Jesus of Nazareth (c. 5 BC/BCE – c. 30 AD/CE),[3] commonly known as Jesus Christ or simply Jesus, is the central figure of Christianity. Christians view him as the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament and as the Son of God,[6] who provided salvation and reconciliation with God to humankind by dying for their sins, then rising from the dead.[7][8]The principal sources of information regarding Jesus' life and teachings are the four canonical gospels, especially the Synoptic Gospels,[9][10] though some scholars believe apocryphal texts such as the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel according to the Hebrews are also relevant.[11] Most critical scholars in biblical studies believe that other parts of the New Testament are also useful for reconstructing Jesus' life,[12][13][14][15] agreeing that Jesus was a Jew who was regarded as a teacher and healer, that he was baptized by John the Baptist, and was crucified in Jerusalem on the orders of the Roman Prefect of Judaea, Pontius Pilate, on the charge of sedition against the Roman Empire.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]
Critical Biblical scholars and historians have offered competing descriptions of Jesus as a self-described messiah, as the leader of an apocalyptic movement, as an itinerant sage, as a charismatic healer, and as the founder of an independent religious movement. Most contemporary scholars of the Historical Jesus consider him to have been an independent, charismatic founder of a Jewish restoration movement, anticipating an imminent apocalypse.[27] Other prominent scholars, however, contend that Jesus' "Kingdom of God" meant radical personal and social transformation instead of a future apocalypse.[27]
Christians traditionally believe that Jesus was born of a virgin,[7]:529-532 performed miracles,[7]:358-359 founded the Church, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven,[7]:616-620 from which he will return.[7]:1091-1109 Most Christian scholars today present Jesus as the awaited Messiah and as God,[28] arguing that he fulfilled many Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament.[29] The majority of Christians worship Jesus as the incarnation of God the Son, of the divine Trinity. A few Christian groups, however, reject Trinitarianism, wholly or partly, believing it to be non-scriptural.[30][31][32]
Judaism rejects assertions that Jesus was the awaited Messiah, arguing that he did not fulfill the Messianic prophecies in the Tanakh.[33] In Islam, Jesus (Arabic: ?????, commonly transliterated as Isa) is considered one of God's important prophets,[34][35] a bringer of scripture, and the product of a virgin birth; but did not experience a crucifixion.[36] Islam and the Baha'i Faith use the title "Messiah" for Jesus,[37][38] but do not teach that he was God incarnate.
