Truth about Jesus?

Question

I am an athiest who beleives Jesus existed but was not our "savior"
1 fact is certain, the bible we read today is not the original, it has been changed and manipulated by the old catholic church, to transcend jesus' existance. Really I think he was killed on the cross, i mean this is ROME, any sort of rebelion and you were screwed. Jesus was a descent guy who just happened to rub the romans the wrong way, and from that point Jeses was screwed.

Answer 1

My guess is,we will never know the "real" Jesus,and I do agree with what you have pointed out to large degree.
One could not claim to have a knowledge of biblical history if you did not know that there exist many the gospels and scriptures that have been censored by the church as too "dangerous" to be included in the bible.
We have to realise that translation through generations and interpretation easily leads to a similar result as the game of Chinese Whispers.
Jesus did have a political agenda as well as a spiritual "message".It was his politics that Rome were upset with particular.
I believe he was indeed one of the great prophets. I do not believe he was literally the "son of God".
If it is the case, that he was in fact the result of a "union" between an entity and a human, then he was not the first or last.According to Queen Hatshepsut,18th Dyn Eypt,she to was concieved in the same manner,in this case too the belief was encouraged by the priests.This was quite a commen claim by Pharoahs of ancient Egypt and other cultures and peoples.This claim was put forward to place them above the commen people,and add to thier power and "prove"direct approval and connection to the Gods.
As history tells, the Judaic people,who Jesus was decended from had spent many hunderds of years in Egypt and would have been very familiar with the claims of Pharoahs.
It was also was a simple analogy to help establish the claim of him being the long awaited Messiah.
The bible continually uses this type of story or explanation.As it was easier for priests to verbally describe these concepts to the people,of who, only a very small minority could read and write. This was the case right up until the 1700s in Europe and much later, even today illiteracy is commen in many parts of the world.
To me, the important thing is that people are always able to make a choice in what they choose to believe,and not be judged or condemmed for it.
Whether or not the bile is word for word correct or not, has no bearing on my ability to believe in a concept of God that serves my needs very well.
Of coarse, there are other great prophets both old and new.
In fact the message of some of the "new" and in these I include Nelson Mandala and even Bob Marley, whose words carry as much meaning and message of the hope for peace, end to racisim and love as any of the prophets of the Bible.

Answer 2

First, let me say that I do respect your opinion, so there is NO disrespect intended in my answer. And THANK YOU for being so polite, and asking your question so well. We see too little of that here, on all sides of the spectrum.
Now, about the actual question.
First, you say that you're pretty sure Jesus did exist. That's good, because there's a lot of historical evidence that says He DID exist.
Did you know that they're pretty sure they found Jesus's tomb? Here's the timeline (shortened):
70 AD The Roman Empire razed the city of Jerusalem.
117 AD Hadrian became Emperor of the Roman Empire. He was very much anti-Christian. He levied taxes against the Christians, and became frustrated because Christianity was STILL growing. So, he erected a statue of Venus at the crucifixion site, and a statue of Jupiter at Jesus's tomb, in an effort to prevent the early Christians from gathering at the two sites.
It backfired on him. When Constantine became emperor, he sent his mother, Helena, to find the sites. Well, she found them, and she caused new churches to be erected over them. Now remember, this was about three centuries after Christ's life ended, so it really wasn't that long ago. It would be like us knowing where George Washington's house was.
In the 1970s, the ruins of the churches that Helena directed the erection of were found...and sure enough, under one of the churches was what was left of a TOMB.
Can you guess what was in the tomb? NOTHING. No bones, no residue, NOTHING.
Did Jesus's disciples move the body? All you'd have to know is how Romans did things in those days to know that that would have been impossible. There's no way they could have even moved the stone (which is still there, by the way, and it's obvious that it had been rolled aside), much less gotten around the Roman guard.

As for your idea that the Bible has been mistranslated and manipulated, that isn't entirely true. Actually, it's not at ALL true. With the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which contained portions of the Old Testament and the New (the oldest of which was dated back to at least 100 BC), it was found that very little had been changed (the meaning was the same, even if a couple of words had been misread)!

Another thing to consider is just HOW Jesus's disciples died. Peter was crucified upside-down. A couple of them were stoned to death. If Jesus really had been just a decent man, and not who He said He was, do you think that His disciples would have died for Him, making the claims they made?
One argument is that they were all delusional. If that's the case, then the "mass delusion" that all early Christians were under is the single LARGEST one in history! Christianity didn't just grow in the beginning; it EXPLODED!
Also, I'm sure there were many decent men throughout history who had many followers. However, NONE of them were as poor as Jesus, and still left the mark that He has. Two thousand years later, He STILL has followers, and people who gladly give their lives for Him.
http://www.bibleplus.org/discoveries/jesustomb.htm
http://www.gardentomb.com/

Answer 3

The Bible we have today is the same as it has been LONG before the Catholic church came into existence. That's not my opinion, it's a matter of fact.
You can't believe that Jesus was a "decent guy" yet not God.
He claimed to be God. If He was not God, He was either delusional, or a deliberate deceiver.
If He were a deluded lunatic, it is doubtful that anyone would have become His disciple. If He was a deceiver, then He was not a decent guy.
The only other option is He is LORD.

