CHRIST'S EXISTENCE AS A HISTORICAL FACT

1. Flavius Josephus
Flavius Josephus, a Pharisee, born around A.D. 37, alluded to Christ in some of his writings: "Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ, and when Pilate, and the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had fortold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named for him are not extinct at this day." - Antiquities. xviii. 33.

2. Seutonius
Seutonius, born in A.D. 120, a Roman historian wrote: "As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus (Christus or Christ) he expelled them from Rome." - Life of Claudius 25.4

3. Tertullian
Tertullian, a theologian wrote of Christ as well: "Tiberius accordingly, in those days the Christian name made its entry into the world, having himself received intelligence from the truth of Christ's divinity, brought the matter before the senate, with his own decision in favor of Christ. The senate, because it had not given the approval itself, rejected the proposal. Caesar held to his opinion, threatening wrath against all the accusers of the Christians." - Apology V.12

4. Mara Bar-Serapion
A letter sent from someone called Mara Bar-Serapion alludes to Jesus Christ as "the Wise King" and also tells of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies after Jesus was crucified: "What advantage did the Athenians gain from putting Socrates to death? Famine and plague came upon them as judgment for their crime. What advantage did the men of Samos gain from burning Pythagoras? In a moment their land was covered with sand. What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise King? It was just after that that their kingdom was abolished. God justly avenged three wise men: the Athenians died of hunger; the Samians were overwhelmed by the sea; the Jews, ruined and driven from their land, live in complete dispersion. But Socrates did not die for good; he lived on in the teaching of Plato. Pythagoras did not die for good; he lived on in the statue of Hera. Nor did the wise King die for good; He lived on in the teaching which He had given."

5. Tol'doth Yeshu
In the Tol'doth Yeshu, part of the Jewish Talmuds, Jesus is referred to as "Ben Pandera". In other Talmuds, Christ is also referred to as Jeshu ben Pandera. (Pandera most likely came from the Greek word "parthenos", which means virgin, since Jesus was born of a virgin)

6. The Amoa 'Ulla'
Ulla, a third-century Palestinian writer speaks of Jesus in his "Amoa 'Ulla'": "And do you suppose that for Yeshu (Hebrew name for Jesus) of Nazareth, there was any right of appeal? He was a beguiler, and the Merciful One hath said: 'Thou shalt not spare, neither shalt thou conceal him.' It was otherwise with Yeshu, for he was near to the civil authority."

7. Roman Government Inscription
In the ruins of Marquofiae, there is a Roman government inscription referring to the persecution of Christ and His followers by Emporer Nero. The inscription reads:

8. Eusebius
Eusebius, a fourth-century historian quoted in his Ecclesiastical History from the works of another historian, Hegesippus: "The same emporer (Caesar Domitian) ordered the execution of all who were of David's line, and there is an old and firm tradition that a group of heretics accused the descendants of Jude--the brother, humanly speaking, of the Saviour--on the ground that they were of David's line and related to Christ himself."

9. Babylonian Talmud Disciple Reference
In the Babylonian Talmud, five of Jesus' disciples were mentioned: "Our rabbis taught: Yeshu (Jesus) had five disciples--Mattai (Matthew), Nakkai (Luke), Netzer (Andrew), Buni (John), and Todah (Thaddeus).

10. Josephus' Writings about James (Earthly Brother of Christ)
In his works, Josephus writes: "As therefore Ananus was of such a disposition, he thought he had now a good opportunity, as Festus was now dead, and Albinus was still on the road; so he assembles a council of judges, and brought before it the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ, whose name was James, together with some others, and having accused them as law-breakers, he delivered them over to be stoned.