August 24, 2024

—Of the ten proofs to be presented in our series, this will be the only one with Christian roots. The remaining nine will be entirely of secular origin—writers and historians who have no ax to grind and whose motives cannot be easily assailed.

—Today’s list includes Christian writers whose works date between 50-157 A.D., quite early. Some knew and learned directly from Jesus’ disciples. For example:

—1. Clement, a bishop of Rome, who in The First Epistle of Clement, a letter to the church of Corinth, dating to 70-96 A.D., referred to Jesus’ teachings (13:1), his death (21:6) and his resurrection (24:1);

—2. Ignatius, a bishop of Antioch, who in The Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, dating to 110 A.D., referred to Jesus’ crucifixion under Pontius Pilate and Herod the Tetrarch (chapter 1), noting too that Jesus “suffered all these things for our sakes that we might be saved; and He suffered truly, even as also He truly raised up Himself” (chapter 2);

—3. Polycarp, a bishop of Smyrna, who in The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, dating to 110-140 A.D., referred to the life and death of Jesus (1:2);

—4. Justin Martyr, an early Christian apologist and philosopher, who in his First Apology, dating to 155-157 A.D., referred to Jesus’ teaching, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension (chapter 21);

—5. Papias, a bishop of Hierapolis, who learned of Jesus from those who had been taught by him directly, particularly John the apostle, and who wrote a five-volume work, Explanation of the Sayings of the Lord; and

—6. Quadratus, a bishop of Athens and early Christian apologist, who wrote a letter to Emperor Hadrian in defense of Christianity, dating between 117-138, “But the works of our Savior were always present, for they were genuine; those that were healed and those that were raised from the dead who were seen not only when they were healed and when they were raised, but were also always present; and not merely while the Savior was on earth, but also after his death, they were alive for quite a while, so that some of them lived even to our day.”

—Faith in Jesus exploded during the first century, and it’s difficult to explain this growth if no such individual existed, especially given the flood of histories and personal testimonies that refer to him, including those just listed.

—Daniel McCabe