Did a first-century historian outside the Bible confirm the existence of Jesus? Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian writing around 90 CE, mentioned Jesus in his work Antiquities of the Jews. His accounts provide valuable insight into Jesus’ life, teachings, and the movement he inspired. In this video, we break down Josephus’ writings, analyze their authenticity, and explain why they matter in the historical debate about Jesus.

📌 Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction Did Jesus really exist? Some skeptics claim he was a myth, but ancient sources outside the Bible tell a different story. One of the most important non-Christian sources is Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian who wrote about Jesus in the first century.

00:58 - Who Was Flavius Josephus? Josephus was a Jewish priest, military leader, and historian who lived during the first century. His works, particularly Antiquities of the Jews, provide an extensive record of Jewish history and include two key references to Jesus.

01:58 - Josephus’ First Mention of Jesus: The Brother of James Josephus briefly mentions Jesus when discussing the death of James, the leader of the early Christian church in Jerusalem. He writes that James was “the brother of Jesus, called Christ,” a simple but powerful statement confirming Jesus’ existence.

03:15 - The Famous Testimonium Flavianum In another passage, Josephus describes Jesus as a wise teacher and miracle worker who was condemned to the cross by Pontius Pilate. While some scholars believe later Christian scribes may have added phrases, the core of this passage is widely accepted as authentic.

05:43 - Why Josephus’ Testimony Matters As a Jewish historian with no Christian bias, Josephus’ mention of Jesus is one of the strongest pieces of evidence for Jesus’ historical existence. His writings align with the New Testament’s depiction of Jesus’ life and influence.

06:45 - The Authenticity of Josephus’ Writings Some skeptics claim Josephus’ references to Jesus were forged. However, scholars have carefully analyzed the text and concluded that while minor edits may have been made, the passages are overwhelmingly authentic.

07:48 - Why Didn’t More Ancient Historians Mention Jesus? Why don’t we have more records of Jesus from non-Christian sources? The truth is, Jesus was not a political leader or a military figure, making him less significant to Roman historians at the time. However, as Christianity grew, historians like Josephus took notice.

08:40 - Conclusion: Josephus Confirms Jesus’ Existence Josephus’ writings prove that Jesus was a real historical figure, not a myth. His descriptions confirm key details found in the Bible, strengthening the case for Jesus’ life and impact.

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Music:

‘Titan’ by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

‘Ephemera’ by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

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