having heard of gnostic christianity and the idea that Jesus did not believe himself to be a God, I was just wondering if there was any non-bible source of him making the claim.
One of the few extra-biblical accounts of Jesus comes from the Roman/Jewish historian Josephus:
“About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man [if indeed one ought to call him a man.] For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. [He was the Christ.] When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who had in the first place come to love him did not give up their affection for him. [On the third day he appeared to them restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these and countless other marvelous things about him.] And the tribe of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.”
(The bracketed portions come from the Greek Translation; the 10th century Arabic translation does not include them) This one section of his work has cased quite a bit of controversy, with some scholars believing it to have been tampered with or completely fabricated. However, very few works outside the Bible quote Jesus directly, and, as of right now, the Gnostic's and other Christians must content themselves to the Bible.
Sources:
https://carm.org/regarding-quotes-historian-josephus-about-jesus
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Flavius-Josephus
http://josephus.org/testimonium.htm
(edit): formating changes
I have a related question. I read somewhere that there is only one historical mention of Jesus by any other society alive at the time and that was found to be plagiarized. Is this true? Did no one around the world,outside of the immediate area, know about Jesus?
In Daniel 7 it talks about the "Son of Man" who if you read it can only be God Himself. Jesus constantly referred to Himself as the Son of Man. Plus the whole "before Abraham was "I AM"" the very name of God Himself. Also keep in mind that the priests wanted to kill Him over and over because the way He spoke made it sound like He was God. That was the main reason...they considered this blasphemy of course which it would have been if it wasn't true. One more thing to note that any time an angelic being appeared to a man they had to rebuke them for trying to worship them saying to only worship God. People worshiped Jesus many times and He never said a word.
1- Jesus, in response to the Pharisees’ question “Who do you think you are?” said, “‘Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’ ‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ the Jews said to him, ‘and you have seen Abraham!’ ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I AM!’
2- John 10:25-30 25. Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30. I and the Father are one."
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Many more
“before the advent of the Lord, philosophy was necessary to the Greeks for righteousness. And now it becomes conducive to piety; being a kind of preparatory training to those who attain to faith . . . . For God is the cause of all good things, but of some primarily, as of the Old and New Testaments; and of others by consequence, as philosophy. Perchance, too, philosophy was given to the Greeks directly and primarily . . . . For [philosophy] was a schoolmaster to bring ‘the Hellenic mind to Christ.’ Philosophy, therefore, was a preparation, paving the way for him who is perfected in Christ.” - Clement of Alexandria