I WILL TELL THE WORLD OF HIS AMAZING DEEDS!: A Testimony

"Sing to the Lord! Praise his name!
Announce every day how he delivers!
Tell the nations about his splendor!
Tell all the nations about his amazing deeds!
For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise...."
(Psalm 96:2-4a, New English Translation/NET Bible)

I am writing this post for the purpose of thanking the One who has rescued me from the depths, and also to thank all those who interceded for me before his mighty throne. He has heard our prayers and answered clearly and mightily. Basically, it will be an account of how God delivered me from a cancerous tumor that was growing on my left kidney and the various ways that he heard the prayers of many as my wife and I walked through this difficult path in our life.

[IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN READING THE WHOLE STORY, 
YOU CAN SKIP DOWN TO "THE BOTTOM LINE..."]

So then, let me start this story from the beginning: Back in March I began having kidney problems (kidney infection/stone signaled by gross hematuria). This led me to a urologist who ordered a scan and the scan found a tumor on my left kidney. The urologist believed that the tumor had nothing to do with the symptoms that led to the scan and that finding the tumor was fortuitous. I believe the word "providential" is more accurate, that is: we found this tumor because God wanted us to find it.

My initial urologist referred me to his colleague who was trained to use a robot to do kidney surgery laparoscopically. When I met with him, he looked at the scan and told me that he would try to save the kidney, but that--because of where the tumor was--he would probably have to take the whole kidney.

Fastforward to Friday, July 19, the day of my surgery. The surgery came and went; and when I woke up in my hospital room several hours later, I was very happy to see my family. But I had no memory of the surgery, and from that moment on I never had anything but occasional light pain from the incisions and cutting that had been done on my body. I was told that the surgery went very well. Our prayers had been answered! But I would not find out (or at least take in) all of the details until I talked to the doctor myself.

On Saturday, I was beginning to feel strong enough to eat something more than ice chips (or "rice chips" as I kept calling them when first coming out from under anesthesia). I tried a couple of bites of yogurt and applesauce and banana. I also began a routine of walking down the hospital hall in order to get my bowels working. The first tastes of food seemed to settle fine so I was emboldened to try something more. I ordered some more yogurt and a bowl of chicken noodle soup. That's when the trouble started.

As the chicken noodle soup went down, everything seemed great. It tasted wonderful and I felt my energy returning even as I was eating it. For those few fleeting minutes, I was feeling fantastic. Then the acid reflux started to come...and come....and come....and come....

Over the next 18 hours the acid reflux intensified. The nurses and I tried everything we could think of--one "remedy" after another--to get rid of it, but nothing (not even the prescription acid blocker) gave more than a moment's relief. Other than those, brief moments, it was just hour after hour of the most intense burning in my throat--and a constant painful belching. At some point, I realized that the reason I was having all of this acid reflux was because everything I was eating was staying right in my stomach and going no farther, because my bowels were not working ("paralyzed" my doctor would tell me later). All through the night I was walking and doing all kinds of movements to try and get my bowels moving. By morning, I was completely exhausted and sleep deprived.

Throughout the night I cried out to God, wondering why he would not answer. The cries of the psalmists came to my mind, such as: "Why, O Lord, are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning!?" (Psalm 22:1) I knew he was there, but I could not understand why he was letting me suffer. To the best of my recollection, it was the most miserable day of my life.

It was about that time that my wife notified some prayer warriors about the acid reflux. Not long after that, the cure for my acid reflux came (another long story), the acid reflux vanished and it never came back!

With the acid reflux gone, I did my best to sleep (from 11:30am to about 8pm on a Sunday). I was awakened about every 30 minutes, but at least I was able to lay down and sleep. When I finally woke up, I was feeling much better, but my bowels were still not moving--at all. Again my wife notified some prayer warriors about the problem. And again the answer was soon to come.

My wife ordered a grilled cheese. But I ordered nothing. I didn't even want to think about food at that point. I was just going to wait until the next day to try eating. But when the food came, my wife tore off a small part of her sandwich and offered it to me. It did smell good. And I thought that the least I could do was take a couple of nibbles. As soon as the bread touched my tongue--even as I was biting down on it, the most amazing thing happened. My bowels instantaneously reacted to it and I felt a distinct bubbling sensation in two different places. In the hours that followed, I continually felt my bowels moving. And shortly after I went to sleep, I had to wake back up to have a bowel movement. (Sorry if mention of that seems out of place, but in reality, that was one of the most important moments of my whole hospital stay!)

