The Historicity of Jesus Christ of Nazareth
ASIAN SEMINARY FOR CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
102 ACCM Building Valero St. Salcedo Village
Makati City, Metro Manila
THE HISTORICITY OF JESUS OF NAZARETH
(An Essay)
By
MANUEL A. OCAMPO JR.
19 January 2012
Manila
THE HISTORICITY OF JESUS OF NAZARETH There are many essentials in the Christian faith that will be detrimental to the mission of the church if they are removed. But none can be compared to Jesus Christ who is the central figure and foundation of Christianity. As the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Meaning, if you remove the foundation, who is Christ, the whole of Christianity will collapse. The founders of different religions though may be bearing their names, will continue to exist even if you remove the founders. But with Christianity it is different. The whole message, history, all the prophecies and our hope for the future will not only be affected but will be gone to oblivion.
And one of the most important aspects of Jesus Christ as the central figure in Christianity is His historicity. The question “Did Jesus Christ really live?” is the question of scientific inquiry on the origins of Christianity. If Jesus Christ did not exist in history, then the whole story of His life will be treated as myth and folklore. This is one of the main implications if He did not really live. This implication will be a major key that will cause a domino effect which will destroy the credibility of the message of the Gospels, the influence of the church and personally speaking then our faith is in vain. We have believed a lie if Jesus did not really lived. And to borrow the statement of St. Paul, “we are the most miserable people in this world.”
But regardless of how many atheists and so called secular philosophers deny the existence of Jesus Christ, many evidences prove His existence. Of all the men who walked on the surface of the earth, no one can
102 ACCM Building Valero St. Salcedo Village
Makati City, Metro Manila
THE HISTORICITY OF JESUS OF NAZARETH
(An Essay)
By
MANUEL A. OCAMPO JR.
19 January 2012
Manila
THE HISTORICITY OF JESUS OF NAZARETH There are many essentials in the Christian faith that will be detrimental to the mission of the church if they are removed. But none can be compared to Jesus Christ who is the central figure and foundation of Christianity. As the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Meaning, if you remove the foundation, who is Christ, the whole of Christianity will collapse. The founders of different religions though may be bearing their names, will continue to exist even if you remove the founders. But with Christianity it is different. The whole message, history, all the prophecies and our hope for the future will not only be affected but will be gone to oblivion.
And one of the most important aspects of Jesus Christ as the central figure in Christianity is His historicity. The question “Did Jesus Christ really live?” is the question of scientific inquiry on the origins of Christianity. If Jesus Christ did not exist in history, then the whole story of His life will be treated as myth and folklore. This is one of the main implications if He did not really live. This implication will be a major key that will cause a domino effect which will destroy the credibility of the message of the Gospels, the influence of the church and personally speaking then our faith is in vain. We have believed a lie if Jesus did not really lived. And to borrow the statement of St. Paul, “we are the most miserable people in this world.”
But regardless of how many atheists and so called secular philosophers deny the existence of Jesus Christ, many evidences prove His existence. Of all the men who walked on the surface of the earth, no one can