Jesus Christ

Who is Jesus?

Jesus was a Jewish teacher from Nazareth who lived in the first century, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and, his followers say, rose from the dead. Even historians who are not Christians accept that he lived and was crucified. Christians believe he is God the Son, who became human to bring people back to God.

A real person in history

Jesus' life is reported in the four Gospels, and also mentioned by Roman and Jewish writers such as Tacitus and Josephus, who were not his followers. Nearly all historians, believing or not, accept that he lived, taught in Galilee and was crucified in Jerusalem around AD 30.

What he claimed

Jesus did not only teach about God. He forgave sins, which only God can do, and said "I am the way and the truth and the life." When he asked his disciples, "Who do you say I am?", Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

More than a good teacher

Because of what he claimed, many people find it hard to call Jesus only a wise moral teacher. If his claims were false, he was either deceived or deceiving. If they were true, he is who Christians say he is. You have to decide what to do with what he said.

Why it matters

John says "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." Christians believe God came close in Jesus: he lived the life we could not, died for our sins, and rose again. Who Jesus is changes what life, death and forgiveness mean.

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”, Matthew 16:15-16

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth., John 1:14

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Common questions

Was Jesus a real person?

Yes. Almost all historians accept that he lived and was crucified, based on the Gospels and on non-Christian Roman and Jewish writers.

Did Jesus claim to be God?

Christians believe so. He forgave sins, accepted worship and spoke of himself as one with the Father. His opponents understood him to be making that claim.

What do other religions say about Jesus?

Islam honours him as a prophet. Many Jewish people see him as a teacher but not the Messiah. Christianity alone says he is God become human, who rose from the dead.

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Last updated 2026-11-06

kinwove's answers are designed never to invent quotes, statistics, or scripture: every Bible reference is verified against the actual text, and where faithful Christians genuinely disagree, we say so.

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