The next morning I was beginning to feel great, and it was only a matter of time before I would be discharged from the hospital that day. The thought of getting home to get a good night's sleep in my own bed had never seemed so sweet.

During one of his visits, the doctor told me about how the surgery had gone. He said it was the most difficult tumor removal that he had ever done. And he said that he was "amazed" (his word) that he was able to do it. He had a limit of 30 minutes to remove the tumor before the arteries to my kidney had to be unclamped--or my kidney could die. He said he was able to remove the tumor in 29 minutes. Then he told me that just the week before they had obtained a machine by which they could see everything that was going on in real time through ultrasound. Before this, he had to figure everything out through triangulation using three different cameras. Do you think that made the difference of a minute or two--perhaps more? No doubt in my mind. Once again God provided just what was needed in answer to our prayers.

Next he told me that he had had to cut so deeply into my kidney that he was very concerned that there would be bleeding, when he unclamped my artery. But when he did, there was absolutely no leakage. My response to all of this was to say: "Well, lots of people have been praying for me." To which he said, "Well, it worked."

This man is obviously a man of great skill and competency. And I am indeed thankful to have been under the care of such an excellent surgeon and his very capable team. But in this moment, I am convinced that God enabled him to do something that was even beyond his natural abilities--that amazed even him! I was prepared to live with only one kidney. I had told my wife: "Other people donate their kidneys to save someone's life; if one of my kidneys has to be taken to save mine, I really can't complain." But God was very gracious to me and allowed me to keep my kidney.

And I should add that during my recovery, I was also blessed with a wonderful nursing staff and a loving wife who stayed there with me during the whole thing.

Finally, I got the pathology report Friday (July 26). The news: the tumor was indeed cancerous. But the report showed that the entire margin of the dissection was negative (that is, cancer free). The doctor said that he was sure that he was able to get all of the cancer and that there would be no need for further treatments. (Though we will monitor the area carefully as an extra precaution.) In the doctor's own words: "It's all very good news!" I have much to be thankful for! The Lord has delivered me from a deadly enemy!

UPDATE: On my one year check up, my doctor told me that my kidney had healed so completely that it was difficult to tell that he had performed surgery on it. Amazing, considering how extensively he had to cut into it!

THE BOTTOM LINE....

God, in his great mercy, has healed me completely. The cancerous tumor has been completely removed and my left kidney is still there working for me. This is something that the doctor did not expect to happen. And to use his own words, he was "amazed" (in more ways than one) that he was able to make it happen.

During this whole time, God gave my wife and I an incredible peace about this whole thing. I knew that I was in his hands; and whatever his will was I was ready to be at peace with it. I was praying earnestly for complete healing, but I was ready to accept whatever answer he gave to me--for his will is perfect and he is full of love for all those who are in Jesus Christ. And for this, I choose to praise him!

But it was not just my body that he healed. It was my spirit, as well. The day after I was discharged from the hospital, in a private moment of personal worship, I suddenly found myself sobbing in prayer--with tears of joy. It had become clear to me that God had used this experience to answer another of my prayers. In recent months, I have been continually praying that God would draw me closer to himself and renew my love for him. As I contemplated how God had answered that prayer during the experiences of the previous days, I was overcome. And in that moment, I declared to him that if that was what it took, it was worth every bit of it.

And so, as strange as it may seem to some, the constant theme of my spirit during my hospital stay and since I have been home has been thanksgiving. And so I indeed will sing his praise and tell the world of his amazing deeds! (Psalm 96:2-4)

NOTE: One might wonder what place such a testimony has in a blog dedicated to the cumulative case for Christianity. Let me just say briefly that it is in fact at the heart of such a case. All the intellectual arguments are empty apart from a real encounter with the living God. They may satisfy the intellect, but they will not satisfy the soul. This testimony falls under the area known in apologetics as religious experience, and also closely related to the area of evidence known as miracles. (Though technically the above events that I recounted were not miracles but rather answers to prayer and signs of God's providential care for me).

UPDATE #2: My cancer came back a couple of years after I wrote this article and I am currently considered to have a rare form of kidney cancer and to have progressed to Stage IV. This does not negate my testimony above. And there have been many signs of answered prayer and God's power in my life in the past two years since I was diagnosed as Stage IV. For example, I have had two more surgeries. There were clear signs of God's care during the first dangerous surgery. And I recovered quickly and completely from both. Also, in spite of the cancer and the daily chemo treatments that I have had, I continue to feel great and have not missed any work except for a few days while recovering from my first surgery. (I missed no work after the second surgery.) And I work a very physical job as the oldest guy working online in the RV factory where I work, walking 7-11 miles every day that I work. I have much to be grateful for. And I am!

