How can I be completely certain that Jesus existed?

[schnauzer]

HELLO EVERYONE. FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I'M MOST LIKELY IN THE WRONG CATEGORY, BECAUSE THERE ARE HONESTLY MANY AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE FOR MY CASE... I'M A CHRISTIAN AND IF I'M IN THE WRONG CATEGORY, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MOVE IT TO ONE IN WHICH ONLY CHRISTIANS CAN RESPOND... THANK YOU.

Let me explain my situation a little. Exactly two years ago, I came to know the love of God. He performed unimaginable miracles in my life, and since then, I believe I've been converted. The point is this: in my early days as a believer, I had immense joy, but then God taught me that I had to abandon certain things I practiced, which weren't sinful in and of themselves, but which removed Him from the center of my life. My joy gradually diminished and became a roller coaster.
I believe that these things I've abandoned were perhaps idols to me and were occupying a large part of my heart, and by removing them, a void began to form.
This emptiness and dissatisfaction, the loss of joy, the fact that I can't enjoy my hobby, have made me gradually lose faith, to the point where I've begun to wonder if Jesus really existed, and also to doubt that those imaginable miracles I mentioned at the beginning were actually performed by Him.
This led me to Google. And that's when I found sites that said there's no proof of Jesus' historical existence, sites that cited testaments like those of Tacitus, Flavius Josephus, Pliny the Younger, Lucian of Samosata, etc. Also sites that said parts of the Bible, from books like Genesis, have been copied, for example, from the Epic of Gilgamesh, because it was written earlier, the Enuma Elish, from which they say the creation story was extracted or "copied," etc. What do you think about this? Or what are the differences between the stories told in these books and the Bible? Above all, these Google searches have shaken my faith and made it much harder for me to believe in God. I assure you that every day I try to pray and read Christian books, but sooner or later these doubts always creep back into my head.
As you've seen, the historical evidence of Jesus' existence that I found on Google, and that you've also mentioned in other threads here, doesn't seem to convince me.
I don't think it's 'historical evidence I need.' The truth is, I'm not entirely sure what it is. Perhaps it's because I feel like God doesn't answer my prayers when I ask for faith or joy immediately, so I get discouraged. Sometimes I'm afraid to give up... I don't want to. Because despite the doubts, I have a certain certainty that only God could have done what He did in my life. Not only do I want to recover my initial faith, but I want to have TOTAL certainty that God exists, that Jesus was crucified, that all my sins were placed on Him, that I can approach the throne of grace with complete confidence without being rejected... such things are priceless. But every time I try to approach God, I do so with a certain guilt, perhaps because of the sin of not being able to believe in Him, or I don't know, but I feel something in my chest that doesn't give me confidence, there's something separating me...
God bless you all richly. I read you.

 

[Ivan Hlavanda]

You are searching in the wrong places. You have to search in the Scripture which is the Word of God.
The whole Scripture is about Jesus.

Old Testament teaches us how the Messiah will suffer, be crucified, died and resurrected (read Isaiah 53)
You then have some incredible details about Jesus' crucifixion. For example:

Psalm 22:18 "They divide my garments among them, and cast lots for my clothing," Compare to Matthew 27:35 'And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots'

Psalm 69:21 'They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.' Compare to Matthew 27:34 'The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.'

We also have verses as:
Proverbs 30:4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name?

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Psalm 2:11-12 'Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.'

This is only a small bit of all the prophecies about Jesus. You will find much more, but you have to look in Scripture. Prophecies how the Messiah will enter Jerusalem sitting on a donkey, and hundreds other prophecies.

Also, look at the disciples of Jesus. After Jesus' death they were hiding, trembling of fear, fearing death for being disciples of Christ. But after resurrected Christ appeared to them, they boldly proclaimed the Gospel even in the face of persecution and death.

If you want to know Jesus, you need to read and trust God's word and not trust sinful fallen humanity.

