The question as to how many early ancient texts there are which refer to Jesus is often proposed.
So, how many early references are there?
No one knows.
The logical question is: how many have been found and or how many do we know about? In other words, we do not know how many references there are since we may discover more manuscripts of ancient works tomorrow and do not know how many undiscovered or destroyed writings there actually have been. This seems like an obvious consideration but it seems particularly important to note considering that Jerusalem, the nexus of Jesus’ activity, was destroyed in 70 AD.
James H. Charlesworth, “Jesus did exist; and we know more about him than about almost any Palestinian Jew before 70 C.E.”1
Ed Parish Sanders, “We know a lot about Jesus, vastly more than about John the Baptist, Theudas, Judas the Galilean, or any of the other figures whose names we have from approximately the same date and place.”2
A. E. Harvey, commenting particularly on the crucifixion, “It would be no exaggeration to say that this event is better attested, and supported by a more impressive array of evidence, than any other event of comparable importance of which we have knowledge from the ancient world.”3
How much do we know about anyone who lived 2,000 years ago or 1,000 or less even?
Consider Tiberius Caesar. He was the Roman Emperor from 14-37 AD. How many non-Christian references do we know of which mention him within 150 years of his life? Nine.
Let us consider from whence our knowledge of Alexander the Great comes. Alexander lived 356-323 BC and we only know about him from two sources written circa one century after his death. Most of what we claim to know about him dates to 300 to 500 years after his death.
Below I will present a list of the names of texts and range of dates that they were written. This is not a complete list. I am calling upon the assistance of anyone who may read this and is aware of any that I may have missed, please do inform me of any that you note. Also, I have, more or less, followed the date range as suggested by the website Early Christian Writings, if you can provide different of more definite dates, please do inform me.
The list below attempts to cover references to “Jesus,” “Christ,” “Jesus Christ,” or references to Jesus Christ which are obvious within the context by titles such as “Lord,” “Savior,” or “Son,” or “Son of God,” etc.
The list will cover a period spanning from pre 70 AD to 200-250 AD (this stopping point is arbitrary). Note also that the list totals 210 texts. This number refers to the texts themselves and not to the number of times that Jesus is referenced in each text. Counting each reference would take us well beyond the 210 total. Furthermore, the number refers to the texts and not to each manuscript behind each text. Counting each manuscript would also take us well beyond the 210 total.
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For related historical Jesus issues, see my books:
The Apocryphal Jesus wherein I review that which 35 apocryphal texts state about Jesus.
On Jesus Mythicists’ Mythicism Myth, subtitled “On Jesus’ Existence, Mythicism, Pagan Copycat, Marriage, Tomb, and Beyond.”
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1. The Gospel of Matthew
2. The Gospel of Mark
3. The Gospel of Luke
4. The Gospel of John
5. The Book of Acts
6. Romans
7. 1st Corinthians
8. 2nd Corinthians
9. Galatians
10. Ephesians
11. Philippians
12. Colossians
13. 1st Thessalonians
14. 2nd Thessalonians
15. 1st Timothy
16. 2nd Timothy
17. Titus
18. Philemon
19. Hebrews
20. James
21. 1st Peter
22. 2nd Peter
23. 1st John
24. 2nd John
25. 3rd John
26. Jude
27. Book of Revelation
These texts make up the body of the New Testament. These were all written prior to 70 AD with the possible exception of Revelation which is dated to circa 95 AD. These represent the very best attested documents of antiquity. Any other documents would represent vastly inferior works.
At the end of the list of references I will provide some links to further research materials.