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*GUIDE TO THE CONTENTS OF MY BLOG:
http://2besure.blogspot.com/2013/01/contents-of-this-blog.html

ANCIENT DOCUMENTS (BESIDES THE NEW TESTAMENT) THAT MENTION JESUS

**NOTE: The list of ancient documents below was originally compiled by my friend Shawn White (but his blog has since been hacked and no longer exists). I gave him a little input at the time and have adapted it and added most of the current content to it since then.

*****************

The 27 books of the New Testament are among the most reliable ancient documents that we have and have been confirmed in multiple ways. They were written by eyewitnesses (apostles) or by those who were companions of eyewitnesses (apostles). So they are by far our best source for understanding who Jesus is. 

These 27 documents represent the testimony of no less than 8 different early witnesses (probably 9, since Hebrews is anonymous and was probably not written by Paul but by one of Paul's associates)--six were eyewitnesses (Matthew, John, Paul, James, Peter and Jude) and three reported what they learned from eyewitnesses (Mark recorded Peter's testimony and Luke recorded the testimony of various eyewitnesses; see Luke 1:1-4). These are eyewitnesses and their close associates. All but one of the eyewitnesses spent years of their lives with Jesus and who endured difficulty, persecution and martyrdom because of their testimony of Jesus' resurrection. It's frankly very difficult to find testimony this weighty about anything. 

Nevertheless, most skeptics will not accept Biblical sources when it comes to the existence of Jesus of Nazareth. They usually want extrabiblical sources (sources outside of the Bible) with the thought that there will not be any or perhaps very few sources that make mention of Jesus. In order to show that this does nothing to support their case or their claims, below is a list of non-Biblical historical sources written between 25-180 years after Jesus lived. 

These sources vary in value as historical information for Jesus, but they all have value and several are of significant weight. Perhaps at a later time I will get to rating and explaining the value of each of these more thoroughly. 



SOURCES WRITTEN DURING THE PERIOD OF LIVING EYEWITNESSES

Sources behind the Gospels (and thus earlier)
*M (Sayings in Matthew only but not in other Gospels)
*L (Sayings in Luke only but not in other Gospels)
*Q (Sayings in both Matthew and Luke but not in other Gospels)
*The Pre-Markan Passion Narrative: "Rudolf Pesch, a German expert on Mark, says the Passion source must go back to at least AD 37...." (which according to the latest and best chronological work is about 4 years after the crucifixion).

**NOTE: These are hypothetical documents that many scholars believe represent sources used by the writers of the Gospels. I am personally skeptical that the nature of these sources resembles that which is generally proposed. Nevertheless, there certainly were written eyewitness accounts before Luke--as he is very explicit that he is aware of "many" written accounts of Jesus before he wrote his Gospel (one of which was almost certainly the Gospel of Mark). See Luke 1:1-4.

RESOURCES
An excellent article by James Smiley Bishop that looks at the value of the Gospel sources, the creed, and the hymn of Philippians 2.

Sources Quoted in the letters of the Apostle Paul (and thus earlier)
*The Creed in 1 Corinthians 15. Scholars are agreed that this creed was composed before 1 Corinthians and it is generally agreed that it was composed between 6 months and 3 years after Jesus' death and resurrection. For example:

Michael Goulder (Atheist NT Prof. at Birmingham) “…it goes back at least to what Paul was taught when he was converted, a couple of years after the crucifixion.” [“The Baseless Fabric of a Vision,” in Gavin D’Costa, editor, Resurrection Reconsidered (Oxford, 1996), 48.]

Gerd Lüdemann (Atheist Prof of NT at Göttingen): “…the elements in the tradition are to be dated to the first two years after the crucifixion of Jesus…not later than three years… the formation of the appearance traditions mentioned in I Cor.15.3-8 falls into the time between 30 and 33 CE.” [The Resurrection of Jesus, trans. by Bowden (Fortress, 1994), 171-72.]

*The above quotes are as cited by Nick Peters of Deeper Waters

*The Hymn in Philippians 2. Even liberal scholars typically agree that the hymn in Philippians 2 was composed by someone besides Paul (and therefore before Paul wrote Philippians).

*Many other creeds and Christological hymns are believed to be embedded in Paul's letters. All of them would therefore pre-date Paul's letters. I hope to document more of them later.
Here is a list given in The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ by Gary Habermas (p.29): 

*"The chief examples [of passages explicitly stated as coming from an earlier source] include 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 15:3; 1 Thes. 2:15; 1 Tim. 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8; Heb. 1:2-3."

