Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In his Annals, the Roman historian Tacitus (AD 56 - AD 120) discussed the Christian sect in writing about the Roman emperor Nero, stating that "Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius."

The Babylonian Talmud (a Jewish document dating to the second century after Christ) refers to Jesus having led the Jews astray. It mentions Jesus' supernatural powers, which were regarded as sorcery, and which led to His trial and crucifixion.

The Jewish historian Titus Flavius Josephus (AD 37 - AD 100) referred to Jesus as a wise, good, and virtuous man who attracted many disciples, and who was condemned and crucified by Pilate. He also noted that Jesus' disciples claimed that He had risen from the dead, which led to their belief that He was the Messiah. (Josephus also made a reference in his writings to the beheading of John the Baptist at the command of Herod Antipas.)

Mara bar-Serapion, a Syrian Stoic philosopher, wrote a letter to his son that most scholars date to the late first century AD. The letter referred to the unjust deaths of "three wise men": Socrates, Pythagoras, and Jesus, to whom Mara referred as "the wise king of the Jews".

The Roman historian Pliny the Younger (AD 61 - AD 113), in his capacity as the Roman governor of Bithynia and Pontus, wrote a letter to the Roman emperor Trajan, soliciting his advice on how to deal with Christians, whom he reported as singing hymns to Christ as a god, and refusing to worship the emperor, or to offer sacrifices to him.

(In addition, although not mentioning Jesus specifically, other ancient writers speak of a widespread darkness that occurred at a time corresponding to the darkness reported in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) at the time of Jesus' crucifixion.)

December 14 2019 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report