Hypothesis: Jesus Christ performed numerous miracles.
Predictions (What should we expect to find if the hypothesis is true?):
1) Jesus should have been exceptionally famous because of these miracles.
2) These miracles should have been original.
3) These miracles should have provided the maximum benefit for those receiving them.
Results:
1) Outside of the Gospels, which were written decades after the death of Jesus, there is very little contemporary mention of Jesus. Only Flavius Josephus even mentions him, and only in passing.
2) Most, if not all, of Jesus' miracles were performed by mythological figures imagined before him.
3) Many of his miracles were essentially useless, such as turning water into wine and providing lunch for a crowd.
Conclusions: Jesus likely did not perform any miracles. These were likely added into the Gospels later on in order to keep up with the mythological competition.
Predictions (What should we expect to find if the hypothesis is true?):
1) Jesus should have been exceptionally famous because of these miracles.
2) These miracles should have been original.
3) These miracles should have provided the maximum benefit for those receiving them.
Results:
1) Outside of the Gospels, which were written decades after the death of Jesus, there is very little contemporary mention of Jesus. Only Flavius Josephus even mentions him, and only in passing.
2) Most, if not all, of Jesus' miracles were performed by mythological figures imagined before him.
3) Many of his miracles were essentially useless, such as turning water into wine and providing lunch for a crowd.
Conclusions: Jesus likely did not perform any miracles. These were likely added into the Gospels later on in order to keep up with the mythological competition.