For many people exploring the Christian faith—or the question of God’s existence—one crucial issue often arises:

Can we really trust what the Bible says about Jesus?

That’s a fair question. After all, if Jesus is the central figure of the Christian message, then the documents that tell His story must be reliable.

I believe they are.

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WHAT ARE THE GOSPELS, REALLY?

The Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are not mythical writings created centuries after Jesus lived. They are first-century accounts of Jesus’ life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection, written by people who either knew Him personally or gathered testimony from those who did.

Luke even begins his Gospel by stating plainly that he had carefully investigated everything and was writing an orderly account based on eyewitness testimony (Luke 1:1–4).

This is not the language of legend. It’s the language of documentation.

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EARLY, EYEWITNESSED, AND CONSISTENT

Some critics claim the Gospels were written too long after Jesus’ death to be trustworthy. But that view is increasingly outdated.

Historical and textual evidence suggests the Gospels were written within decades of Jesus’ death—some within 20–30 years, while eyewitnesses were still alive. Luke, for instance, does not mention the destruction of the Jerusalem temple (70 AD), which strongly implies it hadn’t happened yet when he wrote.

What’s more, the four Gospels:

• Tell the same core story, despite different emphases and styles.
• Reflect the cultural, political, and geographical realities of the time.
• Include unflattering details about the apostles (e.g., their fears, doubts, and failures)—which would not make sense in fabricated writings.

All of this points to authenticity rather than invention.

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PROPHECY FULFILLED

Another mark of credibility is how the Gospels show Jesus fulfilling Old Testament prophecies—many of which were written hundreds of years earlier.

For example:

• The betrayal for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12–13)
• The crucifixion, described in graphic detail in Psalm 22
• The virgin birth and birthplace in Isaiah and Micah
• The suffering servant in Isaiah 53, widely recognized as a portrait of the Messiah

These are not vague or generic. They are precise, detailed, and fulfilled in the life of one man.

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THE POWER OF EYEWITNESSES

The Gospels are filled with details that only eyewitnesses or their direct informants could have known:

• Names of individuals healed or involved (e.g., Bartimaeus, Joseph of Arimathea)
• Specific towns, distances, and geography
• Emotional reactions of people in crowds or private conversations

Moreover, the Book of Acts continues the story after Jesus’ resurrection, showing how His followers—formerly fearful and scattered—boldly spread the message of His resurrection, often at great personal cost.

They were not defending a philosophy. They were reporting an event.

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A STORY THAT RINGS TRUE

The Gospels also contain moments of doubt, confusion, and misunderstanding—even among Jesus’ closest followers. If the goal was to create a polished legend, these moments would be edited out.

Instead, we find a story that feels raw, human, and deeply real.

Even Jesus’ own family doubted Him at times (John 7:5). Many followers walked away when His teachings became difficult (John 6:66). And as He died, He cried out to God in agony (Mark 15:34).

This is not the story of a cleverly constructed myth. It’s the story of a man whose words, actions, and presence changed lives—and still do.

Josephus, an acclaimed Roman affiliate, wrote that Jesus was a revered person, who performed amazing deeds and was focused on the hearts of the people and was not a man of the sword.

DIFFERENCES IN VARIOUS VERSIONS OF THE GOSPEL STORIES

It is highly likely that different accounts of the same events will contain some inconsistencies. If they didn’t, it might be construed that the stories were made up. I was amused that members of my family couldn’t agree on the precise details of a very recent trip away.

I also recently wrote my own life story and discovered later that my version of events did not exactly match up with those of my brother. This is perfectly understandable given the passage of time, but it doesn’t change the base story line.

Yes, there will be inconsistencies in the various accounts of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus. This does not imply an “I gotcha!” moment. We need to be careful too about the different meanings of words used in ancient times and the strict interpretation of the foreign languages involved and not become distracted from the core messages of the teachings.

Some of Jesus’ parables seem severe in their application, but this often reflects the context and emphasis in which they were told. Jesus once described Himself as a ‘slave’, but of course He wasn’t.

Remember too, that the Old and New Testaments stand on their own merits. They are not being updated or edited over time.

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FINAL REFLECTION

So, can we trust the Gospels?

I believe the answer is yes—not because we’ve blindly accepted them, but because the world’s scribes and scholars have examined them and found them to be:

• Historically early
• Rooted in eyewitness testimony
• Internally consistent
• Supported by fulfilled prophecy
• Honest about doubt, weakness, and even failure

For those willing to look, the Gospels offer both truth and invitation. They don’t just claim that Jesus lived—they ask us to consider what His life means for ours. There are amazingly rich teachings in the gospels that are very worthwhile reading for perspective and insight in today’s times.

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Mike

mike@acaseforgod.com

Post 6 of a series exploring the evidence for the existence of God.

Please read my next Blog – Science and God; Enemies or Allies?