Why believe the bible?

[Succubus]

Something outside the Bible? Okay. There were dozens of churches in dozens of cities across the Roman empire within 20 years of Jesus. They all believed the same thing that later appeared in the Gospels. Evidence for these churches are in first and second century docs like these. The mention of these churches in Acts and the Epistles complete a nice loop.

Fact is, we do know way more that you think. Demanding that we have non-religious-related docs is nonsense. 99.9% of all docs from the first century are gone. It is only docs that people cared about that were painstakingly preserved and copied on materials that had expiration dates.

From *your* link:

Marcus Minucius Felix. Died 260 AD.

Epistle of Barnabas. They propose a composition "date during or immediately after the reign of Nerva (96-8 C.E.)

Clement of Rome. Estimated Range of Dating: 80-140 A.D.

2 Clement. Although known as 2 Clement, this document is in actuality an anonymous homily of the mid-second century.

The Shepard of Hermas. The Muratorian canon, a list of canonical books from about the 3d century, says Hermas was written by the brother of Pius, Bishop of Rome, about 140-154.

Ignatius of Antioch. places Ignatius' martyrdom in the reign of Trajan (A.D. 98-117)

Polycarp of Smyrna. 120-140 CE

Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus. Estimated Range of Dating: 130-200 A.D.

Fragments of Papias. Estimated Range of Dating: 110-140 A.D.

Quadratus of Athens. Estimated Range of Dating: 120-130 A.D.

Apology of Aristides. Estimated Range of Dating: 120-130 A.D.

Fragments of Melito of Sardis. Estimated Range of Dating: 165-175 A.D.

Fragments of Hegesippus. Estimated Range of Dating: 165-175 A.D.

Fragments of Dionysius of Corinth. Estimated Range of Dating: 165-175 A.D.

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Should I go on?


lying for Jeebus. A tradition as old as the gospel of Mark ~70CE