Foundations
Who Is Jesus?
The historical figure of Jesus of Nazareth, and what Christians believe about who he is.
Jesus of Nazareth, the Historical Figure
Jesus of Nazareth was a Jewish teacher and preacher who lived in Judea and Galilee in the early first century AD. His existence is attested not only in the Christian Gospels but also in independent non-Christian sources of the period, including the Jewish historian Josephus and the Roman historian Tacitus. He was crucified under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, most commonly dated to around AD 30–33.
What Christians Believe About Jesus
Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God — the second Person of the Holy Trinity — who became fully human while remaining fully divine, was born of the Virgin Mary, taught and performed miracles, was crucified for the forgiveness of sins, and rose from the dead on the third day. This belief in his two natures, fully God and fully man, was formally defined by the Council of Chalcedon in AD 451. This belief connects closely to the doctrine of the Trinity — Jesus as the eternal Son, one of three Persons in one God.
Jesus in the Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed, recited at Catholic Mass, summarizes this belief: Jesus is described as "the Only Begotten Son of God... true God from true God... consubstantial with the Father," who "for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven," was crucified, died, was buried, rose again, and ascended into heaven.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there historical evidence for Jesus outside the Bible?
Yes — non-Christian historians of the period, including Josephus and Tacitus, refer to Jesus and his execution under Pontius Pilate.
What does it mean that Jesus is 'fully God and fully man'?
It's the Christian belief, formally defined at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, that Jesus has two complete natures — divine and human — united in one person, rather than being partly one and partly the other.