Tacitus Sources for the historicity of Jesus

the title page of 1598 edition of works of tacitus, kept in empoli, italy.

the roman historian , senator tacitus referred christ, execution pontius pilate , existence of christians in rome in final work, annals (written ca. ce 116), book 15, chapter 44. relevant passage reads: called christians populace. christus, whom name had origin, suffered extreme penalty during reign of tiberius @ hands of 1 of our procurators, pontius pilatus.

scholars consider tacitus s reference execution of jesus pontius pilate both authentic, , of historical value independent roman source christianity in unison other historical records. william l. portier has stated consistency in references tacitus, josephus , letters emperor trajan pliny younger reaffirm validity of 3 accounts.

tacitus patriotic roman senator , writings shows no sympathy towards christians. andreas köstenberger , separately robert e. van voorst state tone of passage towards christians far negative have been authored christian scribe - conclusion shared john p. meier robert e. van voorst states of roman writers, tacitus gives precise information christ .

john dominic crossan considers passage important in establishing jesus existed , crucified, , states: crucified sure historical can ever be, since both josephus , tacitus... agree christian accounts on @ least basic fact. bart d. ehrman states: tacitus s report confirms know other sources, jesus executed order of roman governor of judea, pontius pilate, sometime during tiberius s reign. eddy , boyd state firmly established tacitus provides non-christian confirmation of crucifixion of jesus.

although majority of scholars consider genuine, few scholars question authenticity of passage given tacitus born 25 years after jesus death.

some scholars have debated historical value of passage given tacitus not reveal source of information. gerd theissen , annette merz argue tacitus @ times had drawn on earlier historical works lost us, , may have used official sources roman archive in case; however, if tacitus had been copying official source, scholars expect him have labeled pilate correctly prefect rather procurator. theissen , merz state tacitus gives description of widespread prejudices christianity , few precise details christus , christianity, source of remains unclear. however, paul r. eddy has stated given position senator tacitus have had access official roman documents of time , did not need other sources.

michael martin notes authenticity of passage of annals has been disputed on grounds tacitus not have used word “messiah” in authentic roman document.

weaver notes tacitus spoke of persecution of christians, no other christian author wrote of persecution hundred years.

hotema notes passage not quoted church father 15th century, although passage have been useful them in work; , passage refers christians in rome being multitude, while @ time christian congregation in rome have been small.

richard carrier has put forward ideas christ, author of name, executed procurator pontius pilate in reign of tiberius line christian interpolation , tacitus wrote chrestians not christians.

scholars have debated issue of hearsay in reference tacitus. charles guignebert argued long there possibility [that tacitus merely echoing christians saying], passage remains quite worthless . r. t. france states tacitus passage @ best tacitus repeating had heard through christians. however, paul r. eddy has stated rome s preeminent historian, tacitus known checking sources , not in habit of reporting gossip. tacitus member of quindecimviri sacris faciundis, council of priests duty supervise foreign religious cults in rome, van voorst points out, makes reasonable suppose have acquired knowledge of christian origins through work body.