The introduction to the debate on the question Jesus: Man, Myth or Messiah? was sponsored by the Apologetics Research Society (ARS) as part of its 2009 International Christian Evidence Conference. Houston Baptist University was also the venue for this cordial but spirited debate.
. Douglas Jacoby argued in the affirmative. The Historical Jesus and the Christ of Faith
are one and the same. Self-styled Christian atheist Robert Price claimed that the New Testament picture of Jesus is legendary, paralleled by myths in other ancient religions.
An irony of the debate is that Douglas Jacoby received his Masters in Theological Studies in New Testament from (liberal) Harvard Divinity School, while Robert Price received his Masters in Theological Studies in New Testament from (conservative) Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Both speakers have doctorates from Drew University. You will find the exchange both engaging and enlightening. It will build your faith in the reliability of the Bible and in Jesus Christ. For additional debates, books, audio and video instruction, visit our website. Apologetics Research Society (ARS) – Search (bing.com)
Prayer With DR. DOUGLAS JACOBY is an international Christian speaker and writer, and has lectured in nearly 90 nations. Among his books are Genesis, Science and History, Shining like Stars, The Quiver, and Jesus and Islam. He is principal instructor in the Athens Institute of Ministry.
His interests include cosmology, biology, world religions, and ancient languages.
Dr. Jacoby holds degrees from Duke, Harvard, and Drew.
His websites are douglasjacoby.com and jacobypremium.com.
Jesus is one of the most influential and controversial figures in human history. He is revered by billions of Christians as the Son of God and the Savior of the world, but he is also questioned by many others who doubt his divinity and his historical existence. Who was Jesus, really? What do we know about his life, his teachings, and his death? And what does his name mean?The name Jesus is derived from the Greek Iēsous, which is a rendering of the Hebrew name Yehoshua or Yeshua. This name was not uncommon in Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth, and it means “God (Yahweh) is salvation” or “God saves”. The name is linked to the verb meaning “to deliver; to rescue” and the noun “salvation”. This etymology is deeply rooted in the Semitic languages, where the root y-š-ʕ signifies “to deliver; to rescue”.
The term “salvation” has a rich history as well. It originated around 1200, and it initially held a Christian connotation, signifying “the saving of the soul, deliverance from the power of sin and admission to eternal bliss’ ‘. It was derived from the Old French ‘salvaciun’ and directly from Late Latin ‘salvationem’, a Church Latin translation of Greek ‘soteria’, a noun of action from the past-participle stem of ‘salvare’, meaning “to save”.
Jesus, also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many other names and titles, was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the central figure
of Christianity, the world’s largest religion.
Most Christians believe Jesus to be the incarnation of God the Son and
the awaited Jewish messiah, the Christ that is prophesied in the Hebrew Bible.
Accounts of Jesus’ life are contained in the Gospels, especially the four canonical Gospels in the New Testament. Jesus was a Galilean Jew who was circumcised, was baptized by John the Baptist, began his own ministry, and was often referred to as “rabbi”.
Jesus often debated with fellow Jews on how to best follow God, engaged in healings, taught in parables, and gathered followers.
He was arrested in Jerusalem and tried by the Jewish authorities, turned over to the Roman government, and crucified on the order of Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judea. After his death, his followers believed he rose from the dead, and the community they formed eventually became the early Christian Church.
Christian theology includes the beliefs that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born of a virgin named Mary, performed miracles, founded the Christian Church, died by crucifixion as a sacrifice to achieve atonement for sin, rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, from where he will return. Commonly, Christians believe Jesus enables people to be reconciled to God. Medically, what was it like for Jesus to be Crucified? (youtube.com)
Who Was Jesus? – TIME
Jesus Christ is the most influential person in history, according to Time Magazine.
He is the founder of Christianity, one of the world’s major religions, and the source
of hope and faith for billions of people.
But who was he as a historical figure?
What do we know about his life from sources other than the Bible?
Here are some facts about Jesus Christ based on historical evidence.
Jesus Christ Is No. 1 In Top 10 Most Significant Figures In Human History,
According to New Ranking Based on Wikipedia (christianpost.com)
The roots of the Easter story: Where did Christian beliefs about Jesus’
resurrection come from. (religionnews.com)
Jesus began his public ministry around 28 CE, when he was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. He then gathered 12 disciples and traveled around Galilee and Judea, preaching about the kingdom of God and performing miracles.
Jesus used parables, which are stories with moral lessons, to teach. Some of his
well-known parables include the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Sower. Additionally, he instructed his disciples to love God and to love their neighbors as themselves.
