Did Jesus of Nazareth really exist? In Chapter 4 of The Problem of God, Mark Clark says yes — and claims we have reliable, non-Christian sources that confirm it. But a closer look at those sources — and the logic behind Clark’s argument — tells a different story.
The Tacitus Reference: Echoes, Not Eyewitnesses
Clark quotes Tacitus to show that a Roman historian confirmed Jesus was executed by Pontius Pilate. But Tacitus was writing almost a century after Jesus’ supposed death, and there’s no evidence he had access to Roman archives. More likely, he was reporting what Christians already believed, not what Rome officially recorded. That’s not historical confirmation — it’s hearsay written down late.
The Josephus Passage: A Tampered Text
Clark also cites Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian. The problem? The passage he quotes contains clear Christian interpolations — later edits inserted by Christian scribes. Phrases like “He was the Christ” and “on the third day he appeared” would have been blasphemous to Josephus, a loyal Jew. Even many conservative scholars admit the original text was doctored. It’s shaky ground for historical claims.
“They Died for What They Saw!” — Or Did They?
One of Clark’s boldest claims is that the disciples died because they had personally seen Jesus rise from the dead — and no one dies for a lie. But this assumes far too much:
- We have no firsthand records from any disciple describing what they saw.
- Most martyrdom stories come decades or centuries later, often with legendary embellishments.
- And people across history have died for all kinds of religious ideas — Islam, Hinduism, Heaven’s Gate, even Jonestown.
Dying for a belief doesn’t make it true. It only proves how strongly that belief was held.
The Spread of Christianity: A Miracle?
Clark says Christianity’s explosive growth proves it must be true. But other religions — including Islam and Mormonism — also spread rapidly. Movements grow when they offer compelling stories, eternal rewards, and a sense of belonging. Christianity had all three, plus Roman roads, missionary zeal, and, eventually, imperial support.
Rapid growth explains popularity, not truth.
Conclusion: Yes, There May Have Been a Jesus — But We Know Almost Nothing About Him
Most secular scholars today agree that some man named Jesus probably existed — a wandering apocalyptic preacher in Galilee who got himself executed. But the “Christ” we meet in the Gospels — the miracle worker, the resurrected Son of God — is the result of decades of oral tradition, theological reflection, and myth-making.
The question isn’t just “Did Jesus exist?”
It’s: Who created the Christ we now know?
And the answer to that isn’t in Tacitus, Josephus, or the tales of martyrdom — it’s in the minds and hopes of the early church.
God or Delusion? 