Jesus' Sermon on the Mount by Carl Bloch, 1877
Jesus, who is also called Christ or Jesus of Nazareth, is the traditional founder of Christianity. Although once debated, his historical existence is largely accepted.[1]
- Biography
Jesus is believed to have lived from about 4 B.C.E., to 29/33 C.E. He grew up in the Middle East, around the Galiean district of Israel. He was a preacher of reformation amongst the Jewish population, gaining a small, dedicated following. His criticisms of those with power earned him the ire of local leaders. They eventually had him crucified by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Chistians generally beleiee more about Jesus, believeng he ressurected after his death and serves now as their savioru. Muslims usually believe he was another prophet of God, rejecting the claim of his ressurection. Two main contemporary sources mention Jesus. Josephus mentions him twice, once when mentioning James, Jesus brothers' death[2] and a second time in what is called the Testimonium Flavianum, which is questioned on its authenticity. Tacitus mentions Jesus as well, calling his Christus[3]. However, these references are minor and most details about his actions must be drawn from the histror present in the Gospels, especiclly the Synoptic Gospels found in the Bible.
Sources
- ↑ Tuckett, Christopher (2001). "Sources and methods". In Bockmuehl, Markus N. A. Cambridge Companion to Jesus. Cambridge University Press. pp. 123–4
- ↑ Josephus. Antiquities of the Jews, Book 20, Chapter 9. "Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others"
- ↑ Tacitus. Annals, Book 15, Chapter 44. "Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus."