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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jtrevor99 (talk | contribs) at 04:18, 15 July 2023 (→The Miracle of Resurrection: Reply to question on orphaned comment; light reorganization). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

	Jesus is a featured article; it (or a previous version of it) has been identified as one of the best articles produced by the Misplaced Pages community. Even so, if you can update or improve it, please do so.
	This article appeared on Misplaced Pages's Main Page as Today's featured article on December 25, 2013.
Article milestones Date Process Result January 17, 2004 Featured article candidate Not promoted June 2, 2004 Featured article candidate Not promoted August 3, 2004 Featured article candidate Not promoted November 2, 2004 Featured article candidate Not promoted May 3, 2005 Articles for deletion Kept October 6, 2005 Peer review Reviewed December 15, 2005 Featured article candidate Not promoted April 14, 2006 Peer review Reviewed November 27, 2006 Peer review Reviewed April 21, 2007 Featured article candidate Not promoted August 21, 2007 WikiProject A-class review Approved July 12, 2009 Good article reassessment Delisted May 5, 2013 Good article nominee Listed May 28, 2013 Guild of Copy Editors Copyedited August 15, 2013 Featured article candidate Promoted Current status: Featured article

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This article is written in American English, which has its own spelling conventions (color, defense, traveled) and some terms that are used in it may be different or absent from other varieties of English. According to the relevant style guide, this should not be changed without broad consensus. Section sizes Section size for Jesus (52 sections) Section name Byte count Section total (Top) 17,703 17,703 Name 1,746 3,808 Jesus Christ 2,062 2,062 Life and teachings in the New Testament 156 82,045 Canonical gospels 2,990 13,860 Authorship, date, and reliability 4,772 4,772 Comparative structure and content 6,098 6,098 Genealogy and nativity 8,424 8,424 Early life, family, and profession 5,870 5,870 Baptism and temptation 4,155 4,155 Public ministry 4,140 23,197 Disciples and followers 2,488 2,488 Teachings and miracles 13,392 13,392 Proclamation as Christ and Transfiguration 3,177 3,177 Passion Week 356 20,850 Activities in Jerusalem 4,413 4,413 Last Supper 4,447 4,447 Agony in the Garden, betrayal, and arrest 2,053 2,053 Trials by the Sanhedrin, Herod, and Pilate 6,155 6,155 Crucifixion and entombment 3,426 3,426 Resurrection and ascension 5,533 5,533 Early Christianity 5,377 5,377 Historical views 3,723 61,110 Judea and Galilee in the 1st century 4,526 4,526 Sources 8,396 8,396 Chronology 7,219 7,219 Historicity of events 1,248 21,654 Family 8,389 8,389 Baptism 1,367 1,367 Ministry in Galilee 4,883 4,883 Role 2,298 2,298 Passover and crucifixion in Jerusalem 2,663 2,663 After crucifixion 806 806 Portraits of Jesus 3,384 3,384 Language, ethnicity, and appearance 8,611 8,611 Christ myth theory 3,597 3,597 Religious perspectives 3,611 47,737 Christianity 7,324 7,324 Judaism's view 6,428 6,428 Manichaeism 2,098 2,098 Islam 14,158 14,603 Ahmadiyya 445 445 Druze 2,007 2,007 Baháʼí Faith 4,186 4,186 Other 7,480 7,480 Artistic depictions 8,016 8,016 Associated relics 5,790 5,790 See also 650 650 Notes 42 42 References 42 24,619 Sources 24,577 24,577 External links 2,296 2,296 Total 259,193 259,193 This article has been mentioned by multiple media organizations: "Topics that spark Misplaced Pages 'edit wars' revealed". BBC News. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013. Caitlin Dewey (6 November 2015). "Demon cats, helicopter escapes and crayon colours: The most fascinating Misplaced Pages articles you haven't read". National Post. Retrieved 10 November 2015. Omer Benkajob (27 April 2017). "Why Jimmy Wales' WikiTribune Won't Save the News". Haaretz. Retrieved 30 April 2017. Richard Cooke (17 February 2020). "Misplaced Pages Is the Last Best Place on the Internet". Wired. Retrieved 27 February 2020. Caitlin Dewey (5 November 2015). "The most fascinating Misplaced Pages articles you haven't read". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 March 2023.

Frequently asked questions

This section is pinned and will not be automatically archived.