 

[Tuur]

Basically, I think the question is whether the bible is reliable. You will, of course, find claims that it's not, but those claims have to be made despite discoveries that confirm portions of the text. Such as the Tel Dan Stela that mentions the House of David, or the recent discovery that there was a garden at the site of the Holy Sepulchre as described in John 19:41. Josephus mentions both Jesus and James. The Josephus account of Jesus has been regarded as questionable, since Josephus isn't known to have been a Christian, but a segment found in an Arabic source reads more like you'd expect a non-Christian to write. Paul Maier used the Arabic text in his translation Josephus: The Essential Works. The interesting thing is that accounts hostile to Christianity never denied that Jesus Christ exists. There were questions of who Jesus is, but not if Jesus is. One goes so far as to acknowledge the miracles, which, coming from a hostile source, is strong confirmation that Jesus not only is, but also worked miracles as described in the Gospels. To argue that Jesus didn't exist to eyewitnesses who saw Him or knew someone who saw Him would have been nonsensical.

 

[NBB]

Seek and you will find it says, maybe go to a church where they believe in having Gods presence and being filled with the Holy spirit.
The Holy spirit, and Jesus in us can be as real as anything else.
Keep in mind that there is someone working on the shadows, the enemy of our souls, sneakily inserting lies, temptations or even attacks, to everyone who wants to get close to God, and will be glad if you abandon you search.
The enemy is the 'accuser of the brothers' always trying to place guilt, shame, and disbelief in us.

The parable of the seed.

'Some gladly took the word, but problems came and the anxieties etc, drowned the seed, and couldn't bear fruit. <----- Don't be this guy..

8 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Seek God.

 

[David Lamb]

Seek and you will find it says, maybe go to a church where they believe in having Gods presence and being filled with the Holy spirit.

....and where they believe the bible. Sadly these days, there are many "churches" which no longer believe the bible to be the word of God.

 

[armchairscholar]

HELLO EVERYONE. FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I'M MOST LIKELY IN THE WRONG CATEGORY, BECAUSE THERE ARE HONESTLY MANY AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE FOR MY CASE... I'M A CHRISTIAN AND IF I'M IN THE WRONG CATEGORY, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MOVE IT TO ONE IN WHICH ONLY CHRISTIANS CAN RESPOND... THANK YOU.

Let me explain my situation a little. Exactly two years ago, I came to know the love of God. He performed unimaginable miracles in my life, and since then, I believe I've been converted.

The point is this: in my early days as a believer, I had immense joy, but then God taught me that I had to abandon certain things I practiced, which weren't sinful in and of themselves, but which removed Him from the center of my life. My joy gradually diminished and became a roller coaster.
I believe that these things I've abandoned were perhaps idols to me and were occupying a large part of my heart, and by removing them, a void began to form.
This emptiness and dissatisfaction, the loss of joy, the fact that I can't enjoy my hobby, have made me gradually lose faith, to the point where I've begun to wonder if Jesus really existed, and also to doubt that those imaginable miracles I mentioned at the beginning were actually performed by Him.
This led me to Google. And that's when I found sites that said there's no proof of Jesus' historical existence, sites that cited testaments like those of Tacitus, Flavius Josephus, Pliny the Younger, Lucian of Samosata, etc. Also sites that said parts of the Bible, from books like Genesis, have been copied, for example, from the Epic of Gilgamesh, because it was written earlier, the Enuma Elish, from which they say the creation story was extracted or "copied," etc. What do you think about this? Or what are the differences between the stories told in these books and the Bible? Above all, these Google searches have shaken my faith and made it much harder for me to believe in God. I assure you that every day I try to pray and read Christian books, but sooner or later these doubts always creep back into my head.
As you've seen, the historical evidence of Jesus' existence that I found on Google, and that you've also mentioned in other threads here, doesn't seem to convince me.
I don't think it's 'historical evidence I need.' The truth is, I'm not entirely sure what it is. Perhaps it's because I feel like God doesn't answer my prayers when I ask for faith or joy immediately, so I get discouraged. Sometimes I'm afraid to give up... I don't want to. Because despite the doubts, I have a certain certainty that only God could have done what He did in my life. Not only do I want to recover my initial faith, but I want to have TOTAL certainty that God exists, that Jesus was crucified, that all my sins were placed on Him, that I can approach the throne of grace with complete confidence without being rejected... such things are priceless. But every time I try to approach God, I do so with a certain guilt, perhaps because of the sin of not being able to believe in Him, or I don't know, but I feel something in my chest that doesn't give me confidence, there's something separating me...
God bless you all richly. I read you.

