Jesus
Central figure of Christianity, 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader.
Jesus (c. 6 to 4 BC – AD 30 or 33), also known as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader in the Roman province of Judaea. He is the central figure of Christianity. Most branches of Christianity consider Jesus the incarnation of God the Son and the awaited Messiah. Accounts of Jesus's life are contained in the Gospels. Virtually all modern scholars of antiquity agree that Jesus existed historically.
Quick Facts
- Lineage
- Son of David, son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1)
- Birthplace
- Bethlehem of Judaea (Matthew 2:1)
- Baptism
- Baptized by John in the Jordan (Matthew 3:13)
- Temptation
- Led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1)
- First preaching
- Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17)
Lore & Background
According to Christian tradition, Jesus was circumcised at eight days old, presented at the Temple in Jerusalem at 40 days old, baptized by John the Baptist as a young adult, and after 40 days and nights of fasting in the wilderness began his public ministry. He was an itinerant teacher, often debated with Pharisees and Sadducees, engaged in healings, taught in parables, and gathered followers, 12 of whom he appointed as apostles. He was arrested in Jerusalem, tried by the Sanhedrin, handed over to Roman authorities, and crucified on the order of Pontius Pilate. Christians believe he rose from the dead on the third day after his death. The name Jesus means 'God saves' in Hebrew. The title Christ means 'anointed' and is derived from the Greek Christos, a calque of the Hebrew messiah.
Did You Know?
- Jesus's birth in Bethlehem is celebrated annually on 25 December as Christmas.
- His crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
- Mainstream Judaism rejects Jesus as the awaited messiah.
- In Islam, Jesus is considered a messiah and a prophet of God, born of the virgin Mary, but neither God nor the son of God.
- The world's most widely used calendar era is traditionally based on the approximate date of the birth of Jesus.
Elsewhere in Figures of Scripture
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