From http://www.biblehistory.net/
The first historical evidence for the life of Jesus, mentioned outside of the Bible, comes from a Jewish historian named Josephus. Josephus was born in 37 A.D., just a few years after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the son of a priest named Matthias and at the age of 19 he became a Pharisee in Jerusalem. Later in his life he was appointed a commander in Galilee during the Jewish revolt against Rome. After surrendering to the Romans, he was taken before the Roman Commander Vespasian and prophesied that God had shown him in a dream that Vespasian and his son Titus would soon become Emperor's of Rome. Shortly afterwards the dream became reality and Josephus became a member of Vespasian's household. During his stay in Rome he wrote two works dealing with Jewish history. In his work entitled Jewish Antiquities which was written between 70 and 100 A.D. he mentions Jesus the Messiah.
Josephus is quoted below by Eusebius, an early Christian Bishop, in 324 A.D.: "About this time lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one should call him a man. For he did many deeds that were out of the ordinary and was a teacher of those who accept the truth. Many of the Jews and Greeks put their trust in him. He was the Messiah. When our chief leaders accused him, Pilate condemned him to the cross, but those who had come to love him originally did not cease to do so; for he had appeared to them on the third day alive again, as the prophets of God had spoken of these and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so named after him, remains to this present day." A later Arabic manuscript written by a tenth-century Melkite historian named Agapius also quotes from the same passage of Josephus as follows: "At this time there was a wise man called Jesus, and his actions were good, and he was known to be holy. Many people among the Jews and other nations became his followers. He was condemned to be crucified and to die by the order of Pilate. But those who had become his disciples did not stray from his teaching. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Thus, he may have been the Christ, concerning whom the prophets have reported wondrous things. And the Christians, so named after him, have not disappeared to this very day."
For many years, critics of those who believe the bible to be 100% accurate, used a passage found in the bible to point out an apparent historical error. Luke 2:1-2 states: "And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria." Since the bible states that Jesus was born before the death of Herod the Great who died in the spring of 4 B.C., critics claimed that the Bible was in error, since history records that Quirinius was not appointed governor of Syria until 6 A.D. The Roman historian Tertullian also recorded that Sentius Saturninus was governor of Syria from 9-6 B.C. during the first census, not Quirinius. But recently, confirmation that Quirinius was in Syria during the first Roman census taken between 8 B.C. and 5 B.C. has been found. First of all, lets look at a few early census accounts taken from history and see how they match up with the bible. The following is a record of a census taken in the year 104 A.D. which contains similar wording to that found in the gospel: "From the Prefect of Egypt, Gaius Vibius Maximus,: "Being that the time has come for the house to house census, it is necessary to make all men who are living outside of their districts to return to their own homelands, that the census may be carried out ... " Another census was uncovered from 48 A.D. which also records a return of the people to their native land for the census. It reads as follows: "I Thermoutharion along with Apollonius, my guardian, swear by Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Emperor that the preceding document gives an accurate account of those returning, who live in my household, and that there is no one else living with me, neither a foreigner, nor an Alexandrian, nor a freedman, nor a Roman citizen, nor an Egyptian. If I am telling the truth, may it be well with me, but if falsely, the reverse. In the ninth year of Tiberius Claudius Augustus Germanicus Emperor." It is interesting to note that these two census accounts required a person to return to their homeland to be registered. This is also true of the gospel account. A few prominent early church leaders, Justin and Tertullian also believed that a record of the census, including the registration of Joseph and Mary could be found in official archives from the reign of Augustus Caesar, and they referred anyone who questioned his virgin birth to go and check the official records for themselves.