Hey schnauzer, thanks for sharing your heart so openly. I can feel the weight of what you’re going through, and I just want to say you’re not alone in wrestling with these doubts and feelings. Your story reminds me of so many believers who’ve walked through seasons of questioning, myself included. Those early days of faith, with all that joy and wonder, can feel like a distant memory when doubts creep in, and it’s tough when the things you used to love feel like they’ve lost their spark.

I hear you about the void left after giving up things that might’ve been idols. That’s a real sacrifice, and it’s normal to feel a sense of loss. Sometimes, when we let go of what’s been filling our hearts, it takes time for God to fill that space with something deeper—His presence, His peace. The roller coaster of emotions you’re describing, the guilt, the discouragement, even the fear of giving up, those are all part of being human and growing in faith. The fact that you’re still praying and seeking, even with doubts, shows a heart that hasn’t given up on God.

About those Google searches and the questions they raised—man, the internet can be a wild place. It’s easy to stumble across stuff that shakes you, especially when you’re already feeling unsteady. The claims about the Bible borrowing from other ancient stories or the debates about historical evidence for Jesus can feel overwhelming. But here’s something I’ve learned: those ancient texts, like the Epic of Gilgamesh or Enuma Elish, share some similarities with Genesis, sure, but they’re also wildly different in their view of God and humanity. The Bible’s story is unique in its focus on one loving, personal God who creates with purpose and pursues a relationship with us. It’s less about “copying” and more about God speaking truth in a way that made sense to people in that time.

As for the historical stuff, I get that it’s not clicking for you right now, and that’s okay. Faith isn’t just about facts; it’s about a relationship with God. You mentioned those miracles in your life, the ones that felt so real and undeniable. Maybe take some time to sit with those memories. Write them down, pray over them, ask God to remind you of His hand in your story. Sometimes, when my faith feels shaky, I go back to those moments when God showed up in ways I couldn’t explain. They’re like anchors.

Maybe try this: when you pray, don’t focus on asking for instant faith or joy. Just talk to God like you’re talking to a friend. Tell Him about the doubts, the guilt, the emptiness. Ask Him to show you one small step forward, one glimpse of His love. And give yourself permission to rest. Faith isn’t about forcing yourself to feel a certain way; it’s about trusting God’s faithfulness, even when your feelings are all over the place.

You’re on a journey, and it’s okay that it’s messy. Those doubts don’t mean you’re failing—they mean you’re engaging with your faith in a real, honest way. Keep seeking, keep asking, and know that God’s holding you, even now. I’m praying for you, brother, that you’ll sense His presence and find peace in His love.

 

[schnauzer]

Hey schnauzer, thanks for sharing your heart so openly. I can feel the weight of what you’re going through, and I just want to say you’re not alone in wrestling with these doubts and feelings. Your story reminds me of so many believers who’ve walked through seasons of questioning, myself included. Those early days of faith, with all that joy and wonder, can feel like a distant memory when doubts creep in, and it’s tough when the things you used to love feel like they’ve lost their spark.

I hear you about the void left after giving up things that might’ve been idols. That’s a real sacrifice, and it’s normal to feel a sense of loss. Sometimes, when we let go of what’s been filling our hearts, it takes time for God to fill that space with something deeper—His presence, His peace. The roller coaster of emotions you’re describing, the guilt, the discouragement, even the fear of giving up, those are all part of being human and growing in faith. The fact that you’re still praying and seeking, even with doubts, shows a heart that hasn’t given up on God.

About those Google searches and the questions they raised—man, the internet can be a wild place. It’s easy to stumble across stuff that shakes you, especially when you’re already feeling unsteady. The claims about the Bible borrowing from other ancient stories or the debates about historical evidence for Jesus can feel overwhelming. But here’s something I’ve learned: those ancient texts, like the Epic of Gilgamesh or Enuma Elish, share some similarities with Genesis, sure, but they’re also wildly different in their view of God and humanity. The Bible’s story is unique in its focus on one loving, personal God who creates with purpose and pursues a relationship with us. It’s less about “copying” and more about God speaking truth in a way that made sense to people in that time.

