Jesus and Notting Hill (film): Difference between pages

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{{Infobox Film
{{this|Jesus of Nazareth|Jesus (disambiguation)}}
| name = Notting Hill
{{Jesus}}
| image = NottingHillRobertsGrant.jpg
| caption = The film's poster.
| producer = [[Duncan Kenworthy]]
| director = [[Roger Michell]]
| writer = [[Richard Curtis]]
| starring = [[Julia Roberts]]<br>[[Hugh Grant]]<br>[[Rhys Ifans]]<br>[[Emma Chambers]]<br>[[Tim McInnerny]]<br>[[Gina McKee]]<br>[[Hugh Bonneville]]
| music = [[Trevor Jones (composer)|Trevor Jones]]
| cinematography = Michael Coulter
| editing = Nick Moore
| distributor = [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]-[[Universal Studios|Universal]]<br />[[PolyGram Filmed Entertainment]]
| released = {{flagicon|UK}} [[May 21]], [[1999]]</br>{{flagicon|USA}} [[May 28]], [[1999]]
| runtime = 124 min.
| budget = $42 million
| gross = $116 million
| language = [[English language|English]]
| website = http://www.notting-hill.com/
| imdb_id = 0125439
| amg_id = 1:179536
}}
'''''Notting Hill''''' is a [[1999 in film|1999]] [[romantic comedy film]] set in the [[Notting Hill]] district of [[London]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom|United Kingdom]], that was released on [[May 21]] [[1999]]. The [[screenplay]] was written by [[Richard Curtis]] who had previously written ''[[Four Weddings and a Funeral]]''. It was produced by [[Duncan Kenworthy]], and directed by [[Roger Michell]]. The film stars [[Julia Roberts]], [[Hugh Grant]], [[Rhys Ifans]], [[Emma Chambers]], [[Tim McInnerny]], [[Gina McKee]] and [[Hugh Bonneville]].
 
Bookshop owner William Thacker's world begins to turn upside down after the world's most famous actress, Anna Scott, visits his store. Later, Will knocks his orange juice into Anna as she passes him in the street. After she gets changed at his house, Anna surprises Will with a kiss. The pair then begin a relationship, but encounter numerous problems on the way.
'''Jesus''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: &#7992;&#951;&#963;&#959;&#8166;&#962; ''I&#x0113;so&#x00fb;s''), [[#Names and titles|also known as]] '''Jesus of [[Nazareth]]''' or '''Jesus [[Christ]]''', is [[Christianity]]'s central figure, both as [[Messiah]] and, for most Christians, as [[God]] [[incarnation|incarnate]]. In [[Islam]] he is regarded as a very important [[prophet]].
 
The film was well received by critics, and charted well at the box office, becoming the highest grossing British film yet released. The film won a [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]], and both won and was nominated for several others.
The most commonly used sources for information on Jesus are the four [[Gospel#Canonical Gospels|canonical Gospel accounts]], which depict him as a [[Galilee|Galilean]] [[Judaism|Jewish]] [[preacher]] and [[healer]] who was often at odds with Jewish authorities and who was [[crucifixion|crucified]] in [[Jerusalem]] during the rule of the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[prefect]] [[Pontius Pilate]]. The canonical Gospels focus primarily on Jesus' last years, especially the last week before his crucifixion, which, based on the mention of Pilate, is now estimated to have possibly taken place between [[26|26 AD/CE]] and [[36|36 AD/CE]].
 
==Plot==
Most [[Christian]]s believe that there is [[monotheism|one God]] composed of a [[Trinity]] that includes Jesus, and that Jesus is the [[Messiah]] ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Χριστός ''Khristós'') [[prophet|prophesied]] in the [[Old Testament]] (or [[Hebrew Bible]]). Most Christians also believe that Jesus died on the cross&mdash;hence the [[Christian cross|cross]] has become Christianity's chief [[religious symbol]]&mdash;that Jesus [[resurrection|rose from the dead]], and that through him they can be [[salvation|saved]].
[[Image:Notting_Hill.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Will and Anna together on a date.]]
William Thacker is the owner of an [[independent bookstore]] which specializes in [[travel writing]] in [[Notting Hill, London, England|Notting Hill]]. Witty, cultivated and handsome, he has not been coping well with his divorce and is currently sharing his house with an eccentric [[Wales|Welsh]] wannabe artist named Spike. One day, Thacker encounters world famous [[Hollywood]] actress Anna Scott during her trip to London, when she enters his shop to purchase a book. Shortly thereafter, the pair accidentally collide in the street, causing William to spill his orange juice on the both of them. He offers his house, which is just across the road, as a place for Anna to get changed. She accepts and they repair to his abode. Having got changed, Anna surprises Will with a kiss. She makes sure that Will does not tell anyone about it, and leaves.
 
