Who Was Jesus? Exploring the History of Jesus’ Life
Learn about the history of Jesus’ life.
Who Was Jesus? Exploring the History of Jesus’ Life
In this FREE eBook, examine fundamental questions about Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus is the central figure of Christianity, the world’s largest religion. As a teacher in first-century Galilee, he influenced thousands. Yet many questions today surround this enigmatic person. Where was he really born—Bethlehem or Nazareth? Did he marry? Is there evidence outside of the Bible that proves he actually walked the earth?
Drawn from articles in Biblical Archaeology Review and Bible Review, the Biblical Archaeology Society eBook Who Was Jesus? Exploring the History of Jesus’ Life examines the history of Jesus’ life, from where he was born, where he grew up and whether there is extra-Biblical evidence for his existence.
Chapter 1
Did Jesus Exist?
Did Jesus of Nazareth really exist? What’s the evidence outside of the Bible? In “Did Jesus Exist? Searching for Evidence Beyond the Bible,” Lawrence Mykytiuk examines Classical and Jewish writings from the first several centuries C.E. These records give us a glimpse of the person who would become the central figure in Christianity mere decades after his crucifixion.
Chapter 2
Jesus’ Birthplace and Jesus’ Home
Where was Jesus born? The Gospels of Matthew and Luke say that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. So why is he called a Nazorean and a Galilean throughout the New Testament? In “Jesus’ Birthplace and Jesus’ Home,” Philip J. King examines what the Bible actually says about Bethlehem, traditionally considered Jesus’ birthplace, and Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown.
Chapter 3
Has Jesus’ Nazareth House Been Found?
What was Nazareth like during Jesus’ time? In “Has Jesus’ Nazareth House Been Found?” Ken Dark describes the excavation of an intriguing first-century “courtyard house” that may have been revered as Jesus’ boyhood home in the Byzantine period. Other archaeological evidence suggests that Jesus’ Nazareth was larger and wealthier than previously thought.
Chapter 4
Did Jesus Marry?
Modern movies and novels always want to marry Jesus off to one of his most prominent—and perhaps scandalous—female followers, Mary Magdalene. But Jesus’ own words suggest he wasn’t interested in such worldly matters, according to Birger A. Pearson in “Did Jesus Marry?”
Chapter 5
Was Jesus’ Last Supper a Seder?
Matthew, Mark and Luke say that Jesus was crucified on Passover, suggesting that the Last Supper was a Seder, a ritual meal held in celebration of this Jewish holiday. John indicates otherwise. Who’s right, if any of them? Jonathan Klawans examines this question in “Was Jesus’ Last Supper a Seder?”
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One of His disciple Thomas came to India he died here we believe his testimony
Jesus told the rich man “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” He did! He was right – they don’t.
But some do believe. Open their eyes LORD. On the road to Emmaus Jesus explained …what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:27) But it wasn’t till ‘he took the bread, gave thanks and broke it…’ that their eyes were openned.(Luke 24:30-31)
May unbelievers read and hear and pray that God will open their eyes.
What was being said here, and in other examples where the resurrected Jesus appeared, people did no recognise him by his looks, but, by his actions.
The reason why he was not recognised by sight was that he had offered up his fleshly body in sacrifice………in his appearances before he ascended to heaven, Jesus appeared to them in a materialised body. John 20:11-18; Paul also had something to say regarding the resurrection at 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Dear Rabbi Yeshus bar Yusef of Nazareth, I am inspired by your teachings and parables in the synoptic gospels and I admire the way you regularly submit to Yahweh. I don’t like what the gospel of John did to your story.
Disciple love to you from Kevin Aryé haTikvah Smith, Messianic Catholic []
I explore this very question through the lens of anthropology at my blog Biblical Anthropology. The question should be “Who is Jesus?” if we are to understand his identity.
Who is Jesus……..Jesus is the son of God………could anything be simpler than that
At Matthew 16:16 Peter says in reply to Jesus, ‘You are the son of the living God”
This is the basic answer.
Only Truth Will Stand ……
The Holy Bible states that there should be no image of any Holy Ones picture on Earth.
That picture that they call ‘Jesus ‘ is not a picture of our Saviour, the Son of the Living God according to true facts.
…….and look in the churches of christendom – idolatry is alive and well!!!
I would love for everyone stop describing jesus as a white man or his mother as a white woman…. Once this lie get told right any story you all tell about the man won’t be truth… & if his color really doesn’t matter then why not show it.
As a matter of interest, both Joseph and Mary were Hebrews, or Jews or Israelites and were therefore from what is called Semetic/Asiatic branch of the human family………or from Noah’s son Shem
The other two main branches are Hamitic (Afro/Asiatic) from Noah’s son Ham and Japhetic (Aryan/Indo-European) from Noah’s son Japheth
I have been a student of Jesus for close to eighty years. I have been a follower of Jesus for about half that. When I finally stopped looking at Jesus as God and started to follow the man, the teacher, the Rabbi, I found my deliverer. Reread the gospels, find the man instead of the God, leave the religion to the religionists and God to the spiritually bankrupt. God will take care of them.
Those of us that have found the living Christ are given the face of God, and need no help. Leave the arguments to the politicians and Religionists! No arguments are Necessary.
Jerome says: “Those of us that have found the living Christ are given the face of God…….”
Concerning the literal face of God the apostle John, at John 1:18 said that no man has seen the face of God at any time, and Exodus 33:20 said that no one could see the face of God and live.
Therefore if this was not meant to be literal, could you please direct us to the scriptures where this is pointed out or allude to.
Dear Sirs,
I am a Catholic living in Bhuddist majority, Thailand. I believe the true story in new Bible,
Jesus’s life. but I was born before computor so I know nothing about this new way of life
in the present world. However, I would be much appreicated if you can load Jesus’s Life
in my email.
Shalom
“Jesus”, Never Married. ‘Period’. Jesus Was All Spirit, With A Flesh Covering At Birth.
A Handmaiden Came Into The Cave And Saw, “Mary’s Place Of Birth After The Birth Of “Jesus” And Said “Lady Mary”, You Are Not Like The First Woman Eve Down There, “Mary”, Answered As My Son “Jesus”, Is Not Like Any Man Down There, His Mother Is Not Like Any Woman Down There.
“Jesus” Could Have Turned A Normal Woman Into A Spirit Form Of Woman With A Flesh Covering Like Himself But This Did Not Happen As We Know Of, There Is No Record Of Marriage To Anyone By “Jesus”..
.
James, I really think that you need to read and meditate on the Bible, before making some of these rather outlandish statements., e.g. Jon 1:14 says of Jesus that he became flesh and resided among us………he needed to be flesh, just as we are today,
this was necessary so that Jesus could offer his perfect human life as a ransom sacrifice for all mankind. 1 Timothy 2:6 pointed to Jesus as a corresponding ransom, i.e. Adam lost human perfection and under God’s own law he required the sacrifice of a perfect human life to atone for Adam’s sin…….that was Jesus Christ
Wow, almost every single comment so far is wacky. Makes me appreciate the task of early Christianity as it negotiated the gnostic heresies and personal hang-ups to present the Gospel of Christ. Let the written word about Christ be the Word made flesh, which dwells among us.