As for Quirinius being the governor of Syria during this census, it is interesting to note that the Bible never calls him the governor, at least the New King James Version doesn't. It says he was governing in Syria, more properly translating the form of the word. Quirinius was governing as a Roman Senator in charge of being the assessor of property in Syria as well as Judea. His name was also mentioned in "Res Gestae - The Deeds of Augustus by Augustus" found in the city of Antioch Pisidia placing him as consul as early as 12 B.C. It may also be possible that he was the military governor of Syria while Sentius Saturninus and Varus went down in history as being the civil governors. The Roman historian Tacitus also mentions that Quirinius was appointed by Augustus to be an advisor to his young son Caius Caesar in Armenia well before the census of 6 A.D. - Caius was sent to administer Syria in 1 A.D. and was wounded in nearby Armenia in 3 A.D. Evidently, Augustus wanted someone who was experienced in previously administering the region to advise his son. Who better then Quirinius. The first century historian Josephus also mentions that Quirinius became governor later on in 6 A.D.: He wrote: "Quirinius, a high ranking Roman senator, was sent by Caesar to be governor of Syria and the assessor of property there and in Judea." So who was in charge as the assessor of property in Judea during the first census? Just as the bible had said all along, Quirinius.
An early mention of the miracles of Christ comes from Julian the Apostate (Roman Emperor from 361-363 A.D.) who was an enemy of Christianity, he wrote: "Jesus......has now been celebrated about three hundred years; having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it a very great work to heal lame and blind people and exercise demons in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany." This statement shows that it was commonly accepted that Jesus performed miracles in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany as recorded in the bible.
Mark 8:22 states that Jesus healed a man who had been blind since birth in Bethsaida, and John 12:1 records that Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead in Bethany. Even the early Jewish Rabbis of the first century did not deny that Jesus performed miracles, but they tried to attribute them to acts of sorcery. A passage taken from the Babylonia Sanhedrin written sometime between 95-110 A.D. states: "During the time of Passover they executed Yeshu (of Nazareth). An announcement was made for forty days before this saying (Yeshu of Nazareth) will be stoned in that he has practiced sorcery and deceived and led Israel astray. Let everyone who knows contrary, come and plead for his defense. But they found nothing in his defense and crucified him ...." Another first century Jewish Rabbi, Eliezer ben Hycranus of Lydda, who lived around 95 A.D., also wrote concerning the magic arts of Jesus in his records. These false allegations by the Jewish leaders are also found in the Bible. Luke 11:14-20 states: "And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. "If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. "And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. "But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."
'Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land..... And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit..... So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!" Matthew 27:45-54 The first reference found outside of the bible mentioning this darkness which fell over the land during the crucifixion of Christ comes from a Samaritan historian named Thallus who wrote around 52 A.D.. His work was quoted by another early historian by the name of Julius Africanus who researched the topic of this darkness and wrote the following:
"It seems very unreasonable to me that Thallus, in the third book of his histories, would try to explain away this darkness as an eclipse of the sun." Another first century historian who also mentions this darkness was Phlegon who wrote a history entitled the "Olympiads." Julius Africanus mentioned a quote taken from the Olympiads which said: "During the reign of Tiberius Caesar an eclipse of the sun occurred during the full moon." Scientifically it is impossible to have a full moon on the same day that there is an eclipse of the sun. Phlegon is also mentioned by Origen in Contra Celsum, Book 2: "Phlegon mentions this darkness in his work the Olympiads."..... "Phlegon wrote that an eclipse occurred during the crucifixion of Christ, and no other. It is evident that he did not know of any such darkening of the sun in previous years.... and the historical account of Tiberius Caesar also verifies this." Phlegon wrote that the darkening of the sun took place during the time of Tiberius Caesar. This verifies the Biblical account found in Luke 3:1 which says that Tiberius was the Roman Emperor at the time of Christ.
Evidence of the life of James, brother of Jesus, can also be found outside of the Bible, from the historian Josephus. In Antiquities XX,197 he mentions James the brother of Jesus and Annas the High priest: "Upon the death of Festus in 62 A.D., Emperor Nero sent Albinus to be procurator of Judea. But before he arrived, King Agrippa appointed Annas to be High priest. He was the son of the elder Annas. (Note: The elder Annas referred to here is the same Annas of the New Testament Gospels.) "The elder Annas had been high priest himself for a time. He had five sons, all whom achieved the priesthood. The younger Annas, however, was a brute and followed the Sadducees, who are heartless when they sit in judgment. With Festus dead and Albinus still traveling, Annas thought that he could have his own way. Calling forth the members of the Sanhedrin, he brought before them a man named James, the brother of Jesus who was called the Christ, and certain others. He accused them of violating the law, and ordered them to be stoned to death." Although the bible doesn't mention it, Josephus states that James was martyred by the Sanhedrin.
