Mythicism — What is it?

TL;DR:

Mythicism is the belief that Jesus Christ never existed—a view rejected by nearly all scholars, including secular and anti-religious experts.

Mythicism is a theory claiming that Jesus Christ, as described in the Bible, either never existed or had no meaningful connection to the origins of Christianity. Some proponents suggest that any person named "Jesus" from the first century had nothing to do with the Christian faith. Others go further, stating that Jesus was purely fictional, a character invented with no historical basis. However, these ideas are overwhelmingly rejected by both religious and secular scholars. Even historians who are skeptical of the Bible’s theological claims agree that Jesus was a real historical figure.

Mythicism hinges on two flawed premises: first, that the New Testament is entirely unreliable as a historical document, and second, that there are not enough "secular" references to Jesus to confirm His existence. Mythicists also argue that Christian teachings about Jesus were borrowed from older mythological stories, an idea that is widely disputed by experts. While there is debate among scholars about how to interpret certain details of the New Testament and extra-biblical references to Jesus, the extent to which mythicists stretch these arguments is considered extreme and unsupported. Mainstream historians, including those critical of Christianity, view mythicism as more akin to conspiracy theories or pseudoscience than legitimate historical analysis.

from the old testament

Isaiah 53:3: "He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief..." This prophecy, though written centuries before Christ, aligns with the experiences of Jesus described in the New Testament. He was predicted, and He came to be, just as the Old Testament said.
Micah 5:2: "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah...from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel." This verse foretells the birthplace of Jesus, grounding His existence in both prophecy and history.

from the new testament

First Corinthians 15:3–4: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day..." This passage demonstrates that early Christian belief was rooted in historical events, attested to by witnesses. Jesus existed and was a real historical figure.
Luke 1:1–4: "Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us...it seemed good to me also...to write an orderly account for you." Luke emphasizes the historical basis for his Gospel, showing that early Christians were concerned with accuracy.

implications for today

The persistence of mythicism serves as a reminder of the need to ground our beliefs in credible evidence. The overwhelming scholarly consensus affirms that Jesus was a real historical figure, and dismissing His existence undermines the very principles of historical inquiry. For Christians, the fact that even secular scholars reject mythicism reinforces the reliability of the New Testament as a historical document. Rather than engaging in speculative theories, we are encouraged to stand firm in the truth of Scripture, trusting in its historical and spiritual accuracy.

understand

Mythicism claims that Jesus never existed or is purely fictional, a stance rejected by nearly all scholars.
Mythicism is based on the assumptions that the New Testament is unreliable and that there is a lack of secular references to Jesus, a view considered extreme by historians.
Jesus was a real historical figure, confirmed by many sources, not just the Bible.

reflect

How does understanding the historical evidence supporting Jesus's existence influence your faith in Him?
What role does credible evidence play in shaping your beliefs, especially regarding foundational aspects of your faith?
In what ways can you engage with others who hold mythicist views while sharing the historical reliability of the New Testament?

engage

Extrabiblical sources that support the existence of Jesus include the writings of Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who mentions Jesus in "Antiquities of the Jews," and the Roman historian Tacitus, who refers to Jesus in relation to the persecution of Christians in "Annals." Both sources are significant, as they provide independent confirmation of Jesus's historicity outside of biblical texts.
What strategies can we use to effectively communicate the historical evidence for Jesus's existence to those who may be skeptical?
In light of the overwhelming scholarly consensus against mythicism, how can we present the truth in love of Jesus’s historicity while engaging with differing viewpoints?