Despite Jesus Christ being one of the world's most iconic religious figures, there is a genuine paucity of evidence to support the claim that he existed as a historical person. Several studies of the historical Jesus revealed enigmatic and enticing shreds of evidence, though. Examining the life of the historical Christ can be the source of new insights on the life of this important figure.
Of course, one of the main sources for details about the actual life of Christ is the Bible, or, more specifically, the New Testament. When conducting a historical study, though, it is important to remember that the same rigour must be applied to their study and to their context as to any other historical document. Historians using the New Testament as a source must therefore show extreme caution.
It is also worth remembering that the New Testament was not established as the Bible of Christianity until 150 years after Christ had been executed. The Septuagint, or Greek Old Testament, was used up until that point. As for the authors of the New Testament, many had never seen Jesus, and certainly never met him either.
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.
Anyone who wants to study the New Testament as a historian also needs to be aware of several other issues which pertain the credibility of the texts. The early years of Christianity were marked by much dissension, and it took quite a while until the New Testament took the form we know today. Much of it was also written by non-Jews, who lived outside the region where the events had taken place.
While any debate about the theological roots of Christianity is beyond the bounds of this article, it is essential to treat the New Testament as any other historical document would be treated when studying the history of Christ. There are other sources which can complement its study, though. Many of these documents come from the Roman tradition.
Direct reference to Christ can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus, who wrote about Christ directly when giving his account of Nero's persecution of Roman Christians. Another historian who mentioned Christ was Thallus. He referred to an eclipse occurring at the time of the Crucifixion, even though Christ was not declared a deity until the fourth century.
Those historians who are seeking for the historical Jesus revealed have several different sources that they can use, whether they are documents from the Christian or other traditions. All sources need to be treated with the same level of caution, though. Only then can the real life of this extraordinary figure, who exerts such influence on history, be revealed.
Of course, one of the main sources for details about the actual life of Christ is the Bible, or, more specifically, the New Testament. When conducting a historical study, though, it is important to remember that the same rigour must be applied to their study and to their context as to any other historical document. Historians using the New Testament as a source must therefore show extreme caution.
It is also worth remembering that the New Testament was not established as the Bible of Christianity until 150 years after Christ had been executed. The Septuagint, or Greek Old Testament, was used up until that point. As for the authors of the New Testament, many had never seen Jesus, and certainly never met him either.
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.
Anyone who wants to study the New Testament as a historian also needs to be aware of several other issues which pertain the credibility of the texts. The early years of Christianity were marked by much dissension, and it took quite a while until the New Testament took the form we know today. Much of it was also written by non-Jews, who lived outside the region where the events had taken place.
While any debate about the theological roots of Christianity is beyond the bounds of this article, it is essential to treat the New Testament as any other historical document would be treated when studying the history of Christ. There are other sources which can complement its study, though. Many of these documents come from the Roman tradition.
Direct reference to Christ can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus, who wrote about Christ directly when giving his account of Nero's persecution of Roman Christians. Another historian who mentioned Christ was Thallus. He referred to an eclipse occurring at the time of the Crucifixion, even though Christ was not declared a deity until the fourth century.
Those historians who are seeking for the historical Jesus revealed have several different sources that they can use, whether they are documents from the Christian or other traditions. All sources need to be treated with the same level of caution, though. Only then can the real life of this extraordinary figure, who exerts such influence on history, be revealed.
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