Days later, Will asks Spike if he has any messages. Spike has trouble writing down, or remembering any messages left for Will, but does recall "Some American girl called Anna" calling a few days previous. Anna is staying at the Ritz, under a pseudonym, and asks Will to come and visit her. When he arrives, Anna's room has become the centre for a press day and as a result, Will is mistaken for a member of the press. He has to interview every single cast member of Anna's new film ''Helix'', even though he has not seen the film himself. Will does get to talk to Anna, and invites her to his sister Honey's birthday party.
[[Muslim]]s believe that Jesus was one of God's most important [[Prophets in Islam|prophets]] and also the [[Messiah#In Islam|Messiah]], though they attach a different meaning to this than Christians, as they do not share the Christian belief in the [[divinity]] of Jesus. Most non-Christian and non-Islamic religions do not attribute any special spiritual significance to Jesus.
 
There, at Max and Bella's house, Anna feels at home with Will's circle of friends, putting up a good case for the "last brownie". The pair go on several dates, to the cinema and to a restaurant. Anna invites Will back to her hotel room, only to find that her American boyfriend, although Anna asserts that they have broken up, but Will has to leave anyway. Some time later, Anna arrives on Will's doorstep, hoping for a place to stay. Some degrading images of her have been leaked to the press and she needs to hide out. The pair bound once again, with Will helping Anna learn lines for her new film. That night, the pair sleep together for the first time. In the morning, Will is stunned to see a throng of reporters at their doorstep, it seems that careless talk by Spike down at the pub the previous night had alerted the media to Anna's whereabouts. She leaves in a hurry, and William decides once and for all to forget her.
A faulty [[6th century|6th-century]] attempt to calculate the year of Jesus' birth&mdash;which, based upon a [[Massacre of the Innocents|story]] in the [[Gospel of Matthew]] involving [[Herod the Great]], is now estimated to have possibly occured sometime between [[8 BC|8 BC/BCE]] and [[4 BC|4 BC/BCE]]&mdash;became the basis for the [[Anno Domini]] system of reckoning years, and also for the chronologically-equivalent [[Common Era]] system.
 
Later, Anna returns to England to make another film. She invites Will to the set of the film, he listens to the sound recording whilst Anna is busy filming. He overhears her telling her co-star that Will is "just some guy", and leaves. The next day, Anna comes to the bookshop once again, hoping to resume their love affair, but William turns her down. Will consults his friends on his decision, leading him to realize that he has just made the biggest mistake of his life. He and his friends search for Anna, racing across London in Max's car. They reach Anna's press conference before she leaves for the [[United States]], and Will successfully persuades her to stay in England with him. Anna and Will get married, with the film concluding with a shot of Will and a pregnant Anna sitting on a park bench in Notting Hill.
The historicity, teachings and nature of Jesus are subject to debate. Non-Christians typically reject all claims of Jesus' [[divinity|divine nature]] and associated [[miracle|miraculous events]], and many believe that the Biblical texts commonly used as rough guides to the life of the [[historical Jesus]] may not have a high level of historical accuracy, due to their not being direct firsthand accounts written during or soon after the life of Jesus. However, some scholars&mdash;predominantly Christian ones&mdash;argue that the key New Testament events have a high degree of historical reliability, and some also suggest earlier dates for the entire New Testament than those typically proposed. Although the exact level of the historical accuracy contained in these texts is disputed, the majority of scholars agree that Jesus did, at least, exist. [http://www.bede.org.uk/price1.htm]
 
