What Did Jesus Really Say?

When Jesus lived 2,000 years ago there were no tape recorders or stenographers present to record his words. There have been many opportunities for mistakes, misinterpretations and mistranslations in the conveyance of Jesus’ teachings over the last two millennia. How do we know what he really said?

Most people, even if they’re not Christians, acknowledge that an exceptional spiritual master named Jesus lived and died 2,000 years ago. The story of his life and teachings are chronicled in the four gospels of the New Testament and they have captivated and inspired the Western world ever since. But how do we know what Jesus actually said? There was no stenographer or tape recorder present and the first gospel to be recorded, Mark, wasn’t written until 30 years after Jesus’ death. How much do you remember of any conversation you witnessed 30 years ago?

From the time Jesus spoke until the time his words and actions were eventually recorded on paper there were many opportunities for mistakes, misinterpretations and mistranslations. Jesus was a mystic and often spoke in parables and metaphors. Those who were present interpreted his teachings and their meanings through the filter of their own limited spiritual understanding. These impressions and memories were substantially diluted and distorted with the passing of 30 years’ time between their occurrence and their recording.

Additionally, Jesus spoke in Aramaic. The first gospels were written in Greek, which was eventually translated into Old English and then to modern English. Each of these translations provides opportunity for lost meaning. Finally, the Council of Nicea, convened by the Emperor Constantine in 325 AD after declaring Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, discarded parts of the gospels which were inconsistent or contradictory in an attempt to make them more cohesive and consistent. For example, all references to reincarnation were stricken. Sadly, many of Jesus’ teachings were lost forever because they did not square with the spiritual views of the Council.

What exactly did Jesus say? No one really knows. Those who interpret the Bible literally and hang on every word are missing the point. Countless controversies, conflicts, condemnations and ill judgments have resulted from (often petty) differing literal interpretations of Biblical scriptures. This has created fertile ground for ego gratification and the rise of fundamentalism. Ironically, judgment and condemnation seem to increasingly have trumped Jesus’ core message of love and forgiveness.

Given that Jesus’ exact words were lost to the wind 2,000 years ago, the best we can do is to search out themes found in the gospels that appear time and again. In this way the essence of Jesus’ teachings comes through loud and clear, over and over, to those who take the time to distill his wisdom from the gospels. It is simply: open heart, open mind—love and forgiveness. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.