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| '''Jesus Christ''' is the central |
'''Jesus Christ''' is the central object of attention and worship in ]. He is held by Christians to be the ] and Savior, as well as the physical incarnation of ], the ]. The vast majority of self-described Christians regard belief in the divinity of Jesus to be part of what defines Christianity. Moreover, according to some ], Jesus is one of the three persons of the Trinity, along with ] and the ]. | ||
| Due to a mistaken calculation it was long held that Jesus was born A.D. 1 and died at age 33. It is now more often held that he was born on 4 or 5 B.C. Regardless, the birth of Jesus has had such profound significant to ] that years are counted from the originally alleged birth year of Jesus. "A.D." stands for "]," which means "in the year of Our Lord," or the number of years after the purported year of the birth of Jesus. An alternative notation for counting years is "C.E.," or the ]. The beginning of the Common Era also coincides with the originally alleged birth of Jesus and is sometimes referred to as "the Christian Era." | |||
| ⚫ | Christianity emerged from ] in the first century of the |
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| ⚫ | Christianity emerged from ] in the first century of the Common Era. Christians brought from Judaism its scriptures, and fundamental doctrines such as ], and the belief in a ] (English term for the Hebrew '']''); this term is more commonly known as ] (Greek). Hence the name "Jesus Christ" means "Jesus the Christ" or "Jesus the Messiah"; since Jews do not accept that Jesus is the messiah of Jewish scripture, they reject the use of the name. The ] is a national one, viz., the deliverer of ], and has significant differences from how Christians understand the term. | ||
| ⚫ | Christians believe Jesus was born after his virgin mother ] was miraculously caused to conceive him by ], and was thereby the ] the ] were waiting for. According to a later interpretation of ] 7:14 (a book in the ]) a young woman (often translated as 'virgin'; the correctness of that translation is controversial) would conceive a child destined to become a |
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| ⚫ | Christians believe Jesus was born after his virgin mother ] was miraculously caused to conceive him by ], and was thereby the ] the ] were waiting for. According to a later interpretation of ] 7:14 (a book in the Christian ], or the Jewish ]) a young woman (often translated as 'virgin'; the correctness of that translation is controversial) would conceive a child destined to become a messiah. This verse is taken by Christians to refer to Jesus. | ||
| The ] recounts little about Jesus' childhood or young adulthood. By the time he reached his early 30s, he became known as a religious teacher. After teaching as a wandering ] and performing miracles for three years, he was convicted by the occupying Roman government of claiming to be king of the Jews, and ]. During this time period, many thousands of Jews were murdered by the Romans in this manner; the complete absence of this from the New Testament is a matter of great controversy. According to the ] (the first 4 books in the ] of the ]), he ] on the third day and appeared to his disciples, after which he ascended into the skies. | The ] recounts little about Jesus' childhood or young adulthood. By the time he reached his early 30s, he became known as a religious teacher. After teaching as a wandering ] and performing miracles for three years, he was convicted by the occupying Roman government of claiming to be king of the Jews, and ]. During this time period, many thousands of Jews were murdered by the Romans in this manner; the complete absence of this from the New Testament is a matter of great controversy. According to the ] (the first 4 books in the ] of the ]), he ] on the third day and appeared to his disciples, after which he ascended into the skies. | ||
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| The most famous reference is in ] (see ]). | The most famous reference is in ] (see ]). | ||
| ] is one of the non-biblical sources commonly mentioned (see ]). | ] is one of the non-biblical sources commonly mentioned (see ]). | ||
| It is often assumed that Jesus was born in the year 4 or 5 B.C. and died at age 33. | |||
| The nomenclature of B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (''Anno Domini'' - 'Year of our Lord') for years was based on a mistaken calculation of the year of his birth. | |||
| ⚫ | There are also numerous lines of thought that question the existence of Jesus Christ or suggest that he is merely the combination of numerous individuals who lived during that time period (see |
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| ⚫ | There are also numerous lines of thought that question the existence of Jesus Christ or suggest that he is merely the combination of numerous individuals who lived during that time period (see ]). | ||
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| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 10:31, 26 April 2002
Jesus Christ is the central object of attention and worship in Christianity. He is held by Christians to be the Messiah and Savior, as well as the physical incarnation of God, the Son of God. The vast majority of self-described Christians regard belief in the divinity of Jesus to be part of what defines Christianity. Moreover, according to some theologies, Jesus is one of the three persons of the Trinity, along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Due to a mistaken calculation it was long held that Jesus was born A.D. 1 and died at age 33. It is now more often held that he was born on 4 or 5 B.C. Regardless, the birth of Jesus has had such profound significant to Western civilization that years are counted from the originally alleged birth year of Jesus. "A.D." stands for "Anno Domini," which means "in the year of Our Lord," or the number of years after the purported year of the birth of Jesus. An alternative notation for counting years is "C.E.," or the Common Era. The beginning of the Common Era also coincides with the originally alleged birth of Jesus and is sometimes referred to as "the Christian Era."
