1. CHAPTER 3

2. Chapter 3
The Life
of Jesus

3. Martyr
Martyr is a Greek word that means “witness.” It was first ascribed to Christians to designate those who bore witness to their faith by dying for it.
God Enters History in the Person of Jesus Christ

4. Where did Jesus Live?
Bethlehem: Jesus was born when Mary and Joseph traveled to the hometown of Joseph
Nazareth: the boyhood home of Jesus located in Galilee
Jerusalem: the holy city of the Jews where the Temple was located and where Jesus spent much of his public ministry
God Enters History in the Person of Jesus Christ

5. When in Time did Jesus Live?
God Enters History in the Person of Jesus Christ

6. GOSPEL
Preached by Jesus
Proclaimed by the Apostles
Written as four records
The proclamation of the “Good News of salvation,” that God has sent his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem sinners so that they might receive adoption as sons and daughters of God. This Good News was preached by Jesus, proclaimed by the Apostles and written as four records of Jesus’ life.
Events of Jesus’ Life

7. Major Events in Jesus’ Life
Jesus’ Jewish name was given to Mary by the angel Gabriel at the time of the Annunciation.
Jesus’ hometown was Nazareth. However, because of a census ordered by the Roman government, Jesus’ birth took place in Bethlehem, the place of origin of Joseph, his foster father.
After being baptized by the prophet John the Baptist, likely between AD 27 and 30, Jesus began his own public ministry.
Jesus’ manner of preaching and his actions led some people to think of him as a great prophet.
Eventually, the Jewish religious leaders handed Jesus over to the Roman officials for arrest. He was found guilty of blasphemy. Pontius Pilate sentenced him to the cruelest form of capital punishment: crucifixion.
Events of Jesus’ Life

8. Journal Reflection
What evidence of Christ’s historical life do you find most compelling? Why? How has this evidence impacted your faith?
Events of Jesus’ Life

9. Written Recordings Outside of the Bible
Person
Main Source
Evidence
Tacitus
Annals
Mentions Christians in connection with Nero and the great fire in Rome/executed by Pontius Pilate
Suetonius
Lives of the Caesars
Connects “Chrestus” (Christ) with Jewish riots in Rome
Pliny the younger
correspondence with Emperor Trajan
Christians met together to worship, sang hymns, recited a creed, and promised to live morally and worship Jesus Christ.
Josephus
Jewish Antiquities
John the Baptist was a good man. Annas the Younger put James the Just to death in AD 62. James was the “brother of Jesus who is called Christ.”
Thallus
quotations in historical documents
Thallus wrote about the earthquake and darkness that descended on the land when Jesus died.
Mara bar Serapion
letter to his son
Jews (Jewish leaders) killed their wise King and afterwards were ruined and driven from their land. The wise King lived on in the teaching that he had given.
Lucian of Samosata
work of satire
He mocked the Christian faith in the Resurrection and said that Christians follow the teaching of that one who is their founder and lawgiver who was crucified.
Celsus
Against Celsus by Origen contains some of Celsus’ charges against Christianity
Celsus made these claims: Jesus’ father was a Roman soldier; Jesus went to Egypt to learn sorcery.
Babylonian Talmud
There is a mention of Jesus who practiced magic and led Israel away from true Jewish worship; he had disciples, and he was “’hanged on the eve of Passover.”
More Evidence of the Historical Life of Jesus

10. What the Gospels Reveals about the Life of Jesus

11. Four Gospels Authentic testimonies of faith in Jesus Christ
Inspired writings
Written sources
Expression of the Church’s faith in Jesus
Mark
Luke
John
Matthew
What the Gospels Reveals about the Life of Jesus

12. Good Samaritan The Prodigal Son
Abba means “father” or “dad.” Jesus used Abba to reveal “that God is Father in an unheard-of sense”
“Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you” (Jn 16:23).
Good Samaritan
The Prodigal Son
Who but God alone can forgive sins? (Mk 2:7)
What the Gospels Reveals about the Life of Jesus

13. What the Gospels Reveals about the Life of Jesus

14. Early Christian Persecution
YEAR –AD
Event or Era of Persecution for Early Christians 64
Nero deflects blame for great fire in Rome—blames first Jews then Christians
95-96
Domitian Empire (much persecution)
98-117
Trajan’s Empire (Pliny encountered Christians and immediately condemned them to death sparing those who claimed to be reformed
Cases against Christians must have misdeeds named or serious consequences for accusers
Period of relative tolerance
161
Marcus Aurelius came to power. Polycarp sentences Christians to death
175
Christians property seized
193
Severan Dynasty—church became stronger, consolidated in cities, grew.
Anti Christian sentiments grew
Persecution agaisnt church leaders grew
Severe test for Christians
Bloodiest persecution
Peaceful time for Christians
303
The Great Persecutions
Early Christian Persecution
The Witness of Early Martyrs to the Life of Jesus

15. Journal Reflection
Describe a time when you have felt compromised or threatened by your religious beliefs.
The Witness of Early Martyrs to the Life of Jesus