sources that wrote about Jesus or His followers during or near his lifetime. Some of the sources are neutral others even hostile.
1. Tacitus (Roman historian, c. AD 116)
Work: Annals 15.44 Who he was: One of Rome’s greatest historians; hostile to Christianity.
What he says:
* Jesus (called Christus) was executed
* Execution was by Pontius Pilate
* Occurred during the reign of Tiberius
* Christians were already numerous in Rome
Key line (paraphrased):
“Christus, from whom the name [Christian] had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate.”
Why it matters: Tacitus independently confirms the crucifixion, the timeframe, and the Roman authority involved.
2. Josephus (Jewish historian, c. AD 93)
Work: Antiquities of the Jews
Who he was: A Pharisaic Jew writing for a Roman audience.
a. The James Passage (universally accepted)
Antiquities 20.9.1
Josephus refers to:
* “James, the brother of Jesus who is called Christ”
Why it matters: Confirms Jesus existed, was known as “Christ,” and had a following significant enough to identify people by association with Him.
b. The Testimonium Flavianum (partially authentic)
Antiquities 18.3.3
Most scholars agree:
* Some Christian phrases were later added
* A core reference to Jesus is authentic
Reconstructed core includes:
* Jesus was a wise man
* He performed remarkable deeds
* He was crucified under Pilate
* His followers continued after his death
3. Pliny the Younger (Roman governor, c. AD 112)
Work: Letters 10.96
Who he was: Governor of Bithynia writing to Emperor Trajan.
What he reports about Christians:
* They worship Christ “as a god”
* They meet regularly
* They sing hymns to Christ
* They commit themselves to moral behavior
Why it matters: Shows that within 80 years of the crucifixion, Jesus was worshiped as divine by large numbers of people.
4. Lucian of Samosata (Greek satirist, c. AD 165)
Who he was: A mocking critic of religion.
What he says (paraphrased):
* Christians worship a crucified sage
* He introduced new teachings
* His followers live by his laws
* They are willing to die for him
Why it matters: Confirms the crucifixion and the devotion of early Christians, even while ridiculing them.
5. Mara bar-Serapion (Syrian Stoic, c. AD 70–100+)
Work: A letter to his son
What he mentions:
* The Jews executed their “wise king”
* His teachings lived on after his death
* Judgment followed the Jews afterward
Why it matters: Likely a non-Christian reflection on Jesus as a teacher unjustly killed.
6. Babylonian Talmud (compiled later, material earlier)
What it says (hostile):
* Jesus was executed
* Accused of leading Israel astray
* Execution occurred near Passover
Why it matters:
Even hostile Jewish sources concede:
* Jesus existed
* He was executed
* He was influential
Core Historical Facts These Sources Establish
From non-Christian sources alone, historians can affirm that:
* Jesus of Nazareth existed
* He was known as Christ
* He was a teacher
* He was crucified
* The crucifixion was under Pontius Pilate
* It occurred during Tiberius’ reign
* His followers believed He rose and continued worshiping Him
* Christianity spread rapidly despite persecution
Bottom Line (Historian’s Consensus):
Even skeptical scholars agree:
Jesus is one of the best-attested figures of the ancient world, especially among non-elite individuals. The real historical debate is not whether Jesus existed or was crucified, but who He was, which is precisely where the Gospels make their claim.