1. How would you answer this question?
Who was Jesus?
How would you answer this question?

2. Define the following terms:
Jesus of History
is not simply the historical Jesus but refers to the Son of God as he walked the earth in the person of Jesus.
Christ of Faith
recognizes the Christian conviction that the Jesus of history was raised from the dead by God and that he truly was and is Lord and Saviour.

3. The Historical Jesus vs. The Christ of Faith
Jesus, the Christ
Born to a virgin in a barn in Bethlehem
Divine Son of God
Messiah (Christ)
Killed by the Jews
Resurrected
Savior
Ascended into heaven
Coming back
Historical Jesus
Born 4-7 BCE in Nazareth
A carpenter’s son
Born, raised, lived and died a Jew
A wise, story telling teacher
A miracle worker and healer
A radical revolutionary
Crucified at the hands of the Romans

4. Identify each of the following persons and summarize what they, as a group, contribute to a study of Jesus:
Josephus
Pliny the Younger
Tacitus
Suetonius

5. Josephus “Jewish Antiques” Book 18 Chapter 3:
Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. (64) And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross [2], those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day [3], as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named for him, are not extinct at this day.

6. Pliny the Younger
Provincial governor, wrote to Emperor Trajan in 112 A.D.
He wrote concerning how to deal with Christians, who refused to worship the emperor, and instead worshiped “Christus”

7. Tacitus Roman historian and Senator (116 A.D.) :
“Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus…”

8. Suetonius Secretary and historian to Emperor Hadrian (41-54 A.D.):
As the Jews were making constant disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus [Christ], he [Claudius] expelled them from Rome.

9. Sources New Testament gospels: Other gospels
Only two of them tell the birth story and report events in Jesus’ early life
The synoptics vs. John
Other gospels
Non-Christian historians/authors
Archeology
Social & political history of the time

10. characteristics that history allows us to attribute to Jesus:
Jesus was a human person
Jesus was a Jew
Jesus was of the tribe of Judah
Jesus was a descendant of David
Jesus’ mission was to the Jews
Jesus was a teacher
Jesus was tested
Jesus prayed using the word Abba
Jesus prayed for deliverance from death
Jesus suffered

11. Jesus interpreted his last meal with reference to his death
Jesus underwent a trial
Jesus appeared before Pontius Pilate
Jesus’ end involved some Jews
Jesus was crucified
Jesus was buried
Jesus appeared to witnesses after his death10

12. The New Testament Gospels
Written between 40 – 60 years after Jesus’ death
Written in Greek (Jesus spoke Aramaic)
Written from a perspective of faith (not an objective report of historical facts, but still contain historical information)
Not the only gospels written
Not canonized until 4th century

13. The Gospels and History
Luke actually tells us his research techniques and his goal as historian:
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us…Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. [Luke 1:1-4]

14. Religious Truth The Bible is OUR story.
It reveals the truth. This truth is called RELIGIOUS TRUTH. The Bible reveals God’s love for us.

15. Religious Truth Cont’d
It is not a scientific truth:
EX: Genesis creation stories reveal to us that:
God loves us so he created us in His image
We are of the Earth (physical) and the Divine (spiritual)
Our creation is good
Genesis, along with scientific knowledge, ALL reveal, for Christians, the same truth- GOD LOVED US INTO BEING

16. The Problem
Distinguishing between what Jesus said and did and what he is “said to have said” and done (as reported in the sources) – reading between the lines
Reconciling Biblical scholarship (literary criticism, historical criticism) with faith

17. Historical Context Greek culture, philosophy & mystery
Roman political power and religion
Jewish religion:
Sadducees: priests and temple Judaism
Pharisees: rabbis and synagogue Judaism
Esseans: ascetic and messianic Jewish movement
Zealots: Jewish political revolutionaries
Messianic hopefuls and followings

18. Jesus, the Jew Hebrew name: Yeshu’a (Joshua)
Jewish from birth to death
Circumcision and redemption of the first born (LK 2:21-24)
Observing the Passover (as a youth and an adult) (LK 2:41-42, MT 26:17-19)
Reading and teaching in the synagogue (LK 4:15- 22)
The Greatest Commandment (based on Torah) (MK 12:28-31)

19. Jesus the Teacher (“rabbi”)
Disciples and followers
The Sermon on the Mount (MT ch. 5-7)
Story telling (parables) (MT ch. 13)
Themes:
The Kingdom of God and the end-times
The nature of God
Forgiveness
The power of faith (MT 17:19-20, MT 21:21)
Imagery includes familiar settings and events: farming, fishing, herding, baking, business

20. Jesus the Miracle Worker & Faith Healer
Did he really do Miracles?
Did he really raise Lazarus from the dead? (JN 11:1-45) What about the little girl? (MT 9:18-26) And another dead man (LK 7:12-15)
Casting out demons? (MK 5:1-20)
Healing of Jews, Romans, Canaanites and Samaritans alike (JN 4:46-50, LK 7:2-10, MT 15:21-28)
“Your faith has made you well” (MT 15:28, LK 17:19)

21. Jesus the Social and Religious Revolutionary
Love over the “letter of the law” - mercy and compassion over ritual and rules (LK 14:1-6, Mk 2:23-28, MK 7:14-23)
A threat and challenge to authority:
Debates with Jewish religious authorities (MT 15:1- 12, MT 21:42-46, MK 3:1-6)
Criticism of political and religious leaders (LK 13:10-17)
A favorite among the underdogs of society – the masses, the little people

22. Who Killed Jesus & Why?
Crucifixion: a common form of capital punishment for crimes against Rome (MK 15:27)
Claim to be “king of the Jews” (MK 15:2-5, 16-18, 26)
Role of Jewish authorities? (MK 14:10-11, 43-46)
Saw Jesus as a threat to Jewish security under Roman power

23. Did Jesus Raise from the Dead? Is He Still Alive?
The empty tomb:
Was it empty?
Was the body stolen?
Was he not really dead?
Did he ascend into heaven?
Is he “seated at the right hand of God?”
Will he “come again to judge the living and the dead?”
A matter of faith, not history

24. Shroud of Turin Is this the Face of Jesus?
today_people/t/shroud-turin-debate- rekindled/#.TrpqZGDEfx4

25. Questions for Reflection
What was most surprising about the historical information?
How does learning new historical information affect faith?
What new insights do you have about Jesus and Christianity?

26. Resources on the Web
The Jesus Seminar: Scholars seek to identify the historical words of Jesus within the Gospel passages
From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians: PBS Frontline four hour series explores the life and death of Jesus and the development of Christianity during its first four centuries
Pictures from: “Faces of Jesus” tml
Original PowerPoint by Laura Ellen Shulman