In Acts 5:34, a well-respected pharisee by the name of Gamaliel convinces an enraged Sanhedrin not to kill the apostles. Jewish history records much about this man. First of all Gamaliel was the grandson of Hillel. Hillel was held by the Jews as one of their most respected scholars around the time of Christ. The bible also states that Gamaliel was highly regarded by the people, one of their great rabbis, and Jewish writings verify this. An early passage from the Talmud states: "Since Rabbi Gamaliel died, the glory of the law has ceased." Writings found in the Mishnah states: "Since Rabbi Gamaliel the elder died, there has been no more reverence for the law. And purity and abstinence died out at the same time." One of Gamaliel's favorite sayings was "for the benefit of humanity" So respected was he by the people of his day that when Gamaliel died, over seventy pounds of perfumes and ointments were burned in respect for him as the Jews came and paid him tribute. And it was about this man that the apostle Paul stated: "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. Acts 22:3
Another person mentioned in Acts chapter 5 verse 37 is Judas of Galilee, the founding father of the zealots. This man is mentioned by the historian Josephus who gives us a detailed statement concerning him in the following paragraph from his work entitled Jewish Antiquities: "Coponius, a Roman of equestrian order (who ruled from 6-9 AD), was sent out as procurator of Judea with the full authority of Rome, including capital punishment. The high ranking Roman senator, Quirinius, was also sent by Caesar to be governor of Syria and assessor of property there and in Judea (6 AD), .....While the Jews were reluctant to register their property, a certain Judas of Gamala (the Galilean) claimed that this would lead to slavery, so he and a Pharisee named Saddok called for a revolution, starting a new movement (The zealots) which led to ruin." Josephus also mentions Judas and his sons in the following paragraph taken from Jewish Antiquities: "Fadus became procurator, succeeding Tiberius Alexander, and he crucified James and Simon, the sons of Judas the Galilean who led the people into rebellion when Quirinius was taking the census in Judea."
Every year as December 25 rolls around, our minds begin to focus on the birth of that little baby born at Bethlehem. But more than just a baby, The Savior, Christ the Lord. Throughout the ages, in the search for the historical Jesus, many evidences have surfaced which confirm that wonderful event, God becoming man. One such evidence comes from an early Church leader named Origen. He wrote that the actual cave where Jesus was born could be seen by anyone wanting to visit it. He wrote the following in chapter 51 of Volume IV of the Anti-Nicene Fathers. “With respect to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, if anyone after looking into the prophecy of Micah and the history recorded in the sacred writings by the disciples of Jesus. If needing to have additional evidence from other sources, Let him know that the Scriptures are confirmed and the Gospel regarding his birth, for there can be seen at Bethlehem the cave where He was born and the manger in the cave where He was wrapped in swaddling -clothes. And this site is greatly talked about in all the surrounding countries. Even among the enemies our faith it is being said that in this cave Jesus was born, the One who is worshiped and revered by the Christians.“
Typical of this generation, many liberal scholars, in their search for the historical Jesus, have made unwarranted attacks on the accuracy of the Scriptural accounts. These mockers have been around since the days of the early church. One such enemy of Christ was Celsus. Celsus made this comment as recorded by Origen who wrote in depth attacking his heretical views. Celsus is quoted as saying this regarding Jesus: "born in a certain Jewish village, of a poor woman of the country, who made her living by spinning, she was turned out of doors by her husband, a carpenter by trade, because she was convicted of adultery. After being driven away by her husband and wandering about for a time, she gave birth to Jesus, an illegitimate child, who having hired himself out as a servant in Egypt on account of his poverty, and having there acquired some miraculous powers, on which the Egyptians greatly pride themselves, he returned to is own country, highly elated on account of them, and by means of these proclaimed himsef a God." Even though Celsus statements are filled with false accusations, he unwittingly confirms many statements found in the Scripture.