Jesus was considered a prophet and a messiah by some Jews, who expected him to
restore the fortunes of Israel. He was also considered a threat by the religious authorities,
who accused him of blasphemy and plotted to kill him.
Jesus celebrated his last supper with his disciples on Passover, around 30 CE. He then went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and arrested by Roman soldiers. He was tried by the Jewish Sanhedrin and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who sentenced him to death by crucifixion.
Jesus died on a cross outside Jerusalem and was buried in a tomb donated by Joseph of Arimathea. Three days later, he rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples and other witnesses. He then ascended to heaven and promised to return one day.
Jesus was mentioned by Jewish and Roman historians who lived in the first and second centuries CE, such as Josephus and Tacitus. They confirmed some of the details of his life and death as recorded in the Gospels. They also showed that he had an impact on his society and that his followers were persecuted by some emperors.
Jesus is regarded by most Christians as the incarnation of God and the savior of humanity. However, this is a matter of faith that depends on one’s interpretation of the Bible and other religious traditions.
As E.P. Sanders, a scholar of early Christianity, wrote:
“This book is about what we can know of the historical figure of Jesus.
It is not about what we can know of Christ, which is a matter of faith.”
Jesus was born in Bethlehem around 6-4 BCE to a virgin named Mary.
He grew up in Nazareth, a village in Galilee, where he worked as a carpenter.
Jesus was a common name in his time, equivalent to John Doe. His full name was
Jesus’ son of Joseph, or Jesus of Nazareth. His name means “God rescues” in Hebrew.
Jesus was about 5 foot 5 inches tall, which was the average height for men in his time.
He had brown eyes, black hair, and olive-brown skin. He kept his hair and beard short
to avoid lice.
Some tell you that Jesus had blue eyes and was fairly dark complected.
~Akiane Kramarik – Search Videos (bing.com)
Heaven is for Real Movie 2014 – YouTube is a faith-based family drama inspired by a Nebraska Pastor Tood Burpo’s best-selling book about his 4 years old son (Colton Burpo) – Search Videos (bing.com) who had visited heaven and describes his journey. His family was facing a financial difficulty and the young Burpo used by God. God is good all the time.
Devout Christians: What Is Christianity? Part 1 of 4.
Devout Christians: What Is Christianity? Part 2 of 4.
Devout Christians: What Is Christianity? Part 3 of 4.
Devout Christians: What Is Christianity? Part 4 of 4.
Devout Christians: An Analysis of the Sons of God – Part 1 of 3. – ThyBlackMan
The Ultimate Guide to What’s a Devout Christian – Discover the Hidden Truths
Something Happen There: The Holy Land Rick Steves – Search (bing.com)
Christianity explained in 60 seconds: ideas that changed the world (msn.com)
Crucifixion: The Process and the Monstrous Logic Behind It (youtube.com)
Are religious people happier? The science is pretty clear (msn.com)
Why does Easter change dates, but Christmas doesn’t? (msn.com)
What Is Good Friday, and Why Do We Celebrate It? (msn.com)
The Powerful Meanings of 1111 Angel Number (msn.com)
18 Things the Bible Says About Angels (msn.com)
17 Ways Jesus Showed Us How to Live (msn.com)
10 Things The Bible Says About Jesus (msn.com)
Is purgatory mentioned in the Bible? (msn.com)
Reference：
[1] The Bible Says Jesus Was Real. What Other Proof Exists?
[2] 30 Historical Facts About Jesus Christ
[3] 35 Amazing Jesus Christ Facts
[4] Jesus
EXPLORE FURTHER:
5 Ways Jesus Proved He’s the Messiah – Billy Graham …
billygraham.org
What Does It Mean That Jesus Is the Messiah? – iBelieve.com
ibelieve.com
How Does Matthew Prove That Jesus Is the Messiah? – Bible …
biblestudytools.com
Why Is Jesus Called the Messiah? – Topical Studies – Bible …
biblestudytools.com
What Proof Do You Have That Jesus is the Messiah?
jewsforjesus.org
Most Atheist States in United States – Search (bing.com)
And which States have the most problems today. BLUE!!
Related video: Rev. Franklin Graham: ‘The only hope is God and His son Jesus Christ’ (FOX News) – Search Videos (bing.com)
Relevant articles:
– Jesus – Wikipedia
– Jesus (name) – Wikipedia
– salvation | Etymology of salvation by etymonline