*"Major examples [of passages thought to come from earlier sources but not stated explicitly] include those in Rom. 1:3-4; 4:25; 5:8; 10:9; 1 Cor. 8:6; Phil. 2:6-11, and Heb. 1:3. Cf. many others such as Eph. 1:20; Col. 1:15-20; 3:1; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 3:16; Heb. 1:1; 1:13; 8:1; 12:2; 1 Pet. 1:21; 2:21; 3:18; 3:22."


RESOURCES
An excellent article by James Smiley Bishop that looks at the value of the Gospel sources, the creed, and the hymn of Philippians 2.


Sources for Sermons Used by Luke in the book of Acts
Here is a list given in The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ by Gary Habermas (p.29):
"The most-commonly mentioned candidates for these sermon segments are in Acts 1:21-22; 2:22-36; 3:13-16; 4:8-10; 5:29-32; 10:39-43; 13:28-31; 17:1-3; 17:30-31. Those speaking of Jesus’ deity include Acts 2:33, 36; 5:31."

Ancient Historians of the First Century
*Thallus (wrote his 3-volume history c. 50 AD) See these excellent articles by William Lane Craig, Glenn Miller and Jason Engwer; also see: The Works of Nathaniel Lardner, Volume 4, Chapter 13. See this article to find basic info on Thallus and a listing of the fragments of his work that have been preserved.

*Flavius Josephus (wrote c. 93 AD; lived 37-100 AD) See this excellent article by Dr. Paul Maier.  Another excellent article by Dr. Greg Herrick. Also "Josephus, the Bible and History" by Louis Feldman.

Anonymous Works of the First Century
*Didache (written c. 50-100 AD, probably c. 70 AD)
*The Epistle of Barnabas (written c. 70-135 AD; author unknown)



SOURCES WRITTEN BY THOSE WHO KNEW EYEWITNESSES

The Apostolic Fathers (Disciples of the Apostles)
*Clement, bishop of Rome (wrote his Letter to the Corinthians c. 69 to 99 AD; lived 35-99 AD. He knew the apostles Peter and Paul and was appointed as an elder at Rome by the apostle Peter, as Tertullian tells us was recorded in the church's archives there in his Prescription Against Heretics, chapter 32.

*Ignatius, bishop of Antioch (lived 35 to c. 110 AD; wrote on the way to his martyrdom c. 110 AD) was a disciple of the apostle John and knew Polycarp (below). He also knew other apostles besides John; and there is strong tradition that he was appointed as bishop of Antioch by apostles (one tradition says by Peter). See an article on Ignatius followed by extensive resources at EarlyChurch.org.uk. Also, see this excellent article at New Advent.

*Papias, bishop of Hierapolis (wrote c.115-130 AD; lived c. 60-130 AD). He was a friend of Polycarp (below). He not only knew at least two firsthand eyewitnesses to Jesus (the apostle John and another disciple named Aristion), he also interviewed many others who knew other apostles and disciples of Jesus. From these, he gathered enough eyewitness testimony to fill five volumes! This 5-volume work was entitled The Exposition of the Sayings of the Lord (Fragment 3, Eusebius' Church History 3.39.1, p.526-63 of The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, edited and revised by Michael W. Holmes).Furthermore, he provides historical confirmation of Jesus' miracles: "As for those who were raised from the dead by Christ, he states that they survived until the time of Hadrian" (Fragment 5, Philip of Side's 5th Century Church History, p.572-73 of The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, edited and revised by Michael W. Holmes). See my blog article on Papias.

*NOTE: If you think it is unbelievable that people that Jesus raised from the dead could have survived until the reign of Hadrian (reigned 117-138 AD), check out this playlist of videos featuring interviews with those who survived the Spanish Flu of 1918. They have very vivid memories of that time. These interviews happened between 1998 and 2020, that is 80 to 102 years after the Spanish Flu epidemic. Hadrian's reign would be as little as 85 years after Jesus' ministry. And if you believe people in the ancient world did not live that long, that is incorrect. Evidence shows that people did, and I have been collecting it. That will be another blog post sometime in the future, but here is just a small taste of the evidence: chapter 49 of The Natural History by Pliny the Elder (written c.77 AD).

*Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna (wrote  his Letter to the Philippians c. 120-140 AD; lived c. 69-156 AD). Polycarp was a disciple of the apostle John and was instructed by other apostles and eyewitnesses to Jesus; and he was a friend of Ignatius and Papias. See my blog article on the apostolic fathers. See also The Martyrdom of Polycarp, written c.156-160 AD.

