I don’t assume Bible is God’s Word here at all. I made that very clear at the start. I apply criteria used by historians dissimilarity, embarrassment, multiple attestation,

The facts mentioned are accepted by the majority of scholars whether atheist, agnostic or Christian. Why make up a fairy tale and be prepared to die for it?

Furthermore, we have 42 sources referring to Jesus within 150 years. These include Celsus, Tacitus, Josephus, Lucian, Mara Bar Serapion, Suetonius, Thallus, Pliny the Younger, Phlegon. Which is what you refer to. We can however also go one step further by applying the historic criteria above. The suffering of early Christians is attested by Shepherd of Hermas, Melito of Sardis, Tacitus, Dionysius of Corinth, Hegesippus, Eusebius, Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, Pliny, Josephus etc.

The points we establish by applying historic criteria to the gospels are:

Empty tomb/ female evangelists

Disciples claiming to have post mortem appearances

Origin of disciples belief and subsequent willingness to die

Applying these criteria outside the gospels:

Jesus death by crucifixion

Disciples claim to have post mortem appearances

Paul was suddenly changed

James was suddenly changed

Tomb was empty

How do we explain this?! Notice I haven’t assumed at all the Bible is God’s Word or even that the gospels are reliable overall. Only that in applying certain criteria we can discern certain facts. As mentioned many atheists and agnostics accept these facts they just have different explanations. Feel free to pass this on to your friends, visit our website www.streettheologian.com or email us at streettheologian@protonmail.com should you have further questions.