As for the historical stuff, I get that it’s not clicking for you right now, and that’s okay. Faith isn’t just about facts; it’s about a relationship with God. You mentioned those miracles in your life, the ones that felt so real and undeniable. Maybe take some time to sit with those memories. Write them down, pray over them, ask God to remind you of His hand in your story. Sometimes, when my faith feels shaky, I go back to those moments when God showed up in ways I couldn’t explain. They’re like anchors.

Maybe try this: when you pray, don’t focus on asking for instant faith or joy. Just talk to God like you’re talking to a friend. Tell Him about the doubts, the guilt, the emptiness. Ask Him to show you one small step forward, one glimpse of His love. And give yourself permission to rest. Faith isn’t about forcing yourself to feel a certain way; it’s about trusting God’s faithfulness, even when your feelings are all over the place.

You’re on a journey, and it’s okay that it’s messy. Those doubts don’t mean you’re failing—they mean you’re engaging with your faith in a real, honest way. Keep seeking, keep asking, and know that God’s holding you, even now. I’m praying for you, brother, that you’ll sense His presence and find peace in His love.

Thank you. God bless you richly.

 

[Apple Sky]

HELLO EVERYONE. FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I'M MOST LIKELY IN THE WRONG CATEGORY, BECAUSE THERE ARE HONESTLY MANY AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE FOR MY CASE... I'M A CHRISTIAN AND IF I'M IN THE WRONG CATEGORY, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MOVE IT TO ONE IN WHICH ONLY CHRISTIANS CAN RESPOND... THANK YOU.

Let me explain my situation a little. Exactly two years ago, I came to know the love of God. He performed unimaginable miracles in my life, and since then, I believe I've been converted. The point is this: in my early days as a believer, I had immense joy, but then God taught me that I had to abandon certain things I practiced, which weren't sinful in and of themselves, but which removed Him from the center of my life. My joy gradually diminished and became a roller coaster.
I believe that these things I've abandoned were perhaps idols to me and were occupying a large part of my heart, and by removing them, a void began to form.
This emptiness and dissatisfaction, the loss of joy, the fact that I can't enjoy my hobby, have made me gradually lose faith, to the point where I've begun to wonder if Jesus really existed, and also to doubt that those imaginable miracles I mentioned at the beginning were actually performed by Him.
This led me to Google. And that's when I found sites that said there's no proof of Jesus' historical existence, sites that cited testaments like those of Tacitus, Flavius Josephus, Pliny the Younger, Lucian of Samosata, etc. Also sites that said parts of the Bible, from books like Genesis, have been copied, for example, from the Epic of Gilgamesh, because it was written earlier, the Enuma Elish, from which they say the creation story was extracted or "copied," etc. What do you think about this? Or what are the differences between the stories told in these books and the Bible? Above all, these Google searches have shaken my faith and made it much harder for me to believe in God. I assure you that every day I try to pray and read Christian books, but sooner or later these doubts always creep back into my head.
As you've seen, the historical evidence of Jesus' existence that I found on Google, and that you've also mentioned in other threads here, doesn't seem to convince me.
I don't think it's 'historical evidence I need.' The truth is, I'm not entirely sure what it is. Perhaps it's because I feel like God doesn't answer my prayers when I ask for faith or joy immediately, so I get discouraged. Sometimes I'm afraid to give up... I don't want to. Because despite the doubts, I have a certain certainty that only God could have done what He did in my life. Not only do I want to recover my initial faith, but I want to have TOTAL certainty that God exists, that Jesus was crucified, that all my sins were placed on Him, that I can approach the throne of grace with complete confidence without being rejected... such things are priceless. But every time I try to approach God, I do so with a certain guilt, perhaps because of the sin of not being able to believe in Him, or I don't know, but I feel something in my chest that doesn't give me confidence, there's something separating me...
God bless you all richly. I read you.

