There are many today that claim there is no evidence of Jesus outside of the Bible. The main reason why is because they aren’t really looking. If they did, they would find plenty.
One evidence that has been given is that of Pliny the Younger. He was a Roman author back in the latter part of the first century. There’s one letter to the emperor at the time named Trajan that is usually referenced. In one part he wrote,
“They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so.”
Here, Pliny references Christians’ view on Christ but I want to pivot a little here. Yes, this is evidence of Jesus outside of the Bible but I want to focus on this view of Christianity by an unbeliever. To me, it’s a little more interesting.
Take a look at these three things this outsider looking in claims that Christians do. The first is that they don’t “commit fraud”. That is, we don’t intend to deceive anyone. This goes along with what he explains too, that we don’t falsify our trust.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns us about making oaths and promises. He concludes in Matthew 5:37 with, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” People should trust what we have to say. Lying is of the devil (cf. John 8:44) so we ought to have a reputation of trustworthiness. In Proverbs 6, lying actually appears twice in a small list of abominations to God. We should not “bear false witness” seeing as we have the Truth in us.
The second one listed is “theft”. Most people are aware of the Ten Commandments that were given by God to Moses. Many are even familiar with “thou shalt not steal.” Why? Because it’s someone else’s property. We don’t engage in taking things that don’t belong to us.
Furthermore, Christians ought to be big on sharing what we have. We should be helping those less fortunate than us. We need to be “cheerful givers” (2 Corinthians 9:7) not greedy takers. As our Lord has said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35).
Third, Pliny names “adultery”. This might be the biggest distinction of them all. Christians shouldn’t commit adultery. We marry one spouse and we are committed to them for life.
This also leads to sexual immorality in general. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.” If we are to desire what God wants, we will keep our bodies pure in this sense. Paul also writes in Romans 12:1 that even our bodies are to be a sacrifice to God. This means keeping it holy for Him.
As we can see, for over two thousand years, the disciples of Christ of are unique. We’re just different. Why? Because we are told to not be like the world (1 John 2:15-17). This world is full of darkness but we are to be a light (Matthew 5:14) so that means we are to be the opposite of what the world represents. We’re going to be hated for it (Mark 13:13) but following Jesus simply makes for a better life while we wait for His return.