In a simple definition, evidence could mean anything that furnishes proof. It could also mean an outward indication or sign that holds something to be true or proved.
In a literal sense, evidence means proof that validates the establishment of something with the view of arriving at a certain conclusion or a chosen matter. Evidence could either be scientific or historical.
Scientific evidence focuses on anything that should be repeatable, observable, and testable, even though it negates historical events. While historical evidence mainly consists of concrete historical data confirmed by an eyewitness, archeological findings, and written documents. It is this type of evidence that shows the occurrence or existence of a particular event or person.
Existence, on the other hand, is a state of coming into being whether in physical, material, or spiritual form. It connotes the state and reality of coming into being.
Coming back to our main topic: The existence of Jesus is still being doubted by so many people around the globe, scholars and none scholars.
Some of them based their point of argument on the fact that all the sources referred to on the existence of Jesus Christ come from hearsay accounts, which means the information came from the writings of people who have not lived during the time of Jesus.
Another group also went on to repudiate all the Gospels written about Jesus because they were written by unknown authors after the time and that none of the books’ original manuscripts exist.
Elain, Pagels, was of this view when he stated in his book, that; “Although the Gospels of the New Testaments- like those discovered at Nag Hammadi- are attributed to Jesus’ followers, no one knows who actually wrote them” (Pagels, 1995).
But despite this denial, a considerable number of scholars used concrete evidence outside the Bible to confirm that Jesus lived roughly around 2 BC and 33 AD.
One of the well-known none Christian historians, Will Durant, wrote on the historical validity of Jesus Christ in his book. H e says, “The denial of the existence seemed never to have occurred even to the bitterest gentile, Jewish opponents of nascent Christianity” (Durant. P. 557).
Also, a famous Jewish historian and writer for the Roman government in the 70’S AD, Josephus, has recorded the death of John the Baptist in the hands of Herod and the Christ, who was the brother of Jesus, by stoning, “The brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James….. He delivered them to be stoned”, (Antiquities of The Jews).
This is significant evidence out of the Bible for the existence of Jesus, as both John the Baptist and James (Christ) were somehow related to him. Another important thing attached to this evidence is the fact that Josephus was believed to have lived during the time of Christ.
The foremost evidence outside the Bible for the existence of Jesus are those that came from the Holy Quran. This was due to the undisputed Divine nature of the Holy Book.
The Quran has given an extensive story of Jesus Christ right from the womb to his prophetic life as in the following chapter and verses: Chapter 19: 16-34:
“Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.
She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then, We sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.
She said: “I seek refuge from thee to ((Allah)) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah.”
He said: “Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son.
She said: “How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?”
He said: “So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, ‘that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us’: It is a matter (so) decreed.”
So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place.
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree: She cried (in her anguish): “Ah! Would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!”
But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): “Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee;
“And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.
“So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man, say, ‘I have vowed a fast to ((Allah)) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being’”
At length, she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: “O Mary! Truly an amazing thing hast thou brought!
“O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!”
But she pointed to the babe. They said: “How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?”
He said: “I am indeed a servant of Allah. He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet;
“And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I will be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live;
“(He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable;
“So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)”!
Such (was) Jesus, the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute.
These are a few pieces of evidence out of the Holy Bible which proved the existence of Jesus Christ.
Annotated bibliography
1. Pagels, Elaine, “The origin of Satan,” Random House, New York, 1995.
Summary
This book has talked extensively about the denial of evidence that proves the existence of Jesus Christ and even other prophets. And it has been the book of citation as far as the negation of evidence on highly esteemed personalities is concerned.
Quotation
(“Although the Gospels of the New Testaments- like those discovered at Nag Hammadi- are attributed to Jesus’ followers, no one knows who actually wrote them” (Pagels, 1995.)
Reliability of sources
The author, Pagels, Alain, has been outspoken on this issue and is well known on the Criticisms of evidence.
2. Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVIII, ch. V, p. 20.
Summary
This book is one of the most authentic in the history of the Jews. It has been the source of research for most students on historical facts. The book has also given strength to the followers of the Christian Faith in as much as the historical evidence about the existence of Jesus is a concern.
Quotation
“The brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James….. He delivered them to be stoned” (Antiquities of The Jews).
Reliability of sources.
Josephus has been one of the leading historians who excelled in Jewish history. His book, the “Antiquities of The Jews,” is widely consulted as a major source of Jewish traditions.
3. Abdullahi, Yusuf, Ali, “The Meaning of the Holy Quran, New Edition, with revised Translation and commentary, Amana Corporation, Brentwood, Maryland, USA, 1989.
Summary
The Quranic Translation of Abdullahi Yusuf Ali has one of the best, if not the best English version of this Holy Book. It has almost clocked a century and is still widely acceptable to students and teachers on Quranic textual studies. It will continue to excel in this field.
Quotation
“Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.
She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then, We sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.
She said: “I seek refuge from thee to ((Allah)) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah.”
He said: “Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son.
She said: “How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?”
He said: “So (it will be): Thy Lord saith, ‘that is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men, and a Mercy from Us’:It is a
matter (so) decreed.”
So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place………………,
Reliability of source.
Late Abdullahi, Yusuf Ali, has been outstanding in the field of Quranic studies. He spent most of his life in studies until he becomes an authority in translation and commentaries. He has studied from well-known scholars all over the Muslim World.