The Facts About Jesus
Archaeological and Historical Evidence
Just about everybody has an opinion about Jesus---but what are the facts? If we were to conduct a CSI investigation into the evidence for Jesus Christ, what would we discover? Secrets never before unveiled? Mysterious writings of a different Jesus? Or would we discover that this man from Nazareth was really who he claimed to be?
To conduct an honest investigation into the truth about Jesus Christ, we need to hear from acclaimed scholars who have objectively evaluated the evidence.
Following are seven articles from Y-Jesus magazine that ask the big questions about Jesus. They present the evidence leading scholars have discovered.
Regardless what you currently believe, this investigation into the truth about Jesus Christ will be a worthwhile experience.
Scholars Examine the Facts:
1. Was Jesus a real person?
“Born Identity” asks historians, Jesus’ enemies, and archaeologists whether the entire foundation of Christianity has been built upon a myth. What have scholars concluded? (read more)
2. Is Jesus God?
“Jesus Complex” asks the question of the true identity of Jesus: was he crazy, a pathological liar, or the Son of God? Or is it possible that Jesus was just a good moral teacher? Former skeptic C.S. Lewis helps reason through these options. (read more)
3. Was there a "Da Vinci" conspiracy?
“Mona Lisa’s Smirk” investigates the world’s leading conspiracy theory about Jesus Christ. Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene married? Did Constantine order the destruction of the true records of Jesus Christ reinventing him into the God Christians worship today? (read more)
4. Are the New Testament accounts reliable?
“Jesus.doc” examines the New Testament accounts about Jesus in an attempt to discover if they are authentic and reliable. How do these documents compare with other ancient writings? Can we actually retrace the words of the New Testament today all the way back to the time they were written, or is there evidence they have been altered? (read more)
5. Was Jesus the predicted messiah?
“The Path Laid by Prophets” investigates the ancient Hebrew prophecies about the future Messiah. Were these prophecies general or specific in nature, and if specific, how accurately did Jesus fulfill them? What did the Dead Sea Scrolls reveal about the dating of these ancient prophecies? Does the evidence reveal Jesus as the Messiah, or an imposter? (read more)
6. The resurrection of Jesus: myth or reality?
“Body Count” deals with the most important question one can ask about Jesus Christ---did he really return from the dead? The recent media attention about “The Jesus Family Tomb” calls for an honest investigation into the evidence. Do Christians need to accept Jesus’ resurrection by blind faith, or is there compelling evidence that this unprecedented event really occurred? (read more)
7. Can Jesus bring meaning to life?
“Why Jesus” looks at the question of whether or not Jesus is relevant today. Can Jesus answer the big questions of life: “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” And, “Where am I going?” Dead cathedrals and crucifixes have led some to believe that he can’t, and that Jesus has left us to cope with a world out of control. But Jesus made claims about life and our purpose here on earth that need to be examined before we write him off as uncaring or impotent. This article examines the mystery of why Jesus came to earth. (read more)