Jesus Christ Existed

I would like to say that the reason I put this topic up, was because several atheists I have spoken to claim that Jesus the Nazarene never existed. So let's put that claim to the test! Jesus - the founder of the major world religion known as Christianity; Called the Christ; supposedly a Nazarene born in Bethlehem, and supposedly the son of Joseph and Mary. Now I will present my case: Contention 1: There are 42 different authors who wrote about Jesus within 150 years of his death. 9 Traditional New Testament Authors Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Author of Hebrews, James, Peter, and Jude. “ 1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. ” – Luke 1:1-4 This passage actually tells us that Luke was a historian who investigated everything that had happened. So he first hand investigate everything that happened. 20 Early Christian Writers Outside the New Testament Clement of Rome, 2 Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, Martyrdom of Polycarp, Didache, Barnabas, Shepherd of Hermas, Fragments of Papias, Justin Martyr, Aristides, Athenagoras, Theophilus of Antioch, Quadratus, Aristo of Pella, Melito of Sardis, Diognetus, Gospel of Peter, Apocalypse of Peter, and Epistula Apostolorum. “THE Church of God which sojourns at Rome, to the Church of God sojourning at Corinth, to them that are called and sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from Almighty God through Jesus Christ, be multiplied. ” The first epistle of Clement to the Corinthians Chapter 1. 4 Heretical Writings Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Truth, Apocryphon of John, and Treatise on Resurrection. “That is the gospel of him whom they seek, which he has revealed to the perfect through the mercies of the Father as the hidden mystery, Jesus the Christ. ” – Gospel of Truth 9 Secular Sources Josephus (Jewish historian), Tacitus (Roman historian), Pliny the Younger (Roman politician), Phlegon (freed slave who wrote histories), Lucian (Greek satirist), Celsus (Roman philosopher), Mara Bar Serapion (prisoner awaiting execution), Suetonius, and Thallus. Flavius Josephus (AD 37? -101? ) mentions Jesus - Antiquities, Book 18, ch. 3, par. 3. 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, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, (9) those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; (10) as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day. As you can see there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that Jesus did indeed exist. I look forward to my opponent’s response! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sources: . http://carm.org... . http://carm.org... . http://www.gnosis.org... . http://carm.org... . http://www.biblegateway.com...