==Cast and characters==
==Historicity==
*'''[[Julia Roberts]]''' as '''Anna Scott''': A world famous film star. She meets Will whilst filming in Notting Hill, when she comes into his book shop.
{{main3|Historicity of Jesus|Historical Jesus|Jesus-Myth}}
*'''[[Hugh Grant]]''' as '''William Thacker''': Owner of a travel book shop in Notting Hill, who has recently divorced his wife. He meets Anna Scott when she comes in looking for a book.
[[Image:Christ pantocrator daphne1090-1100.jpg|thumb|205px|right|This [[11th century|11th-century]] [[portrait]] is one of many [[images of Jesus]] in which a [[halo (religious symbol)|halo]] with a cross is used. Such depictions are characteristic of [[Eastern Orthodox]] [[iconography]], in which he is portrayed as similar in features and skin tone to the culture of the artist.]]
*'''[[Rhys Ifans]]''' as '''Spike''': Will's strange Welsh flatmate, who dreams of being an artist. He is described by Will as "the stupidest person in the world".
*'''[[Emma Chambers]]''' as '''Honey Thacker''': Will's ditzy younger sister, she is a huge fan of Anna Scott.
*'''[[Tim McInnerny]]''' as '''Max''': Will's best friend, who Will often stays with. He and Bella host Honey's birthday party.
*'''[[Gina McKee]]''' as '''Bella''': Max's wheelchair bound wife.
*'''[[Hugh Bonneville]]''' as '''Bernie''': A failing stockbroker and a friend of Will. He fails to realise who Anna Scott is upon first meeting her.
*'''[[James Dreyfus]]''' as '''Martin''': Harry's assistant at his bookshop.
*'''Richard McCabe''' as '''Tony''': A failing restaurateur, whose restaurant the group often attend.
*'''[[Dylan Moran]]''' as '''Rufus''': A thief who attempts to steal from Will's bookshop. Despite being caught on the CCTV he professes his innocence, and conceals the stolen book in his underpants.
 
[[Alec Baldwin]] makes an uncredited appearance as Anna's American boyfriend.<ref name=variety>{{cite web|url=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117907270.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0|title=Notting Hill|accessdate=2007-05-19|date=[[1999-04-30]]|author=Elley, Derek|publisher=Variety}}</ref> [[Sanjeev Bhaskar]] has a cameo role as one of the loud and offensive men in the restaurant Anna and Will attend.<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/ultimatefilm/chart/details.php?ranking=95&cc=on|title=95: NOTTING HILL|accessdate=2007-05-19|publisher=British Film Institute}}</ref> A young [[Mischa Barton]] makes a brief appearance as the [[child actor]] whom William interviews for ''Horse & Hound'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/you/article.html?in_article_id=449705&in_page_id=1908|title=Mischa Barton: Little Miss Sunshine|accessdate=2007-05-19|date=[[2007-05-12]]|author=Gordon, Jane|publisher=The Mail on Sunday}}</ref>
Most modern scholars hold that the works describing Jesus were initially communicated by [[oral history|oral tradition]], and were not committed to writing until several decades after Jesus' crucifixion. The earliest extant texts which refer to Jesus are [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]]'s letters, which are usually dated from the mid-[[1st century]]. Paul saw Jesus only in visions, but he claimed that they were divine [[revelation]]s and hence authoritative (1 Galatians 11-12). The earliest extant texts describing Jesus in any detail were the four [[New Testament]] [[Gospel]]s. These texts, being part of the [[Biblical canon]], have received much more analysis and acceptance from Christian sources than other possible sources for information on Jesus.
 
