How do we know Jesus is god?

Answer 1

Although there is said to be more evidence of Jesus' existence than any other person in history there is more evidence of belief of his existence. You do not know for sure that Jesus existed and you do not know for sure that he didn't. To be perfectly honest it is mostly based on faith and which sources you choose to believe. Many claim to have evidence that Jesus never existed, many claim to have evidence that Jesus undoubted existed. It is all a matter of who you choose to believe, and it is still an issue quite debated upon today.

Another answer:

It has been well said by one of the greatest scholars and historians of our time that:

"It is a curious fact that historians have often been much readier to trust the New Testament records than have many theologians...Some writers may toy with the fancy of a 'Christ-myth,' but they do not do so on the ground of historical evidence. The historicity of Christ is as axiomatic for an unbiased historian as the historicity of Julius Caesar. It is not historians who propagate the 'Christ-myth' theories." (emphasis added, F.F. Bruce, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?).

If we do not know for sure that Jesus existed, then it stands to reason that we don't know for sure if anyone in the first century existed. The manuscript attestation for the existence of Jesus and His followers alone far outstrips any documentation we have for any other historical figure. Anyone who denies or argues otherwise is simply ignorant of these facts.

The evidence is not of the sort that you have to use some irrational "faith" to choose what to believe. That is merely a claim rooted in ignorance and perhaps a bias toward unbelief. While many might claim to have evidence that Jesus "never" existed, when you carefully read and scrutinize these claims as I have, you find that they make various errors in reason and evidence to come up with false conclusions.

Today, even "liberal" scholars who do not accept that Jesus was God and claimed to be God have better sense than to argue that Jesus never existed. So we have both conservative and liberal scholars agreeing on one central truth - that Jesus did exist. To argue otherwise is nonsensical, irrational and proves grand ignorance on the part of the arguer.

Another answer:

If you are a Christian you must choose to believe what you know in your heart is true. You do not need anymore evidence than the Bible to know that Jesus existed, and will one day return for all of his believers.

We know that the character Jesus existed because it is written in the New Testament. How do we know that what the Bible says is true? We don't, but how do we know that any piece of information written before the last person to witness the event dies is true? Ah, but you see we have scientific evidence; archaeology and whatnot so that is how we can tell. Unfortunately, things don't look too good for the Bible on the scientific front, what with claims that the Earth was only a few thousand years old and Creatonism. The Bible has certainly lost it's scientific credibility it seems.

A historian researching a topic will read many sources and determine from them whether or not a particular source is reliable. But with the Bible, the only recording of the events of Jesus' life amount to only one source; the New Testament (the only respectable one I know of anyway). And considering the ridiculousness of the Old Testament; the New Testament has kind of been dragged down with it.

The conclusion: Jesus probably didn't exist as he was portrayed and, all in all, there isn't really any substantial proof that he existed at all. But believe what you like, it's your life, I just don't want you to be like how Antonius Block turned out in The Seventh Seal, dead and doubtful.

Answer 2

AnswerIf you believe that Jesus is the son of God, you do not need proof. Since it can not be proven objectively that God exists, it can not be proven objectively that Jesus is the son of God. AnswerMuslims believe, according to their Quran holy book, that Jesus is neither God nor son of God. They believe in Jesus as one of the God greatest prophets and messengers. They believe that Jesus (peace be upon him) was supported by many God miracles and that he was born by God word to the Vigin Mary without biological father the same way Adam was created without biological father and mother.

Answer 3

Answer 1 (Islam perspective)Jesus (peace be upon him) is neither God nor son of God. Jesus is one of the five greatest prophets (Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad; peace be upon them all). Quran; Muslims holy book that reflects true God words revelation to prophet Muhammad; states clearly that Jesus is a prophet that was born by miracle of God and was supported by many miracles.

Quran says (meaning English Translation):

"Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was." (93:59)

and says:

"O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs." (4:171)

and says:

"[The Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from [killing] you when you came to them with clear proofs and those who disbelieved among them said, "This is not but obvious magic."" (5:110)

and says:

"And [beware the Day] when Allah will say, "O Jesus, Son of Mary, did you say to the people, 'Take me and my mother as deities besides Allah?'" He will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for me to say that to which I have no right. If I had said it, You would have known it. You know what is within myself, and I do not know what is within Yourself. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen." (5:116)

and says:

"And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, "This is obvious magic."" (61:6)

and says:

"They have certainly disbelieved who say, "Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allah - Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers. " (5:72)

See related questions below

Answer 2 (Christian Perspective)

Nicene Creed (325 CE)

In its original Latin Form it states:

Et in unum Dóminum Iesum Christum,

Fílium Dei Unigénitum,

Et ex Patre natum ante ómnia sæcula.