28. 50-75 AD : Thallus (works preserved by others, such as Julius Africanus who wrote about 221 AD)
29. 50-120 AD : The Didache
30. 50-140 AD : Papyrus Oxyrhnchus #1224
31. 50-140 AD : The Gospel of Thomas
32. 50-200 AD : The Sophia of Jesus Christ
33. 70-120 AD : Papyrus Egerton #2
34. 70-160 AD : The Gospel of Peter
35. 70-200 AD : Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
36. 70-200 AD : Fayyum Fragment
37. 70-255 AD : Letter of Clement of Alexandria on Secret Mark
38. 73-200 AD : Mara bar Serapion (referred to the Jews’ wise King)
39. 75-160 AD : Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (in the section of his writing on Emperor Claudius who ruled 41-54 AD)
40. 80 AD : Phlegon (preserved by Origen and Julius Africanus)
41. 80-120 AD : The Epistle of Barnabas
42. 80-140 AD : The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
43. 80-150 AD : The Gospel of the Hebrews
44. 80-150 or 130-150 AD : The Gospel of the Egyptians
45. 90-95 AD : Flavius Josephus 4
46. 100-150 AD : The Preaching of Peter
47. 100-150 AD : The Apocryphon of James
48. 100-150 AD : The Apocalypse of Peter – The Ethiopic Text
49. 100-150 AD : The Gospel of Thaddaeus
50. 100-160 AD : The Gospel of the Ebionites
51. 100-160 AD : The Gospel of the Nazoreans
52. 110 AD : Ignatius to Polycarp
53. 110-140 AD : The Epistle Of Polycarp
54. 110-140 AD : Fragments Of Papias From The Exposition Of The Oracles Of The Lord.
55. 110-160 AD : Papyrus Oxyrhynchus #840
56. 110-160 AD : The Traditions of Matthias
57. 112 AD : Pliny the Younger (Plinius Secundus) “Epistles 10.96”
58. 115 AD : Cornelius Tacitus (in his “Histories” (preserved by Sulpicus Severus) and “Annals”.
59. 120-130 AD : Quadratus, Bishop of Athens
60. 120-130 AD : The Apology Of Aristides
61. 120-140 AD : The Naassene Psalm
62. 120-160 AD : Valentinus – Myth according to Irenaeus
63. 120-160 AD : Valentinus – The Divine Word Present in the Infant
64. 120-160 AD : Valentinus – Fragment A
65. 120-160 AD : Valentinus – Fragment B
66. 120-160 AD : Valentinus – Fragment E
67. 120-160 AD : Valentinus – Jesus’ Digestive System: Epistle to Agathapous
68. 120-180 AD : The Apocryphon of John (aka The Secret Book of John or The Secret Revelation of John)
69. 120-180 AD : Gospel of Mary aka The Gospel According to Mary Magdalene
70. 120-180 AD : The Dialogue of the Savior
71. 120-180 AD : The (Second) Apocalypse of James
72. 120-180 AD : Trimorphic Protennoia
73. 130-140 AD : Marcion – The Gospel of the Lord
74. 130-140 AD : Marcion – Antitheses
75. 130-140 AD : The Gospel of Marcion, Section I
76. 130-140 AD : The Gospel of Marcion, Section II
77. 130-140 AD : The Gospel of Marcion, Section III
78. 130-140 AD : The Gospel of Marcion, Section IV
79. 130-140 AD : The Gospel of Marcion, Section V
80. 130-140 AD : The Gospel of Marcion, Section VI
81. 130-160 AD : Second Clement
82. 130-170 AD : The Gospel of Judas
83. 130-200 AD : The Epistle To Diognetus
84. 140-150 AD : The Epistula Apostolorum
85. 140-160 AD : Clement’s Quotations of Isidore
86. 140-160 AD : Ptolemy’s Commentary On The Gospel of John Prologue
87. 140-170 AD : Infancy Gospel of Thomas
88. 140-170 AD : Infancy Gospel of James
89. 140-180 AD : The Gospel of Truth
90. 150-160 AD : The Martyrdom Of Saint Polycarp, Bishop Of Smyrna
91. 150-160 AD : Justin Martyr – Fragments Of The Lost Work Of Justin On The Resurrection
92. 150-160 AD : Justin Martyr – Justin’s Hortatory Address To The Greeks
93. 150-160 AD : Justin Martyr – Dialogue With Trypho
