Despite being considered as the central figure for one of the world's major religions, the actual historical evidence that Jesus Christ existed is actually quite thin. While there is a historical Jesus revealed by scholarly study, the facts as they stand at the moment are beguiling enigmatic. Nevertheless, examining Jesus in this way is illuminating on several levels.
One major source for information on the life of the Christ who existed historically is the New Testament, though there are a number of provisos which must be established before studying it in this context. The same criteria which historians apply to other historical documents must also be applied to the New Testament, and it should be used with caution.
The New Testament was not, after all, adopted as the Bible of Christianity until approximately 150 years after the death of Christ. Prior to that, early Christians had used the Septuagint, or Greek Old Testament, as their primary text. The New Testament was also written, in large part, by men who had never met or seen Christ.
It also needs to be remembered, when examining the New Testament in the manner of a historian, that there are credibility issues with much of the writing. It was written with the intention of highlighting the power and charisma of Christ, and highlighting many aspects of him which might be considered divine. Much of it was also composed many years after the events of Christ's life.
There are other issues associated with the creation of the New Testament which historians need to be aware of when studying this topic. There was an era of debate and dissension within early Christianity, which lasted for around 200 years or so after Christ's passing. Much of this early Christian writing was also put together by Gentiles, who lived outside of the geographical area where most of the relevant events had occurred.
This article is not here to debate the theological origins of Christianity, but it is wise to remember that the New Testament must be studied as a historical, rather than theological, document in this context. Other sources can be used to back up its study, though. Many of these were written by Romans, whose Empire was the main source of massive power at the time of Christ's existence.
Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus is one writer who makes direct reference to Christ in his writings, when he describes the persecution of early Christians in Rome, during the reign of the Emperor Nero. Another historian who refers to Christ directly is Thallus, who in 52AD mentioned Christ's crucifixion and a possible simultaneous eclipse. Christ was not actually proclaimed a deity until the fourth century AD.
The hunt for the historical Jesus revealed many interesting aspects of this important figure's life over the last century or so. Anyone studying the topic needs to be aware of the tendentious aspects of many sources, though. When those tendencies are carefully filtered, then a real picture of Christ, an important figure to so many people all across the world, can at last be revealed.
One major source for information on the life of the Christ who existed historically is the New Testament, though there are a number of provisos which must be established before studying it in this context. The same criteria which historians apply to other historical documents must also be applied to the New Testament, and it should be used with caution.
The New Testament was not, after all, adopted as the Bible of Christianity until approximately 150 years after the death of Christ. Prior to that, early Christians had used the Septuagint, or Greek Old Testament, as their primary text. The New Testament was also written, in large part, by men who had never met or seen Christ.
It also needs to be remembered, when examining the New Testament in the manner of a historian, that there are credibility issues with much of the writing. It was written with the intention of highlighting the power and charisma of Christ, and highlighting many aspects of him which might be considered divine. Much of it was also composed many years after the events of Christ's life.
There are other issues associated with the creation of the New Testament which historians need to be aware of when studying this topic. There was an era of debate and dissension within early Christianity, which lasted for around 200 years or so after Christ's passing. Much of this early Christian writing was also put together by Gentiles, who lived outside of the geographical area where most of the relevant events had occurred.
This article is not here to debate the theological origins of Christianity, but it is wise to remember that the New Testament must be studied as a historical, rather than theological, document in this context. Other sources can be used to back up its study, though. Many of these were written by Romans, whose Empire was the main source of massive power at the time of Christ's existence.
Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus is one writer who makes direct reference to Christ in his writings, when he describes the persecution of early Christians in Rome, during the reign of the Emperor Nero. Another historian who refers to Christ directly is Thallus, who in 52AD mentioned Christ's crucifixion and a possible simultaneous eclipse. Christ was not actually proclaimed a deity until the fourth century AD.
The hunt for the historical Jesus revealed many interesting aspects of this important figure's life over the last century or so. Anyone studying the topic needs to be aware of the tendentious aspects of many sources, though. When those tendencies are carefully filtered, then a real picture of Christ, an important figure to so many people all across the world, can at last be revealed.
About the Author:
Read more about Seeking The Historical Jesus Revealed Some Tantalising Evidence visiting our website.