Extra biblical evidence that the witnesses suffered and died
for their testimony that Jesus was resurrected
Evidence from the enemies of Christianity
Tacitus (A.D. 120), a Roman historian, mentions the sufferings of Christians in the time of the emperor Nero (Annals 15.44). Suetonius (A.D. 120), a Roman historian, mentions the sufferings of Christians in the time of the emperor Nero (Life of Nero, 16.2).
Pliny (A.D. 111), And imperial legate of the province of Bithynia in Asia minor, wrote a series of long letters which gave details of how he was to conduct trials of Christians (Pliny, Epistles 10.96).
Josephus (A.D. 30-100), a Jewish historian, mentions the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth (Antiquities 18.116-119 and 20.200).
Evidences from Christian Writers
Clement (AD 95) wrote of the suffering and death of the witnesses (1 Clement 1: 5- 6). 1 Clement 1: 5- 6 “But, to pass from the examples of ancient days, let us come to those champions who lived nearest to our time. Let us set before us the noble examples which belong to our generation. By reason of jealousy and envy the greatest and most righteous pillars of the church were persecuted, and contended even unto death. Let us set before our eyes the good Apostles… Paul by his example pointed out the prize of patient endurance… Unto these men of holy lives was gathered a vast multitude of the elect, who through many indignities and tortures, being the victims of jealousy, certainly a brave example among ourselves…”
The book commonly called “2 Clement” also refers to Jesus (2 Clement 1:1). 2 Clement 1:1 “Brethren, we ought so to think of Jesus Christ, as of God, as of the Judge of quick and dead. And we all not to think mean things of our Salvation: for when we think mean things of Him, we expect also to receive mean things. And they that listen as concerning mean things do wrong; and we ourselves do wrong, not knowing whence and by whom and unto what place we were called, and how many things Jesus Christ endured to suffer for our sakes…”
The book entitled: “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs” was derived from the writings of both Christians and the enemies of Christianity. This book contains vast amounts of evidence from the sufferings of the early Christians. The evidence of this book is so overwhelming that even atheists accept the truth that the early (first century A.D.) Christians suffered. Their sufferings prove that they were convinced that Jesus was a historical person.
(From: New Testament Difficulties and Alleged Contradictions, The Second Annual Gulf Coast Lectures, 1994)
Marion R. Fox