*"The Traditions of the Elders" is a collection of 17 fragments preserving the testimony of anonymous apostolic fathers. This collection follows the "Fragments of Papias" in Lightfoot's Apostolic Fathers and a smaller collection of 5 fragments is available in the edition of The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations edited and revised by Michael W. Holmes. The following are two of the best examples in their witness to Jesus' life:

But that the age of thirty years is the prime of a young man's ability, and that it reaches even to the fortieth year, every one will allow; but after the fortieth and fiftieth year, it begins to verge towards elder age: which our Lord was of when he taught, as the Gospel and all the Elders witness, who in Asia conferred with John the Lord's disciple, to the effect that John had delivered these things unto them : for he abode with them until the times of Trajan. And some of them saw not only John, but others also of the Apostles, and had this same account from them, and witness to the aforesaid account. [as preserved in Irenaeus' Against Heresies 2.22.5 which was written c. 175-185 AD; Irenaeus himself living c.125-200 AD; The testimony preserved here is what was handed down c. 80-100 AD from eyewitnesses to Jesus to multiple elders/pastors. It seems from Irenaeus' wording--and it is quite reasonable to believe--that Irenaeus heard this testimony from the elders himself--certainly from his mentor Polycarp, who was a disciple of John.]

As the Elders, who saw John the disciple of the Lord, relate that they had heard from him, how the Lord used to teach concerning those times, and to say...... [as preserved in Irenaeus' Against Heresies 5.33.3, written c. 175-185).

An Early 2nd Century Apologist
*Quadratus, bishop of Athens (wrote c.125 AD; lived c.70?-129 AD). See this nice article at Got Questions?

Eusebius (lived c.260-339) wrote this about Quadratus in his Church History 4.2.1-3 (c. 325 AD):

1 After Trajan had reigned for nineteen and a half years Aelius Adrian became his successor in the empire. To him Quadratus addressed a discourse containing an apology for our religion, because certain wicked men had attempted to trouble the Christians. The work is still in the hands of a great many of the brethren, as also in our own, and furnishes clear proofs of the man's understanding and of his apostolic orthodox. 2 He himself reveals the early date at which he lived in the following words: "But the works of our Saviour were always present, for they were genuine: those that were healed, and those that were raised from the dead, who were seen not only when they were healed and when they were raised, but were also always present; and not merely while the Saviour was on earth, but also after his death, they were alive for quite a while, so that some of them lived even to our day." Such then was Quadratus.

3 Aristides also, a believer earnestly devoted to our religion, left, like Quadratus, an apology for the faith, addressed to Adrian. His work, too, has been preserved even to the present day by a great many persons.

Jerome (lived c. 347-420) wrote this about Quadratus in his book Illustrious Men 19:

Quadratus, disciple of the apostles, after Publius bishop of Athens had been crowned with martyrdom on account of his faith in Christ, was substituted in his place, and by his faith and industry gathered the church scattered by reason of its great fear. And when Hadrian passed the winter at Athens to witness the Eleusinian mysteries and was initiated into almost all the sacred mysteries of Greece, those who hated the Christians took opportunity without instructions from the Emperor to harass the believers. At this time he presented to Hadrian a work composed in behalf of our religion, indispensable, full of sound argument and faith and worthy of the apostolic teaching. In which, illustrating the antiquity of his period, he says that he has seen many who, oppressed by various ills, were healed by the Lord in Judea as well as some who had been raised from the dead.

*NOTE: If you think it is unbelievable that people that Jesus healed and raised from the dead could have still been living during Quadratus' lifetime, check out this playlist of videos featuring interviews with those who survived the Spanish Flu of 1918. Not only did they survive it, but they have very vivid memories of that time. These interviews happened between 1998 and 2020, that is 80 to 102 years after the Spanish Flu epidemic. Quadratus' Apology is less than 95 years after Jesus' ministry and he could have met these individuals much earlier in his life. And if you have been led to believe that people did not have that long of lifespans in the ancient world, that is a complete misunderstanding (an urban myth about the ancient world). There is a ton of evidence that shows that people did and I have been collecting it. That will be another blog post sometime in the future, but here is just a small taste of the evidence: chapter 49 of The Natural History by Pliny the Elder (written c.77 AD).


SOURCES WHO PROBABLY KNEW EYEWITNESSES OR HAD ACCESS TO THEM

Ancient Historians of the Early Second Century
*Cornelius Tacitus (wrote c. 115 AD; lived c.56-120 AD) Article by Colin Green, Article by Ryan Leasure. "Tacitus, Suetonius, and the Historical Jesus" by Rob Bowman, Jr.

