Jesus Was 'Urban Legend' - Claims Historian Michael Paulkovich

Jesus Christ never existed and was an urban legend created by "deluded rabbis", a historical writer is claiming.

Michael Paulkovich trawled through the works of 126 writers from the time of the Messiah, and claims that not one of them mentioned the Son of God's existence, despite his supposed worldwide fame.

The controversial writer published his theory in an article for Free Inquiry, called The Fable of the Christ, and a book called, No Meek Messiah.

"When I consider those 126 writers, all of whom should have heard of Jesus but did not - and Paul and Marcion and Athenagoras and Matthew with a tetralogy of opposing Christ, the silence from Qumram and Nazareth and Bethlehem, conflicting Bible stories, and so many other mysteries and omissions - I must conclude that Christ is a mythical character," Paulkovich wrote.

Even though the stories of Jesus are famous the world over, any accounts of him in ancient texts are considered by Paulkovich to have been made up by Christian followers, who wished to fabricate Christ's existence.

"Millions should have heard of the Jesus "crucifixion" with its astral enchantments: zombie armies and meteorological marvels recorded not by any historian, but only in the dubitable scriptures scribbled decades later by superstitious yokels," he said.

Paul the Apostle is known for teaching the gospel of Christ to the 1st Century world. However, Paulkovich claims that Paul never refers to Jesus as a real person, and instead uses Christ in the metaphorical sense.

"Paul is unaware of the virgin mother, and ignorant of Jesus' nativity, parentage, life events, ministry, miracles, apostles, betrayal, trial and harrowing passion," he writes. "Paul knows neither where nor when Jesus lived, and considers the crucifixion metaphorical."

Paulkovich's controversial theory is not supported by most of the world's scholars, and despite their religious views, many consider Jesus was a Galilean Jew, baptised by John the Baptist and crucified by the Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate.

Jesus not a pacifist

Another theory about Jesus that has recently been suggested, is that Jesus wasn't quite the pacifist he was made out to be.

Dale Martin, a professor of religious studies at Yale University, said that there may have been a different reason behind Jesus's execution, as research suggests that at least one of his disciples was carrying a sword.

In Rome, it would have been against the law to do this, so the same probably applied to Jerusalem. Jesus was seen as a political threat, so the Romans would have been harsh on him.

Researchers are unsure as to why the disciples might have been armed, but one theory put forward was that they were possibly waiting for an apocalyptic battle, where divine forces would bring about a holy reign.