Deum de Deo, lumen de lúmine, Deum verum de Deo vero,

Génitum, non factum, consubstantiálem Patri

Which translates to: And I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born of the Father before all time, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten, not made, one in being with the Father.

I start with this because the Nicene Creed is fundamental for Catholics and Protestants alike. In it we state that as core to our beliefs that Christ is the Son of God.

The Gospel According to Mark, Chapter 3 Verse 9-12

"And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they should crush him; for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." And he strictly ordered them not to make him known."

As we can see in this passage, evil spirits, agents of Satan are acknowledging that Christ is the Son of God. In this case, were it to be known at this early point in His ministry it would compromise it.

Mark 5:7

[Possessed Man upon seeing Jesus] " and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.""

In this passage like in the above passage one can see that again spirits are acknowledging Christ as the Son of God.

Mark 9:7-8

And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only.

This is an instance where God is saying to the disciples that Christ is His Son, i.e., The Son of God.

Mark 13:36

And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what thou wilt.

In this Christ is in the Garden of Gethsemane and here his is using the very personal Abba (Dad in Hebrew) directly referring to God as his father.

The Gospel According to John Chapter 1 Verses 32-34

And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, `He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

In this case John the Baptist is recounting his Baptism of Christ and that he was told by God that Christ is the Son of God.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life

John 5:17-30

But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working still, and I am working." 18 This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but also called God his Father, making himself equal with God. Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all that he himself is doing; and greater works than these will he show him, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. "Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. "I can do nothing on my own authority; as I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me."

This passage is very important because it is one of the few times Christ's words can actually be interpreted directly as calling himself the Son of God. In most cases He refers only to Himself as the Son of Man.

John 10:36

do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, `You are blaspheming,' because I said, `I am the Son of God'?"

In this instance there is another incident wherein Christ is referring to himself as the Son of God.

In Conclusion: Throughout all of the New Testament there are many instances where either Christ is directly referring to himself as the Son of God (see the examples from John), or it is easily implied by the others in the scene (examples from Mark). However there are more examples not listed here, because to list all examples it would basically require a transcription of all of the Gospels.

Answer 3

There are as minimum four versions of The Bible (or new testament). If most Christians believe that Jesus is God or son of God, then who authored the Bible? if the bible is written by others; and not God the Creator; then how do you confirm that those who authored it didn't write down the evidences that Jesus is God or son of God to support their own beliefs.

Answer 4

Ultimately to answer to know how we know, depends on the truthfulness of the claims that Jesus of Nazareth rose again from the dead after being crucified. This is set in the time of Pontius Pilate by all the earliest accounts. The resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth can only be accounted for if He was of a superntaural nature. The significance of the claims made by all four Gospel writers that He knew before He was to die, how He would die, and that He would become alive again, after He was dead and buried, can only be explained if He had supernatural abilities. His own teachings and the prophecies about His divine nature in the Old Testament then explain why Christians say He was God in the flesh. References: John 1:1-18, chs 20-21; (Knew He would die and rise again) Matthew 20:17-19, Mark 10:32-34, Luke 18:31-34, John 2:18-22; (and the prophecies to His divine nature) Isaiah 9:6-7, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Psalm 110:1,5-7. And from non-Christian accounts who wrote not too long after the Christian religion began: The resurrection is given in Josephus' testimony of what Christians believed (Antiquities 18:63-64) and the belief in jesus being worshipped as God is reported by Pliny the Younger (Letters to Trajan Book 10, Letter 96). Pontius Pilate is mentioned as the governor who tried Jesus in the New Testament by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul (1 Timothy 6:13), and the two non-Christians Josephus and Tacitus (Annals 15:44). More evidence of the reality of jesus being a real man who really lived and died is in Keith Prosser 'Was Jesus Crucified?'

Answer 5

Being called the Messiah is not proof that Jesus was the son of God, as the Jews expected a Messiah who was less than the son of God. Even statements saying that Jesus is the son of God need not be reliable, as humans are fallible. In the gospels, demons called Jesus the son of God, but demons are expected to lie. Perhaps the proof is when God himself calls Jesus his beloved son, which he does twice in Mark's Gospel.

