History of Christianity - Lesson 2 by Don Noenoehitoe

History of Christianity - Lesson 2

Don Noenoehitoe

1. How do we know that Jesus Christ is a historical person and what are the historical evidences?

The name "Christus" was associated with the  beginning of Christianity by Roman historian Tacitus (AD55 - AD117),

who in the Emperor Tiberius reign was crucified under the judgment of Pontius Pilate, a Roman Governor & Procurator in Judea.

Pliny, propraetor of Bithynia and Pontus of Asia Minor, wrote letter to Emperor Trajan around AD112 seeking advice concerning

the Christians, Pliny's letter to Trajan provides insights about Christ. 

Suetonius' Lives of the Twelve Caesars: Vita Claudius mentioned"Chrestos" (i.e. Christ) as the cause that the Jews were thrown

out of Rome by Claudius.  Lucian, around A.D. 170 wrote about the Christians & crucified Jesus.

The Pagans sources are important historical evidences that came from cultured-Romans who generally mocked Christianity.

With these historical evidences, in addition to the Cannonical writings & the Gospels, Christ did in fact historically exist.

2. What makes the personality and character of Jesus Christ special?

Holy Scriptures & the Gospels offers some insights on the personality and character of Jesus Christ with a profound originality & authority.

When Jewish and other authorities quote others in their testimonials, Jesus, on the other hand, gave the phrase "I say."

These occurrences in the Gospels show Jesus' originality, creativity & authority which amazed the people of His day (Mark 1:22; Luke 4:32).

Jesus' genuineness is very apparent in the scriptural records - Jesus was was true to others & could be completely Himself (John 8:46).

The Gospels - from the parables to the Sermon on the Mount - also bear witness to Jesus' balanced character. There was no excess in Jesus' character.

This unworldly personality & characters can only be sufficiently explained by the historical account of Jesus' Virgin Birth.

3. How does Christ's person and work constitute the beginning of Christianity?

The death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ - the Living God, along with His character, works, and teachings, constitute the beginning of Christianity. Despite the existence of numerous religions that exist without their human founders, Christ are inseparable from Christianity.

Christ provided to His church the two sacramental ordinances, the Apostles, its fundamental messages of the kingdom of God, its paramount discipline (Matthew 16:16-19; 18:15-20), and the Holy Spirit to be the One to work through the Christian church in the spread of the Good News to all the world. Christ left no fundamental organizational structure, no clearly defined systematic theology, nor personally authored sacred books and writings. All of these things would be sorted out by the Apostles under the leading of the Holy Spirit.