History › Classical age › Christianity
Jesus of Nazareth
c. 4 BC – c. AD 30/33· Person· Middle East & Africa
Mostly agreedGood evidence; some details, dates or numbers uncertain.
Jewish preacher from Galilee whose teaching, crucifixion and, for his followers, resurrection gave rise to Christianity.
See it on the History map →What happened
Born around 4 BC under Herod, a Roman client king, Jesus grew up in Nazareth in Galilee and, around age 30, began preaching about the coming Kingdom of God, love of enemies and care for the poor. He gathered disciples, taught in parables and was known as a healer. Arrested in Jerusalem at Passover, he was crucified on the orders of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate around AD 30–33. His followers proclaimed that he had risen from the dead and was the Messiah.
Why it matters
About 2.4 billion Christians see him as the Son of God, and Muslims honor him as a prophet. The BC/AD calendar counts from an estimate of his birth.
Legacy and how we know
The four Gospels and Paul's letters, written c. AD 50–100, plus brief mentions by Josephus and Tacitus. Most historians agree he lived and was crucified.
Still debated
Which Gospel details are historical is debated. Miracles and the resurrection are matters of faith, beyond what historical methods can test.
Connections (4)
▸Jesus of Nazareth is the central figure of ChristianityWell documented
The connection
Jesus' followers believed he rose from the dead and was the promised Messiah, in Greek 'Christos'. They gathered, shared meals, baptized converts and spread his teachings. At first a movement within Judaism, it opened to non-Jews within decades. Its scriptures, worship and beliefs all center on Jesus' life, death and resurrection.
When and how
Jerusalem and Galilee, c. AD 30–60; the apostles Peter and James, and Paul.
How we know
Paul's letters, written within about 25 years of Jesus' death, show communities already worshipping him across the eastern Mediterranean.
Debates and open questions
How far Jesus meant to found a new movement, rather than renew Judaism, is debated among historians and theologians.
▸Jesus of Nazareth was crucified under Roman EmpireWell documented
The connection
Judea was under Roman control, run by a prefect. Crucifixion was a Roman punishment for rebels and slaves. Jesus was arrested in Jerusalem at Passover, handed over by temple authorities to the prefect Pontius Pilate, and executed as 'King of the Jews', a political charge implying a challenge to Rome.
When and how
Jerusalem, c. AD 30 or 33; Pontius Pilate, prefect AD 26–36, and the high priest Caiaphas.
How we know
Tacitus (c. 116) reports that Christ was executed under Pilate; an inscription found at Caesarea in 1961 confirms Pilate's office.
Debates and open questions
The exact year and the roles of Roman and temple authorities are debated; later Christian blame of Jews collectively fueled centuries of antisemitism.
▸Hebrew prophets and the Hebrew Bible shaped the faith of Jesus of NazarethWell documented
The connection
Jesus was a Jew who read and quoted the Hebrew Bible. Prophets like Isaiah had spoken of justice for the poor, a coming age of God's rule and an anointed king, the Messiah. Jesus' preaching on the Kingdom of God drew on these hopes, and his followers read his life as fulfilling prophecy.
When and how
Judea and Galilee, 1st century AD, a Jewish world shaped by scripture, synagogues and the Jerusalem temple.
How we know
The Gospels quote the prophets dozens of times; the Dead Sea Scrolls show other Jews of the time held similar hopes.
Debates and open questions
Jews and Christians disagree on whether he fulfilled the prophecies; Judaism holds that the Messiah has not yet come.
▸Islam honors as a prophet Jesus of NazarethWell documented
The connection
The Quran calls Jesus (Isa) a prophet and the Messiah, born of the Virgin Mary, who performed miracles. Islam rejects the idea that he was divine or God's son, and most Muslims believe he was not crucified but raised to heaven, and will return. Mary is the only woman named in the Quran.
When and how
Mecca and Medina, 610–632, in revelations recorded in the Quran, including chapter 19, named for Mary.
How we know
The Quran's text itself, and inscriptions inside Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock (691) addressing Jesus' status.
Debates and open questions
How early Islam encountered Christian ideas, through Arabian, Ethiopian or Syriac Christians, is studied and debated.