*Suetonius (wrote c. 115 AD; lived c. 69-122 AD) "Tacitus, Suetonius, and the Historical Jesus" by Rob Bowman, Jr.

*Phlegon of Tralles (wrote c. 140 AD; lived c. 80?-150? AD). Article at Never Thirsty; also see: Origen in Against Celsus, Book 2, Chapter 14 and Chapter 59; also see: The Works of Nathaniel Lardner, Volume 4, Chapter 13.


Fathers of the Early 2nd Century
*Aristides (wrote his Apology for Christians c. 145 AD). See the text of the Apology. See notes on the Apology. Excerpt from the Apology, chapter 2: 

"The Christians, then, reckon the beginning of their religion from Jesus Christ, who is named the Son of God most High; and it is said that God came down from heaven, and from a Hebrew virgin took and clad Himself with flesh, and in a daughter of man there dwelt the Son of God. This is taught from that Gospel which a little while ago was spoken among them as being preached; wherein if ye also will read, ye will comprehend the power that is upon it. This Jesus, then, was born of the tribe of the Hebrews; and He had twelve disciples, in order that a certain dispensation of His might be fulfilled. He was pierced by the Jews; and He died and was buried; and they say that after three days He rose and ascended to heaven; and then these twelve disciples went forth into the known parts of the world, and taught concerning His greatness with all humility and sobriety; and on this account those also who to-day believe in this preaching are called Christians, who are well known."

*Hermas (The Shepherd of Hermas was written c. 70?-150 AD): Origen believed him to be the Hermas of Romans 16:14)



SOURCES WHO HAD ACCESS TO OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS THAT SPOKE OF JESUS
*Justin Martyr (wrote c.155 AD; lived c. 100-165 AD): Twice he mentioned that the Acts of Pilate Pontius could be checked in the Roman archives to confirm the Gospel accounts. Speaking of the events of Jesus' crucifixion, he writes: "And that these things did happen, you can ascertain from the Acts of Pontius Pilate" (Justin's First Apology, chapter 35; also see chapter 48).

*Tertullian (lived c.155-240 AD): Knew official church documents that told which elders were placed by apostles (see Tertullian's Prescription Against Heretics, chapter 32, written c. 199 AD). He also mentions that both the darkness during the crucifixion and also Pilate's report to Tiberius Caesar about Jesus were recorded in the government archives (see The Apology of Tertullian, chapter 21, written c.197-217 AD; also see this article at Never Thirsty). His writings make it clear that he was highly educated, well read and familiar with government archives. No doubt this was the result of his formal education as a lawyer.

*NOTE: A word of caution about the Acts of Pilate that Justin and Tertullian refer to: Probably most scholars (even conservative ones like F.F. Bruce) express caution or even extreme skepticism that they actually saw such records in the archives or had reliable knowledge of them. Some scholars think they merely assumed the record existed. Other scholars think that they had knowledge of some forged document. I personally think that it is more likely that these learned men were more careful than that. Certainly, it seems unlikely that Justin would present this as evidence to the Emperor Antoninus unless he knew for sure that it was true. The Emperor could easily check this for himself--so that would be a careless move in his apology and would throw doubt on the whole thing. The exact same thing can be said about Tertullian, who makes his reference to the Acts of Pilate in his appeal before the court of the "rulers of the Roman Empire." In fact, it seems even less likely in Tertullian's case, as he had formal education as a lawyer. It does appear that Tertullian especially has combined the information from the Acts of Pilate with information from the Gospels and perhaps less reliable information passed down orally as tradition. Nonetheless, I believe that these men were both had reliable knowledge that the Acts of Pilate did in fact confirm some of the basic facts concerning Jesus' crucifixion.


SOURCES WHO KNEW THOSE WHO KNEW EYEWITNESSES 
*Irenaeus, bishop of Lyon (wrote c.175-185; lived c.125-200 AD): See a brief biography and significant bibliography. Irenaeus was born in Smyrna and was a disciple of Polycarp who was a disciple of the Apostle John. Besides his abundant testimony in Against Heresies, Eusebius has preserved fragments of letters that Irenaeus wrote including one to Florinus, which begins as follows:

These opinions, O Florinus, that I may speak sparingly, do not belong to sound doctrine. These opinions are inconsistent with the church, and bring those who believe in them into the greatest impiety. These opinions not even the heretics outside the church ever dared to proclaim. These opinions those who were presbyters before us, who accompanied the apostles, did not hand on to you. For while I was still a boy I knew you in lower Asia in Polycarp's house when you were a man of rank in the royal hall and endeavoring to stand well with him. I remember the events of those days more clearly than those which happened recently, for what we learn as children grows up with the soul and is united to it, so that I can speak even of the place in which the blessed Polycarp sat and disputed, how he came in and went out, the character of his life, the appearance of his body, the discourses which he made to people, how he reported his intercourse with John and with the others who had seen the Lord, how he remembered their words, and what were the things concerning the Lord which he had heard from them, and about their miracles, and about their teaching, and how Polycarp had received them from the eyewitnesses of the word of life, and reported all things in agreement with the Scriptures. I listened eagerly even then to these things through the mercy of God which was given me, and made notes of them, not on paper but in my heart,.... [preserved in Eusebius' Church History 5.20.4-7].