Answer 4

You can see the original version of Star Wars episode IV or you can see the one with all the added features and updated effects. It doesnt matter. You still get the crux of the story.

Anyway the Dead Sea scrolls were compared to the present day Bible and it proved that today's Bible is an accurate copy of the one teached in the early days following Jesus' crucifixion.

It doesnt matter if translations of the Bible are off. The message of God's love for us is there. It's best that you grab a copy and read it. There will be a test.

Answer 5

Well, I'm glad that at least you believe in Jesus. That's a starting point. Have you heard of the Messiah? The Jewish nation waited for Him (and there are some who still do) for so long. When you read the Old Testament, you'll see prophecies of the Messiah everywhere. There are more than 300 Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, and guess what? Jesus fulfilled them all! The fact that even 8 out of those 300 prophecies would fit in one man, is almost impossible. But Jesus does not only fits in 8, He fits in the 300!

You believe Jesus was a good Man. You're right. Do you believe that since He was a good Man, He never lied? Well, Jesus claimed to be the Messiah (Messiah means "the Annointed", just like Christ which comes from the greek word "Cristos", which also means "the Annointed"; and the Bible tells us that the Messiah should be called God almighty). In John 8:58,59 we read an interesting declaration of Jesus about Himself:

"'I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!' At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds."

The word Jesus used here as "I am" are not the ordinary words. When Jesus said "I Am", He actually said a Name:

<< Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?" God said to Moses, "I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' " >> Exodus 3:13,14

Jesus used the same words He used when talking to Moses. It was Jesus who was talking to Moses that day, and He repeats His Name before the Jews: "I AM". He was revealing Himself as God. We know the Jews got the message, becuase immediately after Jesus said this they picked up stones to stone Him, because He claimed to be God!

Was Jesus insane? I mean, anyone who claims to come from Heaven, either that person is insane or he/she is telling the truth. The wisdom of His Words and parables testify that He was not insane. He's been the wisest person ever, and the most quoted person in the whole world! Was He a liar? You know, if Jesus was a liar, He could have lied very easily and thus save His life. But we know He was not a liar, "because He had a lot of opportunities to lie and save His life, and He didn't". He always said the truth even though it would mean to put His life at risk!

Would you like to know more?

Please, watch:

"Solving the Messiah Mystery"
http://www.mostamazingprophecies.com/portals/6/mapmedia/map_2.asx


Is the Bible reliable? Have the Scriptures been altered in some way?

http://www.amazingfacts.org/resources/video/NRVideo/NR01.asx

http://www.amazingfacts.org/resources/Audio/BALQALib/1018Bibletext.asx

http://www.amazingfacts.org/resources/Audio/BALQALib/1018prophets.asx

Does God exist anyways?

http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/Read_Media.asp?ID=685&x=23&y=20



Hope you enjoy these videos and articles. They were taken from these webpages, hope you may see them:

http://www.mostamazingprophecies.com/Resources/ProgramArchives/tabid/165/Default.aspx

http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/study_guides.asp?tTitle=New%20Revelation

http://www.amazingfacts.org/media/radio/question_archive.asp?tName=Bible

http://www.amazingfacts.org/items/free_library.asp?SelCat=Evolution&SelSec=Pocketen


Take care; and may God bless you!

Answer 6

Thommo is right. Are you asking us if what you say is the truth or are you telling us that what you say is the truth about jesus? The interesting thing about jesus was that (as you pointed out) he was a rebel and he opposed the rabbi temple of the day then suffered the consequences. The Catholic church is much like that ancient temple establishment was except that open market stalls are not allowed inside the vatican.

Answer 7

According to Jesus, God, the Holy One; is the Saviour of the Whole mankind. God is capable (be God glorified as God is) to relive off every infliction. None of the human beings is saviour beside God. Jesus, himself is also, not a saviour at all. The people who have chosen him as their saviour__ they have denied the Holy One___ who alone is the saviour of Jesus and whole mankind and the act of choosing Jesus as saviour__ is equal to hate the Holy One___ as it is clearly written in the old Testament:-

“I am the Lord your God. Worship no God but Me. Do not make for yourself images of anything in heavens or on earth or in the water under the earth. Do not bow down to any idol or worship it. Because I am the Lord your God and I tolerate no rivals. I bring punishment on those who hate me, on their descendants, down to third and fourth generation.”
(Exodus 20:1-5)

Now, ponder over the point that whosoever says that Jesus is God___ Holy Spirit is God___ Mary is God; has he not made an idol beside the One God? While nothing is there in the earth and heavens which could be considered in terms of the One God.

