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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I know what you say is truthful. There are the masses who believe more at the minister of a church than actually seeking for truth by just start reading the bible they so proudly confess they own one but never took the time to read it or have any idea how it came to be. I had event in my life that set out seeking the truth. “my people will perish due to lack of knowledge”. The Book of Leviticus states Jesus is the direct prophet of the great and wonderful God. God created Jesus in great mercy of teachings and miracles.He was sent to uncover the deceivers and those preaching the most impious doctrine. Biblical interpretation. It’s helpful to know the bible is a series of letters written between different people that we are to learn from. Each letter had an intended audience, and a certain culture, temporal, and geographical context in which it is set. without context you don’t get the word of God. You get legalism and false doctrine.
We know he was Jewish, we also know he was born in Israel, and he was not white and he was not born on the 25th of December, why all the lies of the church
Damien do some research on Constantine the Great (NOT so Great) and you will find answers to some of your questions.
According to the Catholic church, the first of the year is a Christian holiday, the Feast of the Circumcision .. now a demoted holiday. In rearranging the calendar to have the first of the year, the day Jesus became a Kosher Jew .. it also means that .. Jesus was born eight days earlier .. December 25th.
Susan said: “God created Jesus”
The well known scripture at John 3:16 verifies this and Colossians 1:15 -17 backs this up and in fact states that Jesus was the FIRST BORN of ALL creation and through Him ALL other things were created. We can see that Jesus had a principle role from the “beginning” of time.
Jesus was not created, the beginning of the gospel of John states in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God the same was in the beginning with God ALL THINGS were made by him and WITHOUT HIM was NOTHING CREATED THAT WAS CREATED AND MADE. In explaining the eternity of Jesus we can read from proverbs 8 where Jesus is likened to wisdom. He says in verse 22-30 things like…the Lord possessed me(wisdom/Jesus) in the beginning of his way BEFORE HIS WORKS OF OLD….I was there from everlasting, from the beginning before there ever was an earth…when he established…then I was BY HIM AS ONE WHO GREW UP WITH HIM, I WAS DAILY HIS DELIGHT REJOICING ALWAYS BEFORE HIM. Jesus is the wisdom of God, the master craftsman there has never been a moment when God was without wisdom.He was there in the beginning of God’s way and we don’t know what His way means but Jesus was there anyways.Colossians 1:17(verse16 is also recommended) he is BEFORE ALL THINGS and by him ALL THINGS are sustained. JESUS says I and my Father ARE ONE. Jhn10:30 and many other like verses. Topics like this one are understandably confusing because of the amount of information not revealed to us but we can make maximum use of what is revealed already on the topic.
BAS says: “Jesus was not created………….”
BUT
Colossians 1:15 clearly states that Jesus was “…..the first born of all creation…….” and Revelation 3:14 backs that up when it points out that Jesus was the beginning of the creation by God………this then puts credence to the words of Genesis 1:26 where it says that God said, “…..let us make man in OUR image” (upper case letters are my means of emphasis)…..also when Jesus said that he and his Father were one, he was not saying that they were one and the same personage, or part of a “mystic” trinity but, that their thoughts and purposes were the same, especially with respects to God’s kingdom which was the basis of Jesus’ teachings when he was on earth as a human.
Also at John 14:28 Jesus said that the Father was greater than he was and at
1 Corinthians 11:3 it clearly states that the head of Christ is God……no equality mentioned! Philippians 2:6-9 says that Jesus did not consider himself to be equal to God, this also explains how Jesus, when on earth as a perfect human, often prayed to his Father in heaven and that God, after he resurrected Jesus, exalted Him above everything else. IF Jesus WAS God, as you seem to imply with your trinitarian views, who resurrected him after his sacrificial death??
John 3:16 calls Jesus God’s “only begotten” son, which means he was unique in that he was the only direct creation of God……..as Colossians 1:16 says that ALL other things whether in heaven or on earth were created by Jesus.
See also John 8:28, 29 God sent Jesus to the earth so that at some time in the future the ransom sacrifice could be applied to redeem mankind from Adamic sin.
I don’t see the word “other” in Colossians 1:16. Can you help me?
I fully trust and believe that Jesus is the only God.
Maybe one should like to read, if interested, Colossians 1:15-(23). Also John 3:5-21 and John 14:7-11. You may think that after reading these passages, that I believe in the Trinity. You would be right in thinking that.
Jesus was a Jew who worshipped
YHWH. The purpose of the gospels is to depict him as the Messiah, the Son of God. The gospel writers never viewed him as God or part of a Trinity. This concept took hundreds of years to evolve and is now projected backwards onto the texts. People can believe this if they wish, but it is NOT a Biiblical teaching.
I agree with you! this is more like questioning everyones faith in OUR LORD
John said it clearly in Matthew 16; ““Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And then in John 14:26 the Holy Spirit; “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” There you have it, 3, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the Trinity, in the Bible.