*Tatian (lived 120-173 AD). He wrote his Address to the Greeks c. 155-165 AD. And he composed his Diatessaron (a harmony of the four Gospels) c. 170-175. See this excellent brief biography.


SOURCES WHO PROBABLY KNEW THOSE WHO KNEW EYEWITNESSES
*Aristo of Pella (wrote c.140 AD). See brief introduction and fragments from Roberts and Donaldson's Ante-Nicene Fathers.

*Second Clement (written c.98-160 AD). See a brief introduction to this anonymous ancient sermon (that was wrongly attributed to Clement). See the text of 2nd Clement.

*The Epistle of Diognetus (written c.130-200 AD). See this section from Philip Schaff's History of the Christian Church. See the text of The Epistle of Diognetus.

*Hegesippus (wrote c. 165-175 AD; lived c. 110-180 AD). Hegesippus almost certainily knew the apostolic fathers and quite possibly knew some of the last eyewitnesses of Jesus when he was a young child. He affirms Jesus' historicity through his records of who were Jesus' relatives, some of whom lived down until the time that Hegesippus was a young child. See Henry Wace's excellent article from his Dictionary of Early Christian Biography and Literature. See also this excellent brief biography. See the fragments preserved from his 5-volume work in Eusebius' Church History 2:23:8-18 and 4:22.

*Melito of Sardis (wrote c. 160-177 AD; died c. 190 AD). See this excellent brief biography. Also this section from Philip Schaff's History of the Christian Church. And this very brief biography plus a significant bibliography. See the fragments of Melito's works here.

*Claudius Apollinaris, Bishop of Hierapolis and Apologist (wrote c.160-180 AD). See this very brief biography and the few fragments that we still have as found in Roberts and Donaldson's Ante-Nicene Fathers.

*Dionysius, bishop of Corinth (wrote c.165-175 AD). See this brief biography.

*Theophilus, bishop of Antioch (wrote c.180-185 AD). See this section from Philip Schaff's History of the Christian Church. See his work To Autolycus.

*Athenagoras of Athens (wrote c. 175-180 AD). See this section from Philip Schaff's History of the Christian Church. A brief introduction and the texts of his Plea for the Christians and The Treatise on the Resurrection of the Dead from Roberts and Donaldson's Ante-Nicene Christian Library: Justin Martyr and Athenagorus, p.371-456.

*Clement of Alexandria (wrote c.182-202 AD; lived c.150-215 AD). See this brief biography and significant bibliography. See an introduction and the texts of his works in Roberts and Donaldson's Ante-Nicene Fathers (scroll down at page linked to).

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TESTIMONY FROM THE ENEMIES OF CHRISTIANITY....
*The Criterion of Enemy Attestation (also known as the Criterion of a "Hostile Witness"): 
Gary Habermas notes: "The criterion of enemy attestation is satisfied when an antagonistic source expresses agreement regarding a person or event when it is contrary to their best interests to do so. Maier holds that “such positive evidence within a hostile source is the strongest kind of evidence . . . if Cicero, who despised Catiline, admitted that the fellow had one good quality--courage--among a host of bad ones then the historian correctly concludes that Catiline was at least courageous.” ("Recent Perspectives on the Reliability of the Gospels" by Gary Habermas)

NON-CHRISTIAN SOURCES WHO HAD ACCESS TO EYEWITNESSES & OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS
Government Officials Who Prosecuted Christians
*Pontius Pilate (1 B.C. - c.37 AD) Article at Never Thirsty

*Pliny the Younger (wrote c. 111-112 AD; lived 61-113 AD) "Pliny’s Letter to Trajan" at Christian History Institute

*Emperor Trajan (wrote c.111 AD; lived 53-117 AD). See this article at Never Thirsty.

*Emperor Hadrian (wrote/reigned c.117-138 AD; lived 76-138 AD). See this article at Never Thirsty.