From http://www.biblehistory.net/
The first historical evidence for the life of Jesus, mentioned outside of the Bible, comes from a Jewish historian named Josephus. Josephus was born in 37 A.D., just a few years after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the son of a priest named Matthias and at the age of 19 he became a Pharisee in Jerusalem. Later in his life he was appointed a commander in Galilee during the Jewish revolt against Rome. After surrendering to the Romans, he was taken before the Roman Commander Vespasian and prophesied that God had shown him in a dream that Vespasian and his son Titus would soon become Emperor's of Rome. Shortly afterwards the dream became reality and Josephus became a member of Vespasian's household. During his stay in Rome he wrote two works dealing with Jewish history. In his work entitled Jewish Antiquities which was written between 70 and 100 A.D. he mentions Jesus the Messiah.
Josephus is quoted below by Eusebius, an early Christian Bishop, in 324 A.D.: "About this time lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one should call him a man. For he did many deeds that were out of the ordinary and was a teacher of those who accept the truth. Many of the Jews and Greeks put their trust in him. He was the Messiah. When our chief leaders accused him, Pilate condemned him to the cross, but those who had come to love him originally did not cease to do so; for he had appeared to them on the third day alive again, as the prophets of God had spoken of these and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so named after him, remains to this present day." A later Arabic manuscript written by a tenth-century Melkite historian named Agapius also quotes from the same passage of Josephus as follows: "At this time there was a wise man called Jesus, and his actions were good, and he was known to be holy. Many people among the Jews and other nations became his followers. He was condemned to be crucified and to die by the order of Pilate. But those who had become his disciples did not stray from his teaching. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Thus, he may have been the Christ, concerning whom the prophets have reported wondrous things. And the Christians, so named after him, have not disappeared to this very day."
For many years, critics of those who believe the bible to be 100% accurate, used a passage found in the bible to point out an apparent historical error. Luke 2:1-2 states: "And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria." Since the bible states that Jesus was born before the death of Herod the Great who died in the spring of 4 B.C., critics claimed that the Bible was in error, since history records that Quirinius was not appointed governor of Syria until 6 A.D. The Roman historian Tertullian also recorded that Sentius Saturninus was governor of Syria from 9-6 B.C. during the first census, not Quirinius. But recently, confirmation that Quirinius was in Syria during the first Roman census taken between 8 B.C. and 5 B.C. has been found. First of all, lets look at a few early census accounts taken from history and see how they match up with the bible. The following is a record of a census taken in the year 104 A.D. which contains similar wording to that found in the gospel: "From the Prefect of Egypt, Gaius Vibius Maximus,: "Being that the time has come for the house to house census, it is necessary to make all men who are living outside of their districts to return to their own homelands, that the census may be carried out ... " Another census was uncovered from 48 A.D. which also records a return of the people to their native land for the census. It reads as follows: "I Thermoutharion along with Apollonius, my guardian, swear by Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Emperor that the preceding document gives an accurate account of those returning, who live in my household, and that there is no one else living with me, neither a foreigner, nor an Alexandrian, nor a freedman, nor a Roman citizen, nor an Egyptian. If I am telling the truth, may it be well with me, but if falsely, the reverse. In the ninth year of Tiberius Claudius Augustus Germanicus Emperor." It is interesting to note that these two census accounts required a person to return to their homeland to be registered. This is also true of the gospel account. A few prominent early church leaders, Justin and Tertullian also believed that a record of the census, including the registration of Joseph and Mary could be found in official archives from the reign of Augustus Caesar, and they referred anyone who questioned his virgin birth to go and check the official records for themselves.