Q3a: Is "virtually all scholars" a phrase that can be used in Misplaced Pages?

The issue was discussed on the talk page:

• Based on this Misplaced Pages search the phrase is widely used in Misplaced Pages.
• The definition of the term virtually is shown by the Merriam-Webster dictionary in clear terms.
• The term is directly used by the source in the article, and is used per the WP:RS/AC guideline to reflect the academic consensus.

Q3b: What about asking on the reliability noticeboard?

Yes, people involved in the page can discuss matters, but an independent opinion from the reliable source noticeboard can further clarify and confirm the sources. An outside opinion was requested on the noticeboard. The outside opinion there (by user:DGG) stated that the issue has been discussed there many times and that the statement in the article (that virtually all scholars of antiquity hold that Jesus existed) represents the academic consensus.

Q3c: What about the books that claim Jesus never existed?

The internet includes some such lists, and they have been discussed at length on the talk page, e.g. a list of over 20 such books was addressed in this talk page discussion. The list came from a non-WP:RS website and once it was analyzed it became clear that:

• Most of the authors on the list were not scholars in the field, and included an attorney, an accountant, a land surveyor, a film-maker, as well as a number of amateurs whose actual profession was less than clear, whose books were self-published and failed the WP:RS requirements. Some of the non-self-published authors on the list were found to just write popular books, have no academic position and not scholars, e.g. Christopher Hitchens.
• Some of the books on the list did not even deny the existence of Jesus, e.g. Burton Mack (who is a scholar) holds that Jesus existed but his death was not due to his challenge to Jewish authority, etc. Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman's work is about the Old Testament and not really related to Jesus. Tom Harpur holds that Jesus existed but mythical stories were later added to the gospel narratives about him.

The analysis of the list thus indirectly shed light on the scarcity of scholars who deny the existence of Jesus.

Q3d: Do we have to survey the scholars ourselves?

The formal Misplaced Pages guidelines require us not to do our own survey. The Misplaced Pages guideline WP:RS/AC specifically states: "The statement that all or most scientists or scholars hold a certain view requires reliable sourcing that directly says that all or most scientists or scholars hold that view." Given that the guideline then states: "statement in Misplaced Pages that academic consensus exists on a topic must be sourced rather than being based on the opinion or assessment of editors." we should not rely on our own surveys but quote a scholar who states the "academic consensus".

Q3e: Why even mention the existence of Jesus in the article lead?

A: This was discussed on the talk page. Although scholars at large see existence as a given, there are some self-published, non-scholarly books which question it, and hence non-scholars who read this article need to to have that issue clarified. And note that the statements regarding existence and other attributes need to be kept separate and stating that "Virtually all scholars of antiquity agree that Jesus was from Galilee" would not be accurate, because scholarly agreement on existence is much stronger than on other items.

• Some of the most respected late-20th-century scholars involved in the study of the historical Jesus (e.g. Amy-Jill Levine, Geza Vermes, Paula Fredriksen) are Jewish. This trend is discussed in the 2012 book Soundings in the Religion of Jesus, by Bruce Chilton, Anthony Le Donne, and Jacob Neusner (ISBN 978-0-8006-9801-0, p. 132). While much of the older research in the 1950–1970 time frame may have involved Christian scholars (mostly in Europe) the 1980s saw an international effect and since then Jewish scholars have brought their knowledge of the field and made significant contributions. And one should note that the book is coauthored by the likes of Chilton and Neusner with quite different backgrounds. Similarly one of the main books in the field, The Historical Jesus in Context, by Amy-Jill Levine, Dale C. Allison Jr., and John Dominic Crossan (2006, ISBN 978-0-691-00992-6), is jointly edited by scholars with quite different backgrounds. In the late 20th and the 21st century Jewish, Christian and secular agnostic scholars have widely cooperated in research. The Muslim Reza Aslan wrote the number-one bestseller Zealot (2013).
• Regarding the existence of a historical Jesus, the article lead quotes Ehrman who is an agnostic and Price who is an atheist. Moreover, G. A. Wells who was widely accepted as the leader of the non-existence movement in the 20th century, abandoned that position and now accepts that the Q source refers to "a preacher" on whom parts of the gospels were based – although he believes that the supernatural claims were just stories that were then attributed to that preacher. That is reflected in his 2004 book Can We Trust the New Testament (pp. 49–50). While scholars continue to debate the historicity of specific gospel narratives, the agreement on the existence of Jesus is quite global.
• It is misleading to assume that Christian scholars will be biblical literalists who cannot engage in critical scholarship. Catholic and non-Evangelical Protestant scholars have long favoured the historical-critical method, which accepts that not all of the Bible can be taken literally. For example, the Christian clerics and scholars Michael Ramsey, C. F. D. Moule and James Dunn all argued in their scholarship that Jesus did not claim to be divine, Conrad Hyers, a Presbyterian minister, criticizes biblical literalism: "Literal clarity and simplicity, to be sure, offer a kind of security in a world (or Bible) where otherwise issues seem incorrigibly complex, ambiguous and muddy. But it is a false security, a temporary bastion, maintained by dogmatism and misguided loyalty."
• Finally, Misplaced Pages policies do not prohibit Buddhist scholars as sources on the history of Buddhism, Jewish scholars on Judaism, or Muslim scholars as sources on the history of Islam provided they are respected scholars whose works meet the general WP:RS requirements in terms of publisher reputation, etc.

