MYTH #3: CHRISTIANITY HAS NO HISTORICAL BASIS

Posted by Scott Palmer on 24 September 2014 | Comments

MYTH #3: CHRISTIANITY HAS NO HISTORICAL BASIS

It seems that one of the growing critiques of Christianity is that it is not rooted in history.  This myth got my attention because it runs against everything I was taught in college and seminary.  I know when I say, ‘what I was taught in college and seminary’ you might think well what else are they going to tell you at OBU and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  Maybe I got some biased information.

I had always heard that the fact that Jesus was born in Palestine, lived, taught, died by crucifixion and his followers claimed He rose from the dead was pretty much a confirmed historical fact.  Yet, now some are saying that maybe Jesus never existed.  So where did this myth come from?  I am not sure.  The only recent source that I know of is that some of the new atheists, namely Richard Dawkins in his book THE GOD DELUSION claims that the historicity of Jesus and the Gospel is at best weak. 

Dr. John Dickson said “Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens go so far as even question the existence of Jesus.  They all say you can’t decide whether  Jesus lived and Richard Dawkins says that a serious historical case can be made that Jesus never lived at all has been made by Professor GA Wills of London University.”  He goes on to say that Professor Willis is not even a professor of history but  a professor of the German language at the University of London.  Dickson question’s whether being a professor of German gives you the credentials to write a book on the history of Jesus.  In other words, it is a very weak source to make a radical claim that Jesus is not a historical figure.

In the debate, “Has Science Buried God?” between John Lennox and Richard Dawkins.  Lennox says to Dawkins from reading your book  (The God Delusion) you say that it is under scholarly dispute among ancient historians as to whether Jesus even existed.  Lennox says to him that is not true.  He says, I have checked and I know of no ancient historian that would deny that Jesus existed.  Dawkins response was that there might be one or two but it does not matter because it is petty.  I understand that it might really be a petty issue with Dawkins but it is not a petty issue when it comes to the validity of the Gospel. 

Why?  Because the Christian faith is a faith based on historical fact.  Paul put it simply, “For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either.  And if Christ was not raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your trust in God is useless… And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still under condemnation for your sins.” I Cor. 15: 14-17 (NLT)  The apostle is saying if it is not a historical fact that Jesus existed, died on the cross and in this passage rose from the dead our faith is in vain.  It is not true.  It is a joke.  So the question becomes did Jesus exist?

The first place to look is at the New Testament.  Obviously, it shows that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, taught, died on a Roman Cross, was buried, rose from the dead, ascended back to heaven and one day is coming again.  Some would say that you cannot argue the validity of Jesus life and ministry from the NT because the writers were bias. I understand that argument but the writers of the NT paid a high price for their faith.   Dr. Frank Turek talks about excruciating Testimony when it comes to the New Testament.  The fact that many of the apostles died excruciating deaths for claiming Jesus rose from the dead when they could have saved themselves by doing otherwise.  Peter, Andrew and Philip were crucified, Bartholomew flayed to death, James the greater, beheaded, Matthew died by a sword, Matthias was stoned. You might die for a lie if you thought it was true but you would not die for a lie if you knew it was a lie.  These men were so changed by the historical fact Jesus was crucified and then rose from the dead that they were willing to lay down their lives.  In my mind, that cannot be ignored.

Dr. John Dickson points out that Jesus appears in 11 non-Christian references from antiquity.  One of the more important texts is from the greatest of the Roman historians Tacitus.  He confirms Jesus execution under Pontius Pilate. 

Gaius  Suetonius Tranquillus confirms the Christian faith being founded by Christ.  Pliny the Younger admits to torturing and executing Christians who refused to deny Christ.  Celcus was a second century Roman author who strongly opposed Christianity and went to great lengths to disprove the divinity of Christ but NEVER denied his existence. 

Another important reference comes from Josephus the Jewish historian who mentions Jesus on two occasions.  On one occasion he confirms that Jesus was a famous teacher and healer and that he was executed under Pontius Pilate.  In another reference he says, that Jesus has a brother called James who was likewise executed and that Jesus was known by the title, Christ. 

I agree with Dr. Dickson’s conclusion. “My point here is very simple.  It’s that Jesus’ existence, his fame as a teacher and reputed healer, his crucifixion under Pontius Pilate and the fact that he went under the title Christ would be regarded as beyond reasonable doubt by virtually all professional historians in universities around the world.  In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I don’t think you would find a professional historian in any reputable university in the world who things that the core facts are not in fact facts.”

So is the Christian faith rooted in history?  Absolutely!  The Christian faith is a factual faith rooted in history.

Pastor Scott

Dr. John Dickson, “Why Historians Take The Gospel Seriously” 2011 Ahmanson Lectures on Apologetics at Saddleback Church

Dr. Frank Turek, “10 Reasons Why We Know The New Testament Is True” 2011 Ahmanson Lectures on Apologetics at Saddleback Church

Debate “Has Science Buried God?” Richard Dawkins vs. John Lennox http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0UIbd0eLxw