==Production==
However, many [[apocrypha]]l texts have also surfaced detailing events in Jesus' life and teachings, chief among them the [[Gospel of Thomas]], a "sayings gospel" or ''[[logia]]'' consisting primarily of phrases attributed to Jesus. Other [[New Testament apocrypha]], generally considered less important, include the [[Gospel of the Hebrews]], the [[Gospel of Mary]], the [[Infancy Gospels]], the [[Gospel of Peter]], the [[Unknown Berlin Gospel]], the [[Naassene Fragment]], the [[Secret Gospel of Mark]], the [[Egerton Gospel]], the [[Oxyrhynchus Gospels]] and the [[Fayyum Fragment]].
===Development===
Richard Curtis spoke at length as to how he originally came up the idea for the film.
{{cquotetxt|When I was lying sleepless at nights I would sometimes wonder what it would be like if I just turned up at my friends' house, where I used to have dinner once a week, with the most famous person at that time, be it [[Madonna]] or whomever. It all sprang from there. How would my friends react? Who would try and be cool? How would you get through dinner? What would they say to you afterwards? That was the starting point, the idea of a very normal person going out with an unbelievably famous person and how that impinges on their lives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.notting-hill.com/behindscenes/index.html|title=Behind-the-Scenes|accessdate=2007-05-22|publisher=Notting Hill.com}}</ref>}}
 
''Four Weddings and a Funeral'' director [[Mike Newell (director)|Mike Newell]] was approached for the film, but rejected it to work on ''[[Pushing Tin]]'' instead. He did later admit that in commercial terms he had made the wrong decision, but did not regret it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://efilmcritic.com/feature.php?feature=78|title=The man who told Notting Hill to 'sod off'|accessdate=2007-05-21|author=Chris Parry|publisher=eFilm Critic}}</ref> The film's producer Duncan Kenworthy then turned to Roger Michell, stating that "Finding someone as good as Roger, was just like finding the right actor to play each role. Roger shone out."<ref name=production>{{cite web|url=http://www.notting-hill.com/behindscenes/index.html|title=About the Production|accessdate=2007-05-22|publisher=Notting Hill.com}}</ref>
Some texts with even earlier historical or mythological information on Jesus are speculated to have existed prior to the Gospels, though none are extant. Based on the unusual similarities and differences (see [[synoptic problem]]) between the [[Synoptic Gospels]]&mdash;[[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]], [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]] and [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]], the first three canonical Gospels&mdash;many Biblical scholars have suggested that [[oral tradition]] and ''logia'' (such as the Gospel of Thomas and the theoretical [[Q document]]) probably played a strong role in initially passing down stories of Jesus, and may have inspired some of the Synoptic Gospels. Specifically, many scholars believe that the Q document and the Gospel of Mark were the [[two-source hypothesis|two sources]] used for the Gospels of Matthew and Luke; however, other theories, such as the older [[Augustinian hypothesis]], continue to hold sway with some Biblical scholars. Another theoretical document is the [[Signs Gospel]], believed to have been a source for the [[Gospel of John]]. These is little consensus concerning how and when any of these documents were circulated, if they were at all.
 
===Casting===
The [[ecumenical council]] meetings in the [[4th century]] that discussed which works should and should not be included in the [[Biblical canon|canon]] were largely unconcerned with modern historical sensibilities, utilizing few techniques of objective textual analysis. Instead, their discussions generally tended to center upon [[theology]], rather than upon [[historicity]]. However, noted scholars [[F.F. Bruce]], [[Bruce Metzger]] and others argue that some historical details were taken into consideration regarding New Testament canon. It may be surmised that the early church leaders took for granted that historicity was not an issue to be debated, any more than debating the historicity of the [[Articles of Confederation]] or the [[Constitution]] would be major issues today.[http://www.pastornet.net.au/rtc/canon.htm][http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/ffbruce/ntdocrli/ntdocc03.htm] [http://www.ntgreek.org/SeminaryPapers/ChurchHistory/Criteria%20for%20Development%20of%20the%20NT%20Canon%20in%20First%20Four%20Centuries.pdf] In addition, Bible scholar [[Bruce Metzger]] wrote regarding the formation of the canonical New Testament:
Julia Roberts was the production team's "one and only" choice for the role of Anna, although Michell and Kentworthy did not expect her to accept the part. She did however take the role, with her agent citing it as "the best romantic comedy she had ever read".<ref name=production/> Roberts herself commented that after reading the script she decided she was "going to have to do this".<ref name=dreamteam>{{cite web|url=http://www.notting-hill.com/behindscenes/index.html|title=A Romantic Comedy Dream Team|accessdate=2007-05-22|publisher=Notting Hill.com}}</ref> The decision to cast Hugh Grant as Will was unanimous, as together Grant and Curtis had a "writer/actor marriage made in heaven". Michell stated that "Hugh does Richard better than anyone else, and Richard writes Hugh better than anyone else", and that Grant is "one of the only actors who can speak Richard's lines perfectly".<ref name=production/> The casting of Hugh Bonneville, Tim McInnerny, Gina McKee, Emma Chambers and Rhys Ifans as Will's group of friends was "rather like assembling a family". Michell explained that "When you are casting a cabal of friends, you have to cast a balance of qualities, of types and of sensibilities. They were the jigsaw that had to be put together all in one go, and I think we've got a very good variety of people who can realistically still live in the same world."<ref name=production/>
 