Jean 14 : 28 ” Mon Père est plus grand que moi ”
Jean 20 : 17 ” (…) Mais va voir mes frères et dit leur que je monte vers mon Père et votre Père, et vers mon Dieu et votre Dieu ”
1 Corinthiens 11 : 3 ” Mais je veux que vous sachiez que le chef de tout homme, c’est le Christ, que le chef de la femme c’est l’homme, et que le chef du Christ, c’est Dieu ”
Le Dieu de l’Ancien testament est JHWH ou YHWH et ce Dieu était le Dieu de Jésus sur terre ( Jean 14 : 28 )
Et ce Dieu JHWH ou YHWH , depuis que Jésus est monté aux cieux jusqu’à ce jour est son Dieu, le Dieu de Christ ! ( Jean 20 : 17 ; 1 Corinthiens 11 : 3 )
My belief since I was about 15/16 years old has been much like what you say
RE; remarks above. Are there books that can be ordered from a Book Store i.e. Barnes and Noble, rather than downloaded on to my computer.
If Jesus tells us to pray to out Heavenly Father,why do so many call or refer to Him as Lord. Who first termed him as a Lord. An English
Word that denotes as an owner… English there were lords and vassals…(sp)
When I mention ideas to say Baptists they get angry, specially , ie. Their Easter Sunday, Good Friday , Christmas beliefs…!
As the American Standard Version says at Isaiah 42:8 I am Jehovah that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. There are many titles that God has, but he only has on name.
Jesus was also well aware of God’s name, e.g. (John 17:6, 26)
Exodus 23:13 also gives the warning not to mention the names of other gods and there were plenty of them…….we therefore see the importance of the name of the true God that distinguishes Him from all the other gods………Heavenly Father, Father, LORD, God, Almighty, etc., are merely titles……….with the exception of very few, all persons in God’s Word have a name, it would therefore be unusual for God not to have a name……His name would set Him apart from the many other gods
From Adeona to Zeus there are very many gods, all having names……..therefore it would be fitting that the creator of ALL things would have a name, and it is very well known that that name is Jehovah, and yet many religious leaders in the so called Christian world refuse to accept and/or use that name.
The American Standard Version of the Bible uses Jehovah throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, or OT. Why would God suddenly say not to use his name after Jesus’ earthly ministry and as I pointed out previously Jesus used his Fathers name.
Another point that I forgot to mention was the name of Jesus……..it means “Jehovah is Salvation.”
The sacred name YHWH (Hebrew, without vowels) is written throughout the Hebrew Writings (O/T) of the Bible, as to the modern English translation into “Jehovah” or “Yahweh”, it is not altogether certain that these modern English renditions necessarily represent the most accurate or preferred spelling or verbally spoken accuracy of God’s Divine name, however, it is an attempt to at least give some recognition to the name of the Creator, which is indeed missing in Christianity these days. It should be noted that the Ancient Greek Christian Writings omit entirely the name YHWH in any form, other than The New World Translation of the Bible by Jehovah’s Witnesses which insert His name where only the title of God’s Name is represented, and do so without proper translative authority, but, however, by religious and self proclaimed opinion only. They tend to believe that it was transcribed in error, yet, on the other hand, proclaim that all Scripture is in fact holy without flaw or error (somewhat contradictory). In more than 5,000 extant Christian Manuscripts that have been discovered, no mentioning of the YHWH or “Jehovah” is ever found. The emphasis in these writings, including the Gospels, seems to gravitate to the name of Jesus as Savior, where the Father bestows on the Son himself this highest of regal position, and calling on His name, and in one’s belief must rest, will achieve everlasting life. “No one comes to the Father, except through the Son”, ” God gave his only begotten Son and whoever believes on Him shall be saved.”. Basically, no other name has been given to men, other than the name of Jesus for salvation. There is quite a bit of “hair splitting” arguments respecting God the Father and His Son, especially in John 1:1 where such argumentation is ignited, but, without question, it seems that it may be safe to state that it is indeed Jesus that reigns in terms of salvation and that the Father Himself has this made known in the Bible without question, for whatever reason. not entirely understood. But one must recall the admonition of Jesus Christ, it is not simply using His name (or any other perhaps) at the end, when he stated “Many will say to me that I did this in your name.or that in your name..” yet, Jesus declares that he never knew them, because they did not do the WILL of my Father, so, enough for the name controversy, it is what you do in this life in conjunction with the Word of God that will count at the end, not the error of mispronounced names or authoritative application, it is when striving to please God by doing His commands that counts, that the Scriptures make abundantly clear, which do you actually believe will be of the greatest importance, how you conducted your life to please God or that you may have mistakenly got His name confused? Don’t major in the minors!
i wanted to download the ebook but i didnt want the other stuff that came with it so i decided not to download it at this time, how come it wasnt offered by itself? (especially since its free). and please i ask that nobody come for me about my comments.
I agree. I don’t want a boatload of more emails coming. I simply wanted to download the ebook, print it out on paper, and read it as I can find time.