Remsburg, in "The Christ" names 42 writers who lived and wrote during the time or within a century after the period when Jesus is said to have existed, and from all their writings only four passages are to be found that might possibly support the historicity of Jesus. And of those four passages, not a single one can stand any critical test at all.
Christians usually offer eight (8) possible
So, let's see how far 'off-base' Christians are this time around:
Cornelius Tacitus(55-130 A.D.)--Ann- als XV. 44.....It was not until the 15th century A.D. that the account of "Christus" (Ooooops.... ain't a proper name!) was 'discovered' by Poggio Bracciolini (the suspected author of "Annals"!) in Tacitus' writings. It was then published by Johannes de Spire of Venice in 1468 A.D. The account was never referred to prior to the 15th century. The account only represents a report by Christians about a "Christus" in about 117-120 A.D. The account refers to Pilate as 'procurator' (a term not in general use until perhaps 50 yrs. later. Instead, Pilate would have been until then known as 'prefect'). The account mentions a "vast multitude" of Christians in 64 A.D. Rome. Hah!! It also mentions "death by fire".
Hah!! The Romans did not execute by burning. The account has Christians persecuted for their faith. Hah!! (They were persecuted for their political aspirations and sedition......Hmmmmmm, that has a familiar ring, even today!). The account has Christians being burned in Nero's gardens. Hah!! Another account by Tacitcus has fire victims being HOUSED in Nero's gardens! Besides, Nero was in Antium, not Rome, during the course of the fire (according to another account by Tacitus!).
The worshippers of the Sun-god Serapis (Osiris) were called 'Christians' then!!
does Tacitus anywhere refer to Christians.... they were utterly insignificant during his life- time! Nowhere in the whole New Testament do Christians even refer to themselves as 'Christians'. Eusebius' fourth ( and Clement of Alexandria's third) Century catalog of extra- biblical references to Jesus do NOT mention Tacitus account at all!! And on and on and on.........[See G.A. Wells, "The Historical Evidence for Jesus", p.16, for more detail].
Lucian of Samosata....His quotation about some "...man who was crucified in Palestine because he introduced a new cult..." is too nebulous to be given serious attention or concern. Even the Bible N.T. mentions rebels and other Messiahs who paid with their lives for their political aspirations. No biblical Jesus Christ is found in this snippet either.
Seutonius (77-140 A.D.)--Lives of the Caesars, 26.2.....Mention is made of "...Christ- ians, a class of men given to a new and mischievous superstition." And in Life of Claudius, 25.4, he mentions a "...Chrestus..." being expelled from Rome with his followers in about the year 49 A.D.!! Hey, talk about rewriting history! Actually, Chrestus was a fairly common name among Roman freedmen. It was also the Roman name for the Sun-god Serapis (Osiris----see Tacitus above).
The Roman historian Vopiscus said "Those who worship Serapis are the Chrestians...". Can someone please point out for us where Christians find the 'biblical' Jesus Christ in these snippets!! No eye witnesses, no confor- mation, no matching detail, no evidence, no proof..........Yep, sounds like our X'ian 'Apologists' all over again!
Plinius Secundus, Pliny the Younger (Epistles, X.96)...It's a mystery why anyone would quote this writer as evidence for the biblical Jesus Christ. About the year 113 A.D., he merely mentions his experiences with a cult that calls itself Christians, and who wor- ship a Christ as a god, using sacrificial flesh of their victims. It is an incredible libel to suggest that the gentle Pliny would torture two women in Asia Minor (modern Turkey!) from a large Christian population (?). Insofar as Christ's divinity was not established and canonized until 325 A.D., 'Christians' would NOT then be worshipping him anyhow! First published in the 16th century, it was immed- iately declared spurious.
Thallus...Tsk, tsk, X'ians! You really should check your sources before publishing them here. Looks like someone has been feeding them information from F.F. Bruce or perhaps Josh McDowell's "Evidence that Demands a Verdict" (Chapter 5). Or do you really expect anyone objectively to take that sort of apologist material seriously? Thallus and his (non-existent) comments about a 'darkness' somehow evidence the existence of the biblical Jesus Christ !! Perhaps, they'd be so good as to elaborate and expound on this so as to provide a convincing argument for your belief in your Jesus Christ. We're all eagerly awaiting to hear how Thallus' 'darkness' can be used as historical extra-biblical evidence for the biblical Jesus Christ.
Phlegon....Hey X'ians, after your offering of Thallus, do you think I'm gonna' waste one minute of my time running this one down.
Letter of Mara Bar-Seraphon (after 73 A.D.!)....Very weak offering ! The quotation "What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise king?" is most un-convincing. Jesus Christ was never the king of the Jews. The Bible reveals as much! Besides, are you taking the stance that the Jews 'executed' Jesus Christ? Slippery slope again, Christians!