Can I point you in the direction of the book of Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 KJV​

KJV
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

I think it were 500 that saw him ascend to Heaven ??

 

[schnauzer]

Hola Schnauzer, gracias por compartir tu corazón tan abiertamente. Siento el peso de lo que estás pasando, y solo quiero decirte que no estás solo al lidiar con estas dudas y sentimientos. Tu historia me recuerda a tantos creyentes que han pasado por épocas de cuestionamiento, incluyéndome a mí. Esos primeros días de fe, con toda esa alegría y asombro, pueden parecer un recuerdo lejano cuando las dudas se apoderan de ti, y es duro cuando las cosas que antes amabas parecen haber perdido su chispa.

Te entiendo sobre el vacío que queda después de renunciar a cosas que podrían haber sido ídolos. Es un verdadero sacrificio, y es normal sentir una sensación de pérdida. A veces, cuando dejamos ir lo que nos llenaba el corazón, Dios tarda en llenar ese espacio con algo más profundo: su presencia, su paz. La montaña rusa de emociones que describes, la culpa, el desánimo, incluso el miedo a rendirse, todo eso forma parte de ser humano y crecer en la fe. El hecho de que sigas orando y buscando, incluso con dudas, demuestra que tu corazón no se ha dado por vencido con Dios.

Sobre esas búsquedas en Google y las preguntas que suscitaron, internet puede ser un lugar descontrolado. Es fácil toparse con cosas que te sacuden, sobre todo cuando ya te sientes inestable. Las afirmaciones de que la Biblia toma prestado de otras historias antiguas o los debates sobre la evidencia histórica de Jesús pueden resultar abrumadores. Pero he aprendido algo: esos textos antiguos, como la Epopeya de Gilgamesh o el Enuma Elish, comparten algunas similitudes con el Génesis, sí, pero también son radicalmente diferentes en su visión de Dios y la humanidad. La historia de la Biblia es única porque se centra en un Dios amoroso y personal que crea con un propósito y busca una relación con nosotros. Se trata menos de "copiar" y más de Dios diciendo la verdad de una manera que tenía sentido para la gente de aquella época.

En cuanto a la historia, entiendo que no te estés conectando ahora mismo, y no hay problema. La fe no se trata solo de hechos; se trata de una relación con Dios. Mencionaste esos milagros en tu vida, esos que se sintieron tan reales e innegables. Quizás podrías dedicar un tiempo a reflexionar sobre esos recuerdos. Escríbelos, ora por ellos, pídele a Dios que te recuerde su mano en tu historia. A veces, cuando mi fe se tambalea, recuerdo esos momentos en los que Dios se manifestó de maneras que no podría explicar. Son como anclas.

Quizás podrías intentar esto: cuando ores, no te centres en pedir fe o alegría instantáneas. Simplemente habla con Dios como si hablaras con un amigo. Cuéntale tus dudas, tu culpa, tu vacío. Pídele que te muestre un pequeño paso adelante, un destello de su amor. Y date permiso para descansar. La fe no se trata de forzarte a sentirte de cierta manera; se trata de confiar en la fidelidad de Dios, incluso cuando tus sentimientos estén descontrolados.

Estás en un viaje, y está bien que sea complicado. Esas dudas no significan que estés fracasando, sino que estás aprendiendo de tu fe de forma real y honesta. Sigue buscando, sigue pidiendo, y recuerda que Dios te sostiene, incluso ahora. Oro por ti, hermano, para que sientas su presencia y encuentres paz en su amor.

Can I talk to God normally, even if I doubt that Jesus existed and gave his life for me (which I would love to believe and would solve my problems)?

 

[David Lamb]

Can I point you in the direction of the book of Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 KJV​

KJV
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

I think it were 500 that saw him ascend to Heaven ??

Good quote from 1 Corinthians 15. It wasn't the Ascension that 500 saw. They saw Jesus at some some between His resurrection and His Ascension. The ascension is described in Acts 1, where the people who were present at the Ascension are named:

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This [same] Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James [the son] of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.” (Ac 1:9-13 NKJV)