When people ask this question, “What are the odds of any one person fulfilling all the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Son of God? They’re really asking: Is it reasonable to believe Jesus is the promised Messiah, or is it just a coincidence? Mathematicians, statisticians, and even skeptics who have studied the issue tend to agree on one thing: The odds of any one person fulfilling all the major Messianic prophecies by chance are essentially impossible.
A classic study on this was done by Peter Stoner, a mathematician who deliberately used extremely conservative probabilities, and just 8 of the clearest prophecies, such as, he would be born in Bethlehem, born of a virgin, betrayed for 30 pieces of silver, pierced in both his hands and feet, stand silent before his accusers, crucified with criminals, buried with the rich, and come riding into Jerusalem on a donkey.
Mr. Stone concluded that the odds of one person fulfilling just 8 prophecies by chance were 1 in 10¹â·, or one in one hundred quadrillion = 1 with 17 zeros. To visualize it: Cover the entire state of Texas two feet deep in silver dollars, mark one coin, mix them, blindfold a person, and ask them to pick the marked coin on the first try.
What about 48 prophecies? The odds are 1 in 10¹âµâ·. The number is so large it’s beyond comprehension. There are only about 10â¸â° atoms in the entire observable universe. So, the chance of fulfilling 48 prophecies by accident is essentially zero.
Question: How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill? There were over 300 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled. At least 60–70 was direct, specific, and impossible to fake. Many involve circumstances beyond human control, such as his birthplace, lineage, method of death, timing of arrival, etc.
Your thoughts:
What were the odds?
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Re: What were the odds?
Post #2[Replying to placebofactor in post #1]
I think that if you speak with those who do not believe, it is better to speak in terms of around 20 prophecies more directly fullfilled. And to add that some prophecies were fullilled naturally, while others spiritually. So, it is not so much forcing one to believe, and thus no one is compelled to do by the complete accuracy, for some prophecies were not fullfilled according as their thought to be fullfilled according to the very letter, that is, its very direct sense or cognizance.
I think that if you speak with those who do not believe, it is better to speak in terms of around 20 prophecies more directly fullfilled. And to add that some prophecies were fullilled naturally, while others spiritually. So, it is not so much forcing one to believe, and thus no one is compelled to do by the complete accuracy, for some prophecies were not fullfilled according as their thought to be fullfilled according to the very letter, that is, its very direct sense or cognizance.
