Jesus

While known today as Jesus Christ, his contemporary name was likely Yeshua (the Aramaic/Hebrew version of Joshua). This name carries the literal meaning "Yahweh saves" or "salvation." The Gospel of Matthew explicitly links this etymology to his purpose: to save people from their sins. The title "Christ" is not a surname but a Greek translation of the Hebrew Mashiakh (Messiah), meaning "the anointed one"—a reference to the Jewish tradition of using sacred oil to mark individuals for holy office.

In his own time, he was identified by his hometown or family ties, called "Jesus of Nazareth" or "the carpenter’s son." It was only in the 1st century, as his followers consolidated their beliefs, that "Christ" transitioned from a functional title to a proper name. This naming convention reflects a parallel to the biblical Joshua who led the Jews into the Promised Land; in Christian theology, Jesus is the new Joshua leading humanity toward spiritual salvation.

Most of what is known about Jesus comes from the four canonical Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Modern scholarship identifies these works as "ancient biographies," a genre that prioritizes the subject's character and theological significance over strict chronological accuracy or exhaustive detail. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are "Synoptic," meaning they share a similar narrative structure and likely drew from a common source (often referred to as the "Q source").

The Gospel of John stands apart, offering a more philosophical and cosmic perspective that identifies Jesus as the Logos (the divine Word). While virtually all modern scholars agree that Jesus was a historical person, the reliability of these texts varies among academics. Some view them as inerrant, while others see them as theological documents written decades after the events (roughly AD 60–100) to serve the needs of the burgeoning early Christian Church.

Jesus began his public life as a "rabbi" or teacher in the Roman province of Judaea, following a baptism by John the Baptist and a period of fasting in the wilderness. He moved through the region as an itinerant preacher, using parables—short, metaphorical stories—to interpret divine law. His ministry was defined by two distinct actions: healing the sick and debating religious authorities on the correct way to follow God. He gathered a core group of 12 apostles to help expand his movement.

His career was brief but disruptive. His claims of divine authority and his large following eventually drew the ire of Jewish authorities, who handed him over to the Roman government. He was tried and executed via crucifixion by Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect. However, the movement did not end with his death; his followers became convinced he had risen from the dead, a belief that transformed a small Jewish sect into a worldwide religion.

Central to Christian theology is the Nicene Creed, which asserts that Jesus is the "Son of God" and the second person of the Trinity. Unlike other religious figures who are seen merely as messengers, Jesus is viewed by Christians as the "Incarnation"—God becoming flesh. This dual nature (fully divine and fully human) allows him to act as a bridge between humanity and the divine, enabling people to be reconciled to God through his sacrifice on the cross.

This theology posits that his death was a deliberate "atonement" for human sin and that his subsequent resurrection on the third day proved his victory over death. Christian eschatology further teaches that Jesus ascended into Heaven but will return for the "Second Coming" to judge the living and the dead. This cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is the foundation of the world's most widely used calendar (AD/CE) and its major holidays, Christmas and Easter.

While Christianity is built on the divinity of Jesus, other world religions offer starkly different interpretations. Judaism rejects the idea that Jesus was the Messiah, arguing that he did not fulfill the specific prophecies laid out in the Hebrew Bible and was neither divine nor resurrected. In this view, he was a teacher whose followers' claims exceeded the reality of his life.

In contrast, Islam holds Jesus (known as Isa) in high regard as one of God's most important prophets and the Messiah sent to the Israelites. Muslims believe in his virgin birth but strictly reject the idea that he was the "Son of God" or divine. Interestingly, most Islamic traditions hold that Jesus was not actually crucified but was instead raised alive into Heaven by God. Similarly, the Baháʼí and Druze faiths revere him as a significant manifestation of God’s word, though they do not share the orthodox Christian view of the Trinity.