• Hardly any scholars dispute the existence of Jesus or his crucifixion.
• A large majority of scholars agree that he debated the authorities and had "followers" – some scholars say there was a hierarchy among the followers, a few think it was a flat organization.
• More scholars think he performed some healings (given that Rabbinic sources criticize him for that etc., among other reasons) than those who say he never did, but less agreement on than the debates with authorities, etc.

Q6a: Was Jesus Jewish?

Yes, as mentioned in the article, but not in the infobox. An RfC at the Village Pump says to include religion in the infobox only if it's directly related to the subject's notability and there's consensus. Some editors want to include his religion in the infobox and others do not. With no consensus, the default is to leave the religion out of the box.

Q6b: Why is the birthplace not mentioned in the infobox?

The question came up in this discussion and there is no solid scholarly agreement on Bethlehem, so the infobox does not address that.

References

1. R.Kendall Soulen, Handbook of Biblical Criticism, Westminster John Knox Press (2001), p. 49
2. Hick, John (2006). The Metaphor of God Incarnate: Christology in a Pluralistic Age. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-664-23037-1. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
3. Hyers, Conrad (Spring 2000). "Comparing biblical and scientific maps of origins". Directions: A Mennonite Brethren Forum. 29 (1): 16–26.
4. Hyers, Conrad (August 4–11, 1982). "Biblical Literalism: Constricting the Cosmic Dance". Christian Century. p. 823. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2012.

The Miracle of Resurrection

Some scholars, notably Scholem Asch, have re-interpreted the life of Jesus and described the crucifixion as a painful and bloody mock event, in which the Jewish and Palestinian followers rescued Jesus, while the Roman and Temple authorities were duped into believing that the crucifixion happened. In this regard it is worthwhile to re read the book The Nazarene, by this author and re-interpret the Gospels.

If the crucifixion was a mock event, then it explains how Jesus appeared again to his followers and disciples. To avoid recapture Jesus and John may have emigrated to Patmos, with friends of Luke to look after them. Such a re-interpretation would indicate Jesus as co-author of the four Gospels and his brother James (in Jerusalem) being the Editor of the New Testament. The early life of Jesus, as described in the four Gospels would have been written by Mary and Joseph, the parents of Jesus. JohnEC Jr (talk) 02:03, 20 June 2023 (UTC)

As previously noted, and as outlined in the article on him, Asch was an essayist and novelist, not a reliable source or scholar in this area. Are there a number of RSs that lend credence to Asch’s theory? If not, this is likely WP:FRINGE and so does not belong in the article. Prevalent Jewish thought on Jesus also seems adequately covered in the article (in my opinion). Jtrevor99 (talk) 02:12, 20 June 2023 (UTC)

@Sheanobeano: Take your faith elsewhere. This website is based upon mainstream WP:SCHOLARSHIP. It is mercilessly based upon mainstream history. tgeorgescu (talk) 15:07, 11 July 2023 (UTC)

who is sheanobeano JohnEC Jr (talk) 03:32, 12 July 2023 (UTC)

@JohnEC Jr: This was posted in response to a misplaced comment by Sheanobeano intended for "Jesus' birth date and death date". Sheanobeano later deleted that comment, orphaning the response. Jtrevor99 (talk) 04:18, 15 July 2023 (UTC)