In the later New Testament gospels, Jesus is called the Son of God elsewhere, but we now know that these gospels were substantially based, either directly (Matthew, Luke) or indirectly (John), on Mark, so are not as reliable as the earlier source. If the voice of God from heaven, attested in Mark, is not sufficient proof, then we must simply rely on faith that Jesus is the son of God.The voice of God calls down from heaven at the baptism of Jesus and at his Transfiguration, saying that Jesus is his beloved son. These events form a pair (pair C) in the structure of Mark's Gospel. The entire gospel is based on a parallel structure, an ancient literary device in which an opening set of events is matched by a second, parallel set of events, to create emphasis or develop themes that would not otherwise be apparent:
A . John explains the coming of Jesus (Mark 1:1-8)

B .The baptism of Jesus (1:9)

C . The voice of God from heaven, "Thou art my beloved son" (1:11)

D . The forty days in the wilderness as an allusion to Elijah and Moses (1:13)

E . The people were astonished at what Jesus taught (1:22)

F . Jesus casts out an unclean spirit (1:23-26)

G . Pharisees took counsel with the Herodians how they might destroy Jesus (3:6)

H . Demons, whenever they see Jesus, fall down and say that he is the Son of God.

-- Jesus commands that they tell no one of this (3:11-12)

I .. Jesus calls the 12 disciples (3:13-19)

J .. Jesus rejects his own family: he has a new family, his followers (3:31-35)

K . Jesus rebukes the wind (4:36-41)

L . The demoniac, wearing no clothes (5:15), cries out that Jesus not torment him and Jesus sends out the demons (5:1-20)

M . Jesus comes into his own country (6:1)
-- Where he was brought up

N . The people misunderstand Jesus and he can do no mighty work (6:2-6)

O . Jesus sends out the disciples and curses those who will not receive them (6:7-11)
-- in sending the disciples with authority and expecting all to receive them, Jesus is asserting his own authority

P . Herod thinks that Jesus is John the Baptist risen from the dead (6:14)

Q . Herodias and her daughter conspire to kill John the Baptist (6:16-29)

R . Feeding the thousands, and related miracles and discourses (6:33-8:21)

S . Who do people say that I am (8:27)

T . Peter affirms faith in Jesus as the Christ (8:29)

U . Whosoever shall be ashamed of me: of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed (8:38)

V . The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes (8:31a)

W . Be killed and after three days rise again (8:31b)

X . Prophecy of second coming (9:1)- Jesus tells the disciples that some of them would not taste death until they saw the kingdom of God coming with power.

B' .The Transfiguration of Jesus (9:2-3)

C' .The voice of God from heaven, "This is my beloved son" (9:7)

D' . Jesus talks to Elijah and Moses then to the disciples about Elijah (9:4-13)

E' .A great multitude was amazed at Jesus (9:15)

F' .Jesus cast out a dumb spirit (9:17-27)

G' .They shall kill the Son of man and he shall rise on the third day (9:31)

H' .Jesus clarifies his divine status, saying that he is not God: "Why call me good? There is none good but God" (10:18)

I' . Peter says the disciples have left all and followed Jesus (10:28)

J' . Those who have left their family for Jesus have a new family: all Jesus' followers (10:29-30)

K'. Jesus rebukes the 'sons of thunder', James and John (10:35-45 - cf 3:17)

L' .Blind Bartimaeus cries out for mercy and casts off his clothes, then Jesus heals him (10:46-52)

M' .Jesus comes into Jerusalem (11:1-10)
-- Where he will die

N' .Jesus misunderstands the fig tree that can provide no fruit (11:13-14)

O' .Jesus casts out them that sold and bought in the Temple and curses them for making the Temple a den of thieves (11:15-17)
-- Jesus is asserting his authority

P' .Jesus asks whether the baptism of John is from heaven or of men, and the priests, scribes and elders can not answer (11:30-33)

Q' .Parable of husbandmen who conspire to kill the vineyard owner's son (12:1-9)

X' .Prophecy of second coming (chapter 13)

-- on clouds of glory, within the lifetimes of some of those to whom he was speaking

R' .The Last Supper (14:17-25)

S' .Art thou the Christ, Son of God (14:61)

T' .Peter denies Jesus three times (14:66-72a)

U' .And when he thought thereon, Peter wept (14:72b)