Christianity emerged from Judaism in the first century of the Common Era. Christians brought from Judaism its scriptures, and fundamental doctrines such as monotheism, and the belief in a messiah (English term for the Hebrew moshiach); this term is more commonly known as Christ (Greek). Hence the name "Jesus Christ" means "Jesus the Christ" or "Jesus the Messiah"; since Jews do not accept that Jesus is the messiah of Jewish scripture, they reject the use of the name. The Jewish conception of the messiah is a national one, viz., the deliverer of Israel, and has significant differences from how Christians understand the term.
Christians believe Jesus was born after his virgin mother Mary was miraculously caused to conceive him by God, and was thereby the Messiah the Jews were waiting for. According to a later interpretation of Isaiah 7:14 (a book in the Christian Old Testament, or the Jewish Tanach) a young woman (often translated as 'virgin'; the correctness of that translation is controversial) would conceive a child destined to become a messiah. This verse is taken by Christians to refer to Jesus.
The Biblical account recounts little about Jesus' childhood or young adulthood. By the time he reached his early 30s, he became known as a religious teacher. After teaching as a wandering rabbi and performing miracles for three years, he was convicted by the occupying Roman government of claiming to be king of the Jews, and crucified. During this time period, many thousands of Jews were murdered by the Romans in this manner; the complete absence of this from the New Testament is a matter of great controversy. According to the Gospels (the first 4 books in the New Testament of the Bible), he rose from the dead on the third day and appeared to his disciples, after which he ascended into the skies.
Jesus' teaching, as told in the Gospels, concentrates on benevolence towards other people and calls on its followers to abandon their worldly concerns, make disciples, and wait for the second coming of their Savior. According to the Gospels, believers are promised salvation, which means that only those who accept Jesus as the Son of God will be resurrected from the dead and live forever in heaven.
The Islamic faith recognizes Jesus (Isa, in Arabic) as a wise man and a prophet, but not a savior or son of Allah, except in the sense that all mankind are children of Allah. That Mary was a virgin, and that Allah caused her to conceive, are accepted by the Qur'an. According to Islam Isa never died and he was not crucified; instead he was raised into heaven still physically alive, where he lives now. At the time appointed by Allah, Isa will physically return to the world, end all wars, and usher in an era of peace, a messianic era. The question of whether Islam has the potential to explicate Trinity is being explored as an open question.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes Jesus appeared in the Western Hemisphere after his resurrection and taught the ancestors of modern Native Americans, whom they believe to be one of the lost tribes of Israel.
Apart from the Gospels, there are very few contemporary accounts of the historical Jesus. The most famous reference is in Tacitus (see Tacitus on Jesus). Josephus is one of the non-biblical sources commonly mentioned (see Josephus on Jesus).
There are also numerous lines of thought that question the existence of Jesus Christ or suggest that he is merely the combination of numerous individuals who lived during that time period (see Historicity of Jesus).