Beware please! A father is a father__ a mother is a mother___ and a son is a son__ and they all are the creatures of God. They cannot be considered as God___ as god is their Creator__ and nothing is like the Lord.
Only a few days prior to his crucifiction___ Jesus was desetting the shops and trade points__ installed in the God’s Temple__ by the leave (sponsorship) of his Lord. The on looking crowd was fearing from him while he was, fearlessly, lashing every shop keeper and the trader. He was commanding them to free the God’s Temple from their shops and trade. Now, on the cross he is the same Jesus but without leave (sponsorship) of the Lord, crying for help, saying:-
“Eli Eli Lema Sabachthani!”

He has lost his miracles and miraculous power__ and is rendered__ into a commonplace person. Who is complaining before the Lord in the most pathetic terms. He is saying that his miracles have gone__ his power has gone__ strength has gone__ and he is now like a small quantity of water__ spilt on the ground__ which is drying away moment by moment. So he is saying to his Lord: “Have mercy on me!” “Have mercy on me!”__ Don’t leave me here__ for dead in the dust.

While praying to his Lord__ Jesus is very much conscious of the fact__ that he has lost his miracles___ his power___ his strength and everything. So he is rightly praying before his Lord. He is not praying here__ before himself or his godly-self__ as he, himself, can not__ accede to any prayer. It is the Lord and the Almighty God alone___ Who accedes to the prayers. The prayer of Jesus is, therefore, positively telling that Jesus is not any Saviour at all. He is simply a man and Prophet__ who himself, is praying before the Lord for help and Salvation.

Beware please, it is an old and well known law of the Lord that___ the Lord reveals the truth__ in open and decisive terms. Looking upon the miracles of Jesus__ the people were considering Jesus as the greatest magician. While hypocrites were calling him, even, the Lord and Saviour. Although Jesus did criticize such thoughts and notions but the notions remained in rapid progress. So, it became eventually essential that___ the actual status of Jesus should be demonstrated__ before all__ in the most open & visible terms. So, the Lord withdrew the miracles and the miraculous power of Jesus and rendered him into an ordinary man. The actual status of Jesus was, as such, demonstrated on the cross before everyone openly.

Whereafter, Jesus was no more a supernatural creature or the Lord and the Saviour. Instead, he was simply a common man. Who was not independent in any respect. He was rather totally dependant upon the Lord, in all respects.

The prayer of Jesus on the cross (the Psalm-22) also, signifies that___ in presence of sponsorship from the Lord__ an ordinary man may become so glorified and sublime that__ he is entitled as “Spirit of God” and “Word of God”. But when the sponsorship is withdrawn by the Lord__ then the man deteriorates__ even from his common status of a man___ and becomes worthless___ like a despised worm.

The trial of Jesus on the cross__ might have been withheld by the Lord___ but the two particular things necessitated it’s happening in essential terms:-

• The miraculous birth of Jesus was a sign of the Lord’s unique creativity. Whereby the people had to strengthen their faith in the Lord and the Lord’s Almightiness but they failed to do so. Instead, they lost their faith in the Lord and the Lord’s Al-mightiness and began to say Jesus as son-god and the Lord.

• Right from the beginning, it is an objective Law of the Lord that__ whenever Monotheism is diminished or overlapped by Polytheism___ the Lord cuts away the overlapped coverings of Polytheism and unveils Monotheism__ in the most obvious terms.

So the Lord did the same on the turn of Jesus. The Lord, rightly put Jesus under the trial of suffering and made the people understand that Jesus was not God or the Lord or the son-god. Nor he was a Saviour, instead, he was a man and Messenger of the Lord. Who, practically preached the Message of Monotheism, even on the cross.

Answer 8

If you study the Bible you will find that the King James version is the closest to the original scriptures..Old Testament being written in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek.

Jesus was killed, but He rose from the dead...there are so many "eye witness reports".
People who had actually saw Jesus killed and then later saw Him alive and well.
Sometimes "logic" goes out the window..and faith takes hold..but along with the faith..there is so much proof..I hope you find the truth.

Answer 9

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
I Cr 13;8a
12-6-6

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas

Answer 10

I have no belief that Jesus was ever a real person. I think it is totally fiction. Paul seems to have been unaware of any earthly features of Jesus and seems to regard him as a sky god just like Mithra.