Clear Evidence

In a recent article, author, Michael Paulkovich boldly defends his book, "No Meek Messiah: Christianity's Lies, Laws and Legacy"*. He states that after combing through 126 historical texts he could find no evidence or personal testimony that Jesus Christ existed. He sites many historical texts and boasts that no one has any testimony of Jesus Christ.

Very interesting.

I then began to research and dig to see for myself. I had never been posed with this exact debate and found myself searching and reading and diving into Scripture in order to formulate my own thoughts.
I found some great articles with sound doctrine contradicting Mr. Paulkovich's bold assumption.
The interesting and ironic fact about these testimonies is that they come from pagans who were not Christians. Even the pagans testified of Jesus Christ.

Tactius (56-120 AD)

Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular.”

In this account, Tacitus confirms several historical elements of the Biblical narrative: Jesus lived in Judea, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and had followers who were persecuted for their faith in Christ. **

This is one of the many testimonies in the article defending Christ's existence.

The portion of the article that I found the most disturbing and disheartening was: 

The apostle Paul – who is widely credited with spreading and expanding the foundation of what would later become Christianity – never makes reference to Jesus as a real person, Paulkovich notes.

“Paul is unaware of the virgin mother, and ignorant of Jesus’ nativity, parentage, life events, ministry, miracles, apostles, betrayal, trial and harrowing passion,” he writes. “Paul knows neither where nor when Jesus lived, and considers the crucifixion metaphorical.”

I was dumbfounded. Since Mr. Paulkovich seems to be a knowledgable in historical research, the fact that he neglected to research the life of the apostle Paul, baffled me. The apostle Paul was not alive 

Here is the evidence to debunk Mr. Paulkovich's theory and research. 

• In his letter to the church of Corinth Paul writes that the resurrected Christ appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus (1 Corinthians 15:6-8)
• Paul describes Jesus as being born of the biological lineage of David (Romans 1:3)
• Paul believed that Jesus' death was a voluntary sacrifice that reconciled sinners unto Christ (Romans 5:6-10; Philippians 2:8)
• Paul also says that Jesus is the One through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, "including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ". (Romans 1:5-6)

Conversion on the Way to Damascus by Carvaggio

These are just a few of the numerous times that Paul speaks of Jesus Christ. As Christians, we have God's Word to stand upon when we come across articles like this that tend to cause us to question our faith. We need to stand on God's Word because it is without fault, it is infallible (2 Peter 1:20-21). Along with God's Word, we have our own testimonies of how Jesus Christ grabbed us out of the mire of our sin and redeemed us and set us free. Our testimonies are numerous...salvation, freedom from addiction, resisting temptation, His provision, His healing, and so many other ways that we have seen Jesus Christ move and work in our hearts and lives. That is one of the biggest things that we have to defend that Jesus Christ DOES exist! He is NOT dead! Look at what Paul says in Romans 15:18-21

For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; but as it is written,

“They who had no news of Him shall see,

And they who have not heard shall understand.”

As Christians, we have a story to tell. What if Paul had remained silent? We would not have the majority of the New Testament. His boldness and obedience to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the midst of great trials and strife is a testimony enough that Jesus Christ IS ENOUGH! When we don't know what to say, go to what you know. What you have lived, seen, experienced..that is your testimony. Your Creator God allowed you to experience all that you have thus far in life, so that in ALL things HE may be glorified. Do not be silent....testify of the Lord's greatness in your life to share the love of Jesus with those around you that may not know Him.

NOTES:

*Original article:  http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/10/01/author-jesus-never-existed-not-mentioned-in-126-historical-texts/

**Christian defense article: See more at: http://coldcasechristianity.com/2014/is-there-any-evidence-for-jesus-outside-the-bible/#sthash.hAWAbmyQ.dpuf