V' .The chief priests, elders and scribes delivered Jesus to Pontius Pilate (15:1)

-- Delivering Jesus is a similar concept to rejecting him.
-- Both parts of the pair involve chief priests, elders and scribes

W' .Jesus dies and on the third day rises again (15:37, 16:6)

A' .The young man explains the departure of Jesus(16:6-8)

Answer 6

The primary reason for me is from reading/studying the Bible - my source of wisdom and truth. Allow me to elaborate below:

For some living in the time of Jesus, the title 'Son of God' was simply a title given to the one from the line of King David who was to become the 'messianic king' (see Chronicles 17:13). Also, most would have realized at this time that the angels were called 'sons of God' in Job 38:7. Later, some would read in in Luke 3:38 genealogy of Jesus, the first man Adam (hence his descendants) was called the son of God. Even later on, converted Christians were called sons of God (see Romans 8:14, 16). So why is this different for Jesus.

The primary reason is that Jesus was 'begotten' by His Father (see Luke 1:35 - main reason for calling Jesus the Son of God). This is a unique title given only to Jesus now (John 3:16) and even after the there were many 'Spirit-begotten' Christians in the world (see 1 John 4:9). Only Jesus was born of a human mother (required to be begotten) and the Holy Spirit of God the Father. Though a Christian is spiritually begotten after repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands, Jesus was both spiritually begotten when He was physically begotten - again making Him unique never needing to be converted to God's way of righteousness - though He continued to grow in wisdom while physically aging (see Luke 2:40-52).

Hence, when the time came for Him to fully reveal Himself to His Apostles, He asked them who the people said He was: Matthew 16:15-17New King James Version (NKJV)15 He said to them, But who do you say that I am? 16 Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

So, why is it important that humankind, especially Christians fully understand this truth that Jesus is the Son of God? John's first letter addresses this in detail. Here are some verses for your reading pleasure:

1 John 2:23New King James Version (NKJV)23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.


1 John 4:15New King James Version (NKJV)15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.


1 John 5:5New King James Version (NKJV)5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Answer 7

Because of the gospel accounts and the beliefs of so many, historians believe Jesus of Nazareth probably existed as a historical person, although scholars debate whether he performed miracles.

John Ashton ('History and Theology in New Testament Studies', The Nature of New Testament Theology,edited by Rowland and Tuckett) says that historians (and others) continue to argue with one another whether Jesus was really a homespun Cynic philosopher, a social reformer or an eschatological preacher deeply sympathetic to the Pharasaic culture all around him. They say that not only Jesus’ miracles but also the amazing religious experiences attributed to him in the Gospels, his baptism and transfiguration, are generally dismissed as legendary.

Answer 8

If you are looking for external writings that note the life of Jesus then there are ten known non-Christian sources and about four times as many Christian sources which include the Gospels. The 10 are: Josephus, the Jewish historian for the Roman Government; Tacitus, the Roman historian; Pliny the Younger a Roman politician; Phlegon, a freed slave who wrote histories; Thallus, a first century historian; Seutonius, a Roman historian; Lucian of Samosata, a Greek satirist; Celsus, a Roman philosopher; Mara Bar-Serapion, a private citizen who wrote to his son; and lastly, the Jewish Talmud. All of these writings are within a 150 year timeframe of the life and times of Jesus.

Interestingly, compare these 10 writings to only the 9 non-Christian writings (during same 150 year timeframe) for Tiberius Caesar, the Roman emperor at the time of Jesus' ministry. Strange how few doubt his existence or writings.

Modern writers Norman Geisler and Frank Turek in their 2004 book "I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist', summarizes the 10 non-Christian writers noted above (some very anti-Christian) as follows: 'They attest that Jesus lived during the time of Tiberius Caesar, lived a virtuous life, was a wonder-worker, had a brother named James, was acclaimed to be the Messiah and was crucified under Pontius Pilate on the eve of the Jewish Passover, accompanied by darkness and earthquake...The further affirm that His disciples believed He rose from the dead, were willing to die for their belief, spread Christianity rapidly as far as Rome and denied the Roman gods, instead worshipping Jesus as God ' (p. 223).

The above sounds like it could be a summary of the Gospels, Acts and some of the other books in the New Testament.

Answer 9

A:

We have the evidence of the gospels, which you could rationally believe or disbelieve on this issue. There is no evidence outside the New Testament.