Jesus of Nazareth
Jesus of Nazareth
7 min read
First-century Jewish preacher from Galilee and the central figure of Christianity, which recognizes him as the Messiah and Son of God. His preaching, his crucifixion in Jerusalem under Pontius Pilate, and his disciples' proclamation of his resurrection gave rise to a new religion.
Frequently asked questions
Famous Quotes
« Love one another »
« Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's »
Key Facts
- Born around 7-4 BCE in Bethlehem or Nazareth, in Galilee under Roman rule
- Began his itinerant preaching in Galilee around 27-28 CE, surrounded by disciples
- Crucified in Jerusalem around 30-33 CE under the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate
- His disciples proclaimed his resurrection, the starting point for the spread of Christianity
- The Gospels, written at the end of the 1st century, are the main sources on his life
Works & Achievements
A long discourse recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, containing the Beatitudes. It sums up the heart of the moral teaching attributed to Jesus.
Short, vivid stories (the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, the Sower) used for teaching. They have remained a model for passing on moral lessons.
A prayer that Jesus is said to have taught his disciples according to the Gospels. It has become the most widely recited prayer in Christianity.
At the final meal, the sharing of bread and wine establishes a central rite for Christians. It is commemorated in the Mass.
Jesus sums up his moral law as love of God and of one's neighbor, including one's enemies. This message has deeply shaped Western thought.
Jesus chooses twelve disciples tasked with spreading his message. They are the origin of the first Christian community.
Anecdotes
According to the Gospels, Jesus is said to have begun his teaching around the age of thirty, traveling through **Galilee** surrounded by twelve disciples called the apostles. He taught above all through parables, short stories drawn from everyday life (the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son) to convey a moral message that was easy to remember.
The Gospels recount that Jesus liked to address the fishermen of the **Sea of Galilee**, several of his first disciples such as **Peter** and **Andrew** practicing that trade. This is why many accounts take place by the water and use the image of the net or of fishing.
According to the accounts, Jesus entered **Jerusalem** on a donkey, a humble mount, and the crowd spread palm branches along his path. This episode is commemorated each year by Christians on **Palm Sunday**.
Jesus' last meal with his disciples, the Last Supper, took place within the setting of the Jewish Passover. During this meal, according to the Gospels, he shared the bread and the wine, a gesture that became the foundation of the Christian rite of the Eucharist.
The Jewish historian **Flavius Josephus** and the Roman historian **Tacitus**, writing at the end of the 1st century and the beginning of the 2nd century, briefly mention Jesus and his execution under **Pontius Pilate**, which makes him one of the few figures of this milieu attested by non-Christian sources.
Primary Sources
The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
At this time there appeared Jesus, a wise man [...] whom Pilate condemned to the punishment of the cross.
Christ, in the reign of Tiberius, had been put to death by the procurator Pontius Pilate.
I delivered to you [...] that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he rose again on the third day.
Key Places
Town in Judea presented by the gospels of Matthew and Luke as the birthplace of Jesus. It is associated with the lineage of King David.
Village in Galilee where, according to the gospels, Jesus spent his childhood and youth. His epithet 'of Nazareth' comes from it.
Large lake in Galilee around which much of Jesus's preaching takes place. Several of his disciples were fishermen there.
River where, according to the gospels, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, an episode marking the beginning of his public life.
Jewish religious capital where the final days of Jesus take place: the Last Supper, his arrest, his trial and his crucifixion under Pontius Pilate.
Hill at the gates of Jerusalem where, according to the gospels, Jesus was crucified. The name means 'place of the skull'.