As for Quirinius being the governor of Syria during this census, it is interesting to note that the Bible never calls him the governor, at least the New King James Version doesn't. It says he was governing in Syria, more properly translating the form of the word. Quirinius was governing as a Roman Senator in charge of being the assessor of property in Syria as well as Judea. His name was also mentioned in "Res Gestae - The Deeds of Augustus by Augustus" found in the city of Antioch Pisidia placing him as consul as early as 12 B.C. It may also be possible that he was the military governor of Syria while Sentius Saturninus and Varus went down in history as being the civil governors. The Roman historian Tacitus also mentions that Quirinius was appointed by Augustus to be an advisor to his young son Caius Caesar in Armenia well before the census of 6 A.D. - Caius was sent to administer Syria in 1 A.D. and was wounded in nearby Armenia in 3 A.D. Evidently, Augustus wanted someone who was experienced in previously administering the region to advise his son. Who better then Quirinius. The first century historian Josephus also mentions that Quirinius became governor later on in 6 A.D.: He wrote: "Quirinius, a high ranking Roman senator, was sent by Caesar to be governor of Syria and the assessor of property there and in Judea." So who was in charge as the assessor of property in Judea during the first census? Just as the bible had said all along, Quirinius.
An early mention of the miracles of Christ comes from Julian the Apostate (Roman Emperor from 361-363 A.D.) who was an enemy of Christianity, he wrote: "Jesus......has now been celebrated about three hundred years; having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it a very great work to heal lame and blind people and exercise demons in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany." This statement shows that it was commonly accepted that Jesus performed miracles in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany as recorded in the bible.
Mark 8:22 states that Jesus healed a man who had been blind since birth in Bethsaida, and John 12:1 records that Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead in Bethany. Even the early Jewish Rabbis of the first century did not deny that Jesus performed miracles, but they tried to attribute them to acts of sorcery. A passage taken from the Babylonia Sanhedrin written sometime between 95-110 A.D. states: "During the time of Passover they executed Yeshu (of Nazareth). An announcement was made for forty days before this saying (Yeshu of Nazareth) will be stoned in that he has practiced sorcery and deceived and led Israel astray. Let everyone who knows contrary, come and plead for his defense. But they found nothing in his defense and crucified him ...." Another first century Jewish Rabbi, Eliezer ben Hycranus of Lydda, who lived around 95 A.D., also wrote concerning the magic arts of Jesus in his records. These false allegations by the Jewish leaders are also found in the Bible. Luke 11:14-20 states: "And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. "If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. "And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. "But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."
'Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land..... And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit..... So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!" Matthew 27:45-54 The first reference found outside of the bible mentioning this darkness which fell over the land during the crucifixion of Christ comes from a Samaritan historian named Thallus who wrote around 52 A.D.. His work was quoted by another early historian by the name of Julius Africanus who researched the topic of this darkness and wrote the following:
"It seems very unreasonable to me that Thallus, in the third book of his histories, would try to explain away this darkness as an eclipse of the sun." Another first century historian who also mentions this darkness was Phlegon who wrote a history entitled the "Olympiads." Julius Africanus mentioned a quote taken from the Olympiads which said: "During the reign of Tiberius Caesar an eclipse of the sun occurred during the full moon." Scientifically it is impossible to have a full moon on the same day that there is an eclipse of the sun. Phlegon is also mentioned by Origen in Contra Celsum, Book 2: "Phlegon mentions this darkness in his work the Olympiads."..... "Phlegon wrote that an eclipse occurred during the crucifixion of Christ, and no other. It is evident that he did not know of any such darkening of the sun in previous years.... and the historical account of Tiberius Caesar also verifies this." Phlegon wrote that the darkening of the sun took place during the time of Tiberius Caesar. This verifies the Biblical account found in Luke 3:1 which says that Tiberius was the Roman Emperor at the time of Christ.
Evidence of the life of James, brother of Jesus, can also be found outside of the Bible, from the historian Josephus. In Antiquities XX,197 he mentions James the brother of Jesus and Annas the High priest: "Upon the death of Festus in 62 A.D., Emperor Nero sent Albinus to be procurator of Judea. But before he arrived, King Agrippa appointed Annas to be High priest. He was the son of the elder Annas. (Note: The elder Annas referred to here is the same Annas of the New Testament Gospels.) "The elder Annas had been high priest himself for a time. He had five sons, all whom achieved the priesthood. The younger Annas, however, was a brute and followed the Sadducees, who are heartless when they sit in judgment. With Festus dead and Albinus still traveling, Annas thought that he could have his own way. Calling forth the members of the Sanhedrin, he brought before them a man named James, the brother of Jesus who was called the Christ, and certain others. He accused them of violating the law, and ordered them to be stoned to death." Although the bible doesn't mention it, Josephus states that James was martyred by the Sanhedrin.
