Jesus Christ is the most influential person in history, according to Time Magazine. He is the founder of Christianity, one of the world’s major religions, and the source of hope and faith for billions of people. But who was he as a historical figure? What do we know about his life from sources other than the Bible? Here are some facts about Jesus Christ based on historical evidence. [2]
- Jesus was born in Bethlehem around 6-4 BCE to a virgin named Mary. He grew up in Nazareth, a village in Galilee, where he worked as a carpenter[1].
- Jesus was a common name in his time, equivalent to John Doe. His full name was Jesus son of Joseph, or Jesus of Nazareth. His name means “God rescues” in Hebrew[2].
- Jesus was about 5 foot 5 inches tall, which was the average height for men in his time. He had brown eyes, black hair, and olive-brown skin. He kept his hair and beard short to avoid lice[2].
- Jesus began his public ministry around 28 CE, when he was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. He then gathered 12 disciples and traveled around Galilee and Judea, preaching about the kingdom of God and performing miracles[2].
- Jesus used parables, which are stories with moral lessons, to teach. Some of his well-known parables include the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Sower. Additionally, he instructed his disciples to love God and to love their neighbors as themselves.
- Jesus was considered a prophet and a messiah by some Jews, who expected him to restore the fortunes of Israel. He was also considered a threat by the religious authorities, who accused him of blasphemy and plotted to kill him[1].
- Jesus celebrated his last supper with his disciples on Passover, around 30 CE. He then went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and arrested by Roman soldiers. He was tried by the Jewish Sanhedrin and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who sentenced him to death by crucifixion[1].
- Jesus died on a cross outside Jerusalem and was buried in a tomb donated by Joseph of Arimathea. Three days later, he rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples and other witnesses. He then ascended to heaven and promised to return one day[1].
- Jesus was mentioned by Jewish and Roman historians who lived in the first and second centuries CE, such as Josephus and Tacitus. They confirmed some of the details of his life and death as recorded in the Gospels. They also showed that he had an impact on his society and that his followers were persecuted by some emperors[4].
- Jesus is regarded by most Christians as the incarnation of God and the savior of humanity. However, this is a matter of faith that depends on one’s interpretation of the Bible and other religious traditions. As E.P. Sanders, a scholar of early Christianity, wrote: “This book is about what we can know of the historical figure of Jesus. It is not about what we can know of Christ, which is a matter of faith.”
Reference：
[1] Jesus
[2] 30 Historical Facts About Jesus Christ