94. 150-160 AD : Justin Martyr – The Second Apology Of Justin For The Christians – Addressed To The Roman Senate
95. 150-160 AD : Justin Martyr – The First Apology Of Justin
96. 150-180 AD : Fragments of Heracleon
97. 150-180 AD : Excerpts of Theodotus
98. 150-200 AD : Acts of Andrew
99. 150-200 AD : Acts of Paul
100. 150-200 AD : Acts of John
101. 150-200 AD : Acts of Peter
102. 150-200 AD : The Ascension of Isaiah
103. 150-225 AD : The Book of Thomas the Contender
104. 150-225 AD : Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles
105. 150-255 AD : “The Acts of Pilate” – The Report of Pilate to the Emperor Claudius
106. 150-255 AD : “The Acts of Pilate” – The Descent of Christ into Hell
107. 150-255 AD : Melchizedek
108. 150 AD : Numenius (preserved by Origen in Contra Celsum)
109. 150-160 AD : Trypho (preserved by Justin Martyr in Dialogue with Trypho)
110. 160-170 AD : Tatian’s Address to the Greeks
111. 160-180 AD : Claudius Apollinaris
112. 160-180 AD : Julius Cassianus
113. 165-175 AD : Fragments of Melito of Sardis
114. 160-250 AD : Minucius Felix – The Octavius, chap. XXXVII
115. 165-175 AD : Fragments of Hegesippus
116. 170 AD : Lucian of Samosata – The Death of Peregrine, 11-13
117. 170-175 AD : Diatessaron
118. 170-200 AD : Treatise on the Resurrection
119. 170-200 AD : The Muratorian Canon
120. 170-200 AD : The Dura-Europos Gospel Harmony
121. 170-220 AD : Letter of Peter to Philip
122. 175-180 AD : Athenagoras of Athens
123. 175-185 AD : Irenaeus – Book I
124. 175-185 AD : Irenaeus – Book II
125. 175-185 AD : Irenaeus – Book III
126. 175-185 AD : Irenaeus – Book IV
127. 175-185 AD : Irenaeus – Book V
128. 175-185 AD : Irenaeus – Fragments From The Lost Writings Of Irenaeus
129. 175-185 AD : Irenaeus – Fragments of Irenaeus in Eusebius
130. 178 AD : Letter from Vienna and Lyons
131. 177-178 AD : Celsus’ view of Christians and Christianity (preserved by Origen in Contra Celsus)
132. 180 AD : The Passion of the Scillitan Martyrs
133. 180-220 AD : Kerygmata Petrou
134. 180-185 AD : Theophilus of Antioch – Book II
135. 180-185 AD : Theophilus of Antioch – Book III
136. 180-230 AD : Hippolytus of Rome – Treatise On Christ And Antichrist
137. 180-230 AD : Hippolytus of Rome – Expository Treatise Against The Jews
138. 180-230 AD : Hippolytus of Rome – The Extant Works And Fragments Of Hippolytus (Part I – Exegetical)
139. 180-230 AD : Hippolytus of Rome – Fragments From Commentaries On Various Books Of Scripture
140. 180-230 AD : Hippolytus of Rome – The Refutation Of All Heresies Book V
141. 180-230 AD : Hippolytus of Rome – The Refutation Of All Heresies Book VI
142. 180-230 AD : Hippolytus of Rome – The Refutation Of All Heresies Book VII
143. 180-230 AD : Hippolytus of Rome – The Refutation Of All Heresies Book VIII
144. 180-230 AD : Hippolytus of Rome – The Refutation Of All Heresies Book IX
145. 180-230 AD : Hippolytus of Rome – The Refutation Of All Heresies Book X
146. 180-230 AD : Hippolytus of Rome – The Refutation Of All Heresies Book IV
147. 180-250 AD : 1st Apocalypse of James
148. 180-250 AD : Gospel of Philip
149. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – Book III
150. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – Book IV
151. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – Book V
152. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – Book VI
153. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – Book VII
154. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – Fragments Of Clemens Alexandrinus.
155. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – Who is the Rich Man That Shall Be Saved?
156. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – To The Newly Baptized (aka Exhortation To Endurance aka To The Newly Baptized Precepts Of Clement)
157. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – Exhortation To The Heathen
158. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – The Instructor. [Paedagogus.] The Instructor Book I
159. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – The Instructor. [Paedagogus.] The Instructor Book II
160. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – The Instructor. [Paedagogus.] The Instructor Book III
161. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – The Stromata, or Miscellanies Book I
162. 182-202 AD : Clement of Alexandria – The Stromata, or Miscellanies Book II
163. 185-195 AD : Fragments of Polycrates
164. 188-217 AD : Talmud – Baraitha Bab. Sanhedrin 43a
165. 188-217 AD : Talmud – B. Yebamoth 49a, M. Yebamoth 4.13
166. 188-217 AD : Talmud – Sanhedrin 107b 5
167. 189-199 AD : Victor I
168. 193-193 AD : Anonymous Anti-Montanist
169. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – To Scapula
170. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – The Chaplet, Or De Corona
171. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – The Shows, Or De Spectaculis
172. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – On Idolatry
173. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – Apology
174. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – A Treatise on the Soul
175. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – The Soul’s Testimony
176. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – An Answer To The Jews
177. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – The Prescription Against Heretics
178. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – The Five Books Against Marcion. Book I
179. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – The Five Books Against Marcion. Book II
180. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – The Five Books Against Marcion. Book III
181. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – The Five Books Against Marcion. Book IV
182. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – The Five Books Against Marcion. Book V
183. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – Scorpiace. Antidote For The Scorpion’s Sting
184. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – Against Praxeas
185. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – On The Resurrection Of The Flesh
186. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – On The Flesh Of Christ
187. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – Against The Valentinians
188. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – Against Hermogenes
189. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – Ad Martyras
190. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – On Prayer
191. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – On Baptism
192. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – Against All Heresies
193. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – On Repentance
194. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – On The Veiling Of Virgins
195. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – On The Apparel Of Women
196. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – Of Patience
197. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – The Passion Of The Holy Martyrs – Perpetua And Felicitas
198. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – To His Wife
199. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – On Exhortation To Chastity
200. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – On Monogamy
201. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – On Modesty
202. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – On Fasting
203. 197-220 AD : Tertullian – De Fuga In Persecutione
204. 200-210 AD : Apollonius
205. 200-210 AD : Fragments of Serapion of Antioch
206. 200-220 AD : Caius
207. 200-220 AD : The Treatise Of Eusebius, The Son Of Pamphilus, Against The Life Of Apollonius Of Tyana Written By Philostratus, Occasioned By The Parallel Drawn By Hierocles Between Him And Christ
208. 200-225 AD : The Acts of Thomas
209. 263-339 AD : The Letters of Christ and Abgarus
210. 200-250 AD : a church was been discovered in Megiddo, Israel. Excavations uncovered a large tile floor and wall remnants. There are mosaics of fish which were the original Christian symbol. Also found were some inscriptions inlaid into the mosaic one which reads, “Akeptous, the God-loving, offered this table for (the) God Jesus Christ, as a remembrance” (“Akeptous” is the name of the woman who offered this “remembrance”).
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Further research related to this topic may be found in the following resources:
Gary R. Habermas, Reinterpretations of the Historical Jesus
Paul L. Maier, Did Jesus Really Exist? and Josephus and Jesus
Kyle Butt, The Historical Christ–Fact or Fiction?
J. P. Holding, Shattering the Christ-Myth Hub Page and Study Resources for the Historical Jesus and On “The God Who Wasn’t There”
Mike Licona, Answering Brian Flemmings “The God Who wasn’t there”
Gary R. Habermas, The Late Twentieth-Century Resurgence of Naturalistic Responses to Jesus’ Resurrection
Bede’s Library, Modern Historians on the Jesus Myth, A History of Scholarly Refutations of the Jesus Myth, The Myth that Jesus Never Existed and Refuting the myth that Jesus never existed
Bernard Muller, Review of Doherty’s “The Jesus Puzzle”
Bob and Gretchen Passantino, Doherty’s “Challenging the Verdict”: Appeal Denied
Christopher Price, Short Review of “The Jesus Puzzle”
Doxa website, Mythological Jesus
Patrick Narkinsky, The Jesus Mosaic
Preventing Truth Decay, Taking the “Jesus Puzzle” Apart Piece-by-Piece
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