Centuries before his birth, the Old Testament foretold hundreds of prophecies about Jesus, every single one fulfilled according to the New Testament.

These predictions have long raised questions among scholars and scientists about how one person could accidentally match so many specific details.

Mathematician Peter W Stoner tackled this question in his 1960 book Science Speaks, calculating the odds of a single first-century individual fulfilling just 48 of these prophecies by chance.

The result was staggering: one in 10 followed by 157 zeros, a number so vast it far exceeds the total number of electrons in the observable universe.

To make the math easier to grasp, Stoner began with eight key prophecies, including being born in Bethlehem, descending from David, and performing miracles. 

Using simple probability, multiplying the chance of each prophecy occurring randomly, he found that even fulfilling these eight by accident alone is about one in 100 million.

Extending the calculation to all 48 prophecies, the odds shrank to levels almost impossible to imagine. Stoner illustrated this with a real-world analogy, as covering the state of Texas two feet deep with silver dollars, mark one coin, and try to pick that coin blindfolded, a feat roughly as likely as one person fulfilling all eight prophecies by chance.

In 2025, researchers Will Best and Robin Lovgren from Belmont University revisited Stoner's work, confirming that even under very conservative assumptions, the probability of a single individual fulfilling these prophecies by chance is 'staggeringly low.' 

They added that this analysis 'highlights the remarkable alignment between the predicted characteristics and the historical record of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.'

For many believers, these calculations provide compelling evidence that Jesus of Nazareth was the fulfillment of prophecy, rather than a random person who happened to match the descriptions. 

Critics note that the results depend on which prophecies are chosen and how strictly they are interpreted, but even with conservative assumptions, the odds remain extraordinarily small.

Jesus' life is said to have fulfilled dozens of these predictions, among the most striking included that he was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), descended from Abraham and David (Genesis 12:3; 2 Samuel 7:12–13), and conducted a miraculous ministry of healing (Isaiah 35:5–6). 

His life also matched prophecies about suffering: he was betrayed by a friend, crucified with his hands and feet pierced, and buried in a rich man's tomb (Psalm 41:9; Psalm 22:16; Isaiah 53:9). 

Even events after his death, such as the resurrection (Psalm 16:10) and ascension into heaven (Psalm 68:18), correspond to ancient predictions.

To understand the math in simple terms, Stoner estimated the probability of each prophecy occurring by chance. 

For example, being born in Bethlehem has a one in 280,000 chance, being betrayed for 30 pieces of silver has about one in 100,000, and the money being returned for another purchase is also about one in 100,000.

He then used compound probability, multiplying the likelihood of each independent event. 

For instance, if one prophecy has a one in 10 chance and another a one in 100 chance, the odds of both happening by accident are one in 1,000. 

Applying this to the eight key prophecies produces a number so tiny it is nearly impossible to imagine. 

Extending it to all 48 prophecies, Stoner adjusted for the relative difficulty of each prediction and found the probability to be one followed by 157 zeros, smaller than the number of electrons in the universe. 

Even counting billions per second, it would take far longer than the age of the universe to reach that number.

Best and Lovgren focused specifically on eight prophecies drawn from Isaiah 53, a chapter long seen by many Christians as describing the coming Messiah centuries before Jesus. 

These include being 'high and lifted up' (Isaiah 52:13), 'marred beyond human semblance' (Isaiah 52:14), coming from a humble background (Isaiah 53:2), being despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3), and being crucified (Isaiah 53:5). 

Some are extremely unlikely to occur by chance, such as crucifixion, about one in a million, and remaining silent at trial, one in 10,000.

When the odds of all eight are multiplied, the probability of a single person fulfilling them by accident is effectively zero. 

Best and Lovgren echo Stoner's logic, saying that multiplying the probabilities shows numbers so tiny that they challenge ordinary understanding, drawing attention from scientists and statisticians even outside religious circles.