If this is worthy of a conference with the Churches, they may be welcome to offer their views also.JohnEC Jr (talk) 05:23, 20 June 2023 (UTC)

It has been suspected that in exchange for religious freedom in ancient Israel, the Roman authorities took a commission from the offerings at the Temple. Considering the behavior of Roman Caesars before Constantin I, their cruelty and adamance has been researched adequately already. Since his family had already turned christian, Constantin I also turned christian, albeit on his deathbed.JohnEC Jr (talk) 21:52, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

Please read WP:NOTAFORUM. This talk page is not for discussion of random events in the history of Christianity. Jeppiz (talk) 21:15, 9 July 2023 (UTC)

Obviously, there are many gaps in the wikipedia page on Jesus. Where else may this be addressed, if not here?JohnEC Jr (talk) 03:19, 11 July 2023 (UTC)

Per Misplaced Pages's guideline on Talk pages, this page is about improving this article. If you have a concrete proposal for doing that, that would be welcome, like: "Remove this paragraph", "add this sentence", "change this to that", "add a section about weeds in Judea", whatever. Simply expounding in a general kind of way on stuff you know about or have read, doesn't help. Because of past disruption by people who come to Talk pages of Misplaced Pages articles on religion with their own motives that don't include improving Misplaced Pages, especially when they come to central topics of major religions like the "Jesus" article, there is frankly a fair bit of frustration among other editors, even suspicion, about why someone is here and what they are about. That's unfortunate, but it's also human—I'm sure you can see that. You can help allay that reaction, by making a very specific and concrete proposal for an addition, deletion, or change, and other editors will give you feedback. I hope this helps, Mathglot (talk) 04:22, 12 July 2023 (UTC)

There is more than one view of the miracle of resurrection, and this is under review elsewhere. When they are ready, they are welcome to make additions here, since Misplaced Pages is for everyone with a genuine interest. no reason for them to be left out or forgotten, medical doctors included.JohnEC Jr (talk) 04:35, 12 July 2023 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 25 June 2023

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

46.97.170.219 (talk) 09:52, 25 June 2023 (UTC) The principal parent is God

Not sure what is being asked in this edit request. The article already refers to Jesus as the son of God. Please re-post if there's a specific (and reliably sourced) amendment you'd like made. -- Euryalus (talk) 10:18, 25 June 2023 (UTC)

Jesus’ birth date and death date

In the article Historical Jesus. It says Jesus was born between 7-2 BC and died 30-36 AD. 69.204.59.102 (talk) 07:07, 29 June 2023 (UTC)

Yes it does, under Historical_Jesus#Other_possibly_historical_elements. This article talks about it at Jesus#Chronology. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 07:54, 29 June 2023 (UTC)

He was born in 0 AD and died in30-33. Sheanobeano (talk) 14:28, 11 July 2023 (UTC)

@Sheanobeano: See WP:CIR. Why? Year zero. tgeorgescu (talk) 15:05, 11 July 2023 (UTC)

First year of Anno Domini calender. Sorry, I didn't know that there's no year zero. I meant 1 AD Sheanobeano (talk) 18:44, 11 July 2023 (UTC)

@Sheanobeano: It might surprise you, but Pope Benedictus XVI agrees with circa 4 BCE. There is no official dogma in Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, or Protestantism that Jesus was born in 1 CE. While born in 1 CE might be a popular superstition, it is not what the Church teaches. tgeorgescu (talk) 21:01, 11 July 2023 (UTC)

Thank you for that info. Sheanobeano (talk) 21:18, 11 July 2023 (UTC)

"While born in 1 CE might be a popular superstition" Not a superstition, an estimate by Dionysius Exiguus (6th century). We don't know what he based his estimate on, but it did not take into account the chronology of Herod the Great's reign. Dimadick (talk) 14:47, 12 July 2023 (UTC)

Jesus's Death

On this wiki page it said that Jesus died of crucifixion. Jesus was crucified on the cross and he came back to life . He never died of crucifixion.Malaquia100 (talk) 20:21, 14 July 2023 (UTC)

In order to "come back to life," wouldn't one have to die first? With apologies to Salman Rushdie. Dumuzid (talk) 20:52, 14 July 2023 (UTC)

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