In Acts 5:34, a well-respected pharisee by the name of Gamaliel convinces an enraged Sanhedrin not to kill the apostles. Jewish history records much about this man. First of all Gamaliel was the grandson of Hillel. Hillel was held by the Jews as one of their most respected scholars around the time of Christ. The bible also states that Gamaliel was highly regarded by the people, one of their great rabbis, and Jewish writings verify this. An early passage from the Talmud states: "Since Rabbi Gamaliel died, the glory of the law has ceased." Writings found in the Mishnah states: "Since Rabbi Gamaliel the elder died, there has been no more reverence for the law. And purity and abstinence died out at the same time." One of Gamaliel's favorite sayings was "for the benefit of humanity" So respected was he by the people of his day that when Gamaliel died, over seventy pounds of perfumes and ointments were burned in respect for him as the Jews came and paid him tribute. And it was about this man that the apostle Paul stated: "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. Acts 22:3
Another person mentioned in Acts chapter 5 verse 37 is Judas of Galilee, the founding father of the zealots. This man is mentioned by the historian Josephus who gives us a detailed statement concerning him in the following paragraph from his work entitled Jewish Antiquities: "Coponius, a Roman of equestrian order (who ruled from 6-9 AD), was sent out as procurator of Judea with the full authority of Rome, including capital punishment. The high ranking Roman senator, Quirinius, was also sent by Caesar to be governor of Syria and assessor of property there and in Judea (6 AD), .....While the Jews were reluctant to register their property, a certain Judas of Gamala (the Galilean) claimed that this would lead to slavery, so he and a Pharisee named Saddok called for a revolution, starting a new movement (The zealots) which led to ruin." Josephus also mentions Judas and his sons in the following paragraph taken from Jewish Antiquities: "Fadus became procurator, succeeding Tiberius Alexander, and he crucified James and Simon, the sons of Judas the Galilean who led the people into rebellion when Quirinius was taking the census in Judea."
Every year as December 25 rolls around, our minds begin to focus on the birth of that little baby born at Bethlehem. But more than just a baby, The Savior, Christ the Lord. Throughout the ages, in the search for the historical Jesus, many evidences have surfaced which confirm that wonderful event, God becoming man. One such evidence comes from an early Church leader named Origen. He wrote that the actual cave where Jesus was born could be seen by anyone wanting to visit it. He wrote the following in chapter 51 of Volume IV of the Anti-Nicene Fathers. “With respect to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, if anyone after looking into the prophecy of Micah and the history recorded in the sacred writings by the disciples of Jesus. If needing to have additional evidence from other sources, Let him know that the Scriptures are confirmed and the Gospel regarding his birth, for there can be seen at Bethlehem the cave where He was born and the manger in the cave where He was wrapped in swaddling -clothes. And this site is greatly talked about in all the surrounding countries. Even among the enemies our faith it is being said that in this cave Jesus was born, the One who is worshiped and revered by the Christians.“
Typical of this generation, many liberal scholars, in their search for the historical Jesus, have made unwarranted attacks on the accuracy of the Scriptural accounts. These mockers have been around since the days of the early church. One such enemy of Christ was Celsus. Celsus made this comment as recorded by Origen who wrote in depth attacking his heretical views. Celsus is quoted as saying this regarding Jesus: "born in a certain Jewish village, of a poor woman of the country, who made her living by spinning, she was turned out of doors by her husband, a carpenter by trade, because she was convicted of adultery. After being driven away by her husband and wandering about for a time, she gave birth to Jesus, an illegitimate child, who having hired himself out as a servant in Egypt on account of his poverty, and having there acquired some miraculous powers, on which the Egyptians greatly pride themselves, he returned to is own country, highly elated on account of them, and by means of these proclaimed himsef a God." Even though Celsus statements are filled with false accusations, he unwittingly confirms many statements found in the Scripture.