NON-CHRISTIAN SOURCES WHO HAD ACCESS TO THOSE WHO KNEW EYEWITNESSES

Critics of Christianity
*Celsus (Criticized Christianity in his work True Discourse written c. 178 AD. We no longer have that work but an estimated 60-90% of True Discourse is quoted in Origen's Against Celsus.). See Celsus vs. the Early Christians by Vocab Malone. See "Evidence for Jesus' Miracles Outside the Bible" by Ryan Leasure.



Heretical Writings
*Marcion (died c. 160 AD)
*The Apocryphon of John (c. 120-180 AD)
*The Gospel of Thomas (c. 140-160 AD)
*The Gospel of Truth (c. 140-180 AD)
*The Treatise on the Resurrection (c. 170-200 AD)
*Several more heretical writings from this period could be added to this list. This is just a sample of a few of the more important heretical writings.
*NOTE: The very existence of hagiography, Gnostic writings and other heresies in the late 1st to mid 2nd Century is strong evidence for Jesus' historicity. No one invents such stories and ideas about people who do not exist. Furthermore, the heretical writings generally say very little about Jesus and his apostles but merely present them as talking heads that speak in favor of heretical ideas, generally well-known pagan ideas. In other words, these writings presuppose the well known existence of Jesus, the basic events of his life, his apostles and other persons from the four New Testament Gospels. On the other hand, these writings had no connection to the apostles as they generally claim: They were written after the time of the apostles and had no connection with anyone who was a disciple of one of the apostles. Even modern liberal scholars who want to propose that these writings preserve some form of Christianity are forced to admit that these writings have no apostolic connection.

Other Jewish Sources
*The Talmud (c. 135 AD). Article at Never Thirsty
*Toledoth Jesu (Compiled in the 5th Century AD, these were a collection of writings dating from mid 1st century to mid 2nd century AD). The relevant section from The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ by Gary Habermas can be seen at the Google Books preview, p.205-206.

Other Gentiles
*Lucian of Samosata, a Greek satirical playwright (c. 165-175 AD). Article at Never Thirsty
*Mara Bar-Serapion (c. 73-200 AD). Article at Never Thirsty
*Greek Magical Paypyri. Article at Never Thirsty

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RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY

My Class: "Ancient Documents That Confirm the Gospels"
*MP3 Audio (45 minutes)
*PowerPoint Slideshow: When you click on this link, you will note the option at the top to "Open with Google Slides" or you may open with MS PowerPoint or OpenOffice Impress (which is free).
*Class Handout
*I recommend opening the audio and using the PowerPoint Slideshow as you listen (and/or the handout).
*The entire 16-week course may be found here: "HOW TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST THAT CHANGES THE WORLD (Apologetics 101: A Cumulative Case)"

Videos
*"Is There Evidence for Jesus Outside the Bible?" by Peter Williams (6 minutes)

Articles (& Book Chapters) Online
*"What Early Non-Christians Said About Christianity": Links to various articles related to the historical confirmation of the Gospels by ancient non-Christian sources. Written by the authors of Triablogue.

*"Did Jesus Exist? Searching for Evidence Beyond the Bible" by Lawrence Mykytiuk. This is the January/February 2015 feature article for BAR (Biblical Archaeology Review). Excellent!
*"Is There Any Evidence for Jesus Outside the Bible?" by J. Warner Wallace
*"Early Historical Documents on Jesus Christ." A nice article at New Advent.
*"Ancient Non-Christian Sources" This is the ninth chapter from The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ  by Gary Habermas and is available for FREE.
*"Evidence for Jesus' Miracles Outside the Bible" by Ryan Leasure.
*"Historical Jesus - Two Centuries Worth of Citations" at True Free Thinker. Lists more than 200 ancient documents within the first 2 centuries or so that mention Christ.
**McDowell, Josh and Sean McDowell. Evidence That Demands A Verdict (2017 edition). Chapter 6: "The Historical Existence of Jesus," section II. "Non-Christian Sources" (rated according to value) and III. "Christian Sources" (of exceptional value)

Books
*Jesus Outside the New Testament by Robert  Van Voorst
*The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ by Gary Habermas
*Second-Century Christianity: A Collection of Fragments (Revised and Expanded) by Robert M. Grant. Brief intros and excerpts from 39 different documents from the 2nd Century.
*Testimonies of Heathen and Christian Writers of the First Two Centuries to the Truth and Power of the Gospel (1837) by Thomas Browne. FREE!

STILL LOOKING?.... 
*See RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR JESUS: Videos, Articles & Books
...OR "Historical Quotations About Jesus" at Never Thirsty