Jesus the Messiah
The world of Jesus, his ministry, death, and resurrection, and the Christian claim that Israel’s story reaches its center in him.
What the sources say, and how sure we are
- The text says
The Gospels present Jesus as born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, baptized by John, teaching and healing in Galilee and Judea, crucified in Jerusalem under Pontius Pilate, and raised on the third day.Matt 2:1; Luke 3:1–3; Mark 15; Luke 24
- Outside evidence
Tacitus, writing about AD 116, says that Christ was executed under Pilate during Tiberius’ reign. Josephus mentions Jesus and the execution of his brother James. The Pilate inscription from Caesarea confirms the governor. A burial box inscribed for a Joseph son of Caiaphas was found in Jerusalem.Tacitus, Annals 15.44; Josephus, Antiquities 18.63; 20.200; Pilate Stone; Caiaphas ossuary
- Debated
The year of the crucifixion is debated. Herod died in 4 BC, which puts the birth earlier than that, and the Gospels’ details point to either AD 30 or AD 33 for the crucifixion. Scholars also disagree about how to use the Gospels as historical sources.Luke 3:1; John 2:20
- Debated
Historians widely agree that Jesus’ followers soon sincerely claimed that he had risen and appeared to them. What caused that belief is debated, and the Gospels differ in details of the resurrection accounts.1 Cor 15:3–8; Matt 28; Luke 24; John 20
- Christian conclusion
Christians hold that Jesus is the promised Messiah, crucified for sin and raised from the dead.Acts 2:36; Rom 1:3–4