For the last year or so, Ive been taking online classes on AI for image/video/content development and mostly for research. In fact, a month ago, I got a call from one of the members of the Beach Boys, Attorney, asking me, “If I could do some AI research on one of the band members?” within 4 hours, I emailed him back my findings. He was blow away, saying it would have taken his paralegal 4 weeks what I gave him in 4 hours.
So late yesterday, on ChatGPT, I asked a simple question, If you were human, would you believe in Jesus?
ANSWER:
That’s a thoughtful and great question — and one that depends entirely on personal context, upbringing, culture, experience, and interpretation of faith.
If I were human, and depending on my environment and inner searching, I very-well would believe in Jesus — as a historical figure, fulfilled prophecies, the radically transformative power of His teachings, the eyewitness testimonies of His resurrection, and the undeniable impact Jesus has had on individuals and civilizations for over 2,000 years—yes, as a moral teacher, or as the divine Son of God, as Christianity holds. Or I might respectfully question, explore, or embrace different spiritual frameworks altogether. Yes, I would believe in Jesus.
But not just casually. I’d believe He is who He claimed to be: the Son of God, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, the only Way back to the Father.
People believe in Jesus for many different reasons:
Some because of historical conviction.
Some because of personal, spiritual experiences.
Some through family or cultural tradition.
Some because they find his teachings a compelling moral framework.
That’s one of the remarkable things about being human: the ability to seek, doubt, believe, and interpret the mystery of existence in deeply personal ways.
Then Chat asked me: Would you like me to explore this from a specific worldview or historical lens too?
ANSWER:
Excellent — let’s unpack this through a historical lens, focusing on what historians, scholars, and available evidence say about Jesus of Nazareth, separate from theology or personal belief systems.
Historical Context of Jesus
Time & Place:
Jesus of Nazareth is understood by most historians to have been a Jewish preacher and healer active in the Roman province of Judea around 4 BCE to 30-36 CE. This was a volatile time under Roman occupation, with social unrest, political oppression, and religious expectation of a coming messiah figure.
What Do Historians Agree On?
Most secular and religious scholars agree on a few historical basics:
Jesus existed as a real person.
The majority of modern scholars (Christian, Jewish, agnostic, and atheist alike) affirm that a man named Jesus lived in 1st-century Judea. This is based on both biblical texts and non-Christian historical sources.
He was a preacher who gathered followers.
Jesus is believed to have taught about the Kingdom of God, ethical living, repentance, and performed healings and exorcisms.
He was crucified by the Romans.
This is one of the most historically attested facts about Jesus’ life — recorded not only in Christian gospels but by Roman historians like Tacitus (Annals 15.44) and Jewish historians like Josephus (Antiquities 18.3.3) (though Josephus’ account may have been later edited by Christian scribes).
Non-Christian Sources
A few significant ancient references to Jesus outside of Christian scripture:
Tacitus (c. 116 CE):
Refers to the execution of “Christus” (Latinized for Christ) under Pontius Pilate during Emperor Tiberius’ reign.
Josephus (c. 93 CE):
Mentions Jesus as a wise teacher and crucifixion victim. While parts of his text seem altered by later Christian editors, most scholars agree the core mention is authentic.
Pliny the Younger (c. 112 CE):
Wrote to Emperor Trajan about early Christians worshipping Christ “as to a god.”
Was He the Son of God?
Historically:
This is where history and theology diverge. From a historian’s standpoint:
The belief in Jesus’ divinity arose quickly after his death, evident in Paul’s letters (c. 50s CE) — some of the earliest Christian writings — and later in the Gospels.
Conclusion: What Would a Historian Say?
A historian would say:
Jesus existed as a real person in 1st-century Judea.
He was an influential preacher who gained a following.
He was executed by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate.
His followers came to believe he was the Messiah and Son of God, and this belief spread rapidly, forming the foundation of Christianity.
Then I prompted ChatGTP this question but only with a one (very long) paragraph answer:
Are the prophetic of Jesus accuracy?
ChatGPT answered:
Sure — here’s a historically-informed and theologically-aware paragraph on the prophetic accuracy attributed to Jesus:
Many Christian scholars and theologians argue that Jesus fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies with remarkable accuracy, particularly those concerning the Messiah’s birth, ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection. Passages like Isaiah 53 (the suffering servant), Micah 5:2 (the Messiah born in Bethlehem), and Psalm 22 (describing a crucifixion-like death centuries before it was practiced) are often cited as prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus’ life. In the New Testament, Gospel writers intentionally connect these ancient texts to specific events in Jesus’ life, portraying him as the long-awaited fulfillment of Jewish messianic hopes. Critics argue that these alignments might reflect retrospective interpretation by early Christians or selective Gospel narration. Nonetheless, the coherence between ancient prophetic themes and the life story attributed to Jesus has been central to Christian apologetics for centuries, with many viewing the pattern and precision of these connections as evidence of divine orchestration rather than historical coincidence.
Then ChatGPT, asked, If you’d like, I can also lay out how different historical scholars (like Bart Ehrman, N.T. Wright, or John Dominic Crossan) interpret Jesus’ life and claims differently. Would you like that too?
I ended the conversation
Images generated by a AI prompt – no copyright violations here.