===Filming===
:"Although the fringes of the emerging canon remained unsettled for generations, a high degree of unanimity concerning the greater part of the New Testament was attained among the very diverse and scattered congregations of believers not only throughout the Mediterranean world, but also over an area extending from Britain to Mesopotamia." (Metzger, 1987).
Curtis chose the setting of Notting Hill for the film as he lived there and knew the area well, stating "Notting Hill is a melting pot and the perfect place to set a film".<ref name=___location>{{cite web|url=http://www.notting-hill.com/behindscenes/index.html|title=Notting Hill, the place, the movie ___location|accessdate=2007-05-22|publisher=Notting Hill.com}}</ref> This left the producers with a challenge of having to film in a heavily populated area. Kenworthy noted "Early on, we toyed with the idea of building a huge exterior set. That way we would have more control, because we were worried about having Roberts and Grant on public streets where we could get thousands of onlookers." In the end they decided to take the risk anyway and film in the actual streets.<ref name=___location/> Michell was worried "that Hugh and Julia were going to turn up on the first day of shooting on Portobello Road, and there would be gridlock and we would be surrounded by thousands of people and paparazzi photographers who would prevent us from shooting". The ___location team, and security forces prevented this, as well as preventing problems the presence of a film crew may have caused the residents of Notting Hill, who Michell believes were "genuinely excited" about the film.<ref name=___location/> The film's ___location manager Sue Quinn described her job of finding suitable locations and getting permission to film there as "a mammoth task". She said
{{cquotetxt|The major problem we encountered was the size of our film unit. We couldn't just go in and shoot and come out. We were everywhere. Filming on the London streets has to be done in such a way that it comes up to health and safety standards. There is no such thing as a road closure. We were very lucky in the fact that we had 100% cooperation from the police and the Council. They looked favorably on what we were trying to do and how it would promote the area.<ref name=___location/>}}
Quinn and the rest of her ___location team had to send letters to thousands of people in the area, promising that they would donate to each person's favourite charity, resulting in over two hundred different charities receiving money from the film project.<ref name=___location/>
 
The film's production designer was [[Stuart Craig]] who was pleased for the chance to do a contempory film, stating on the film "we're dealing with streets with thousands of people, market traders, shop owners and residents which makes it really complex".<ref name=___location/> Filming began on [[April 17]] [[1998]], in both West London and at [[Shepperton Studios]].<ref name=production/> Will's bookshop was situated on [[Portobello Road]], which was one of the main areas in which filming took place. Other places within Notting Hill where filming took place included Westbourne Park Road, [[Golborne Road]], [[Landsdowne Road]] and the Coronet Cinema.<ref name=___location/> After filming for a period of six weeks in Notting Hill, filming moved to the [[Ritz Hotel]], where filming had to take place at night, the [[Savoy Hotel]], the Nobu Restaurant, the [[Zen Garden]] and [[Kenwood House]].<ref name=___location/> One the film's final scenes takes place at a film premiere, which presented difficulties for the production team. Michell wanted to film the scene in [[Leicester Square]], but the request was declined due to huge problems that fans attending a [[Leonardo DiCaprio]] premiere had caused the police. Through a health and safety act, the production received permission to film and constructed the scene in just twenty-four hours.<ref name=___location/> Interior scenes were the last scenes to be filmed, with them taking place at Shepperton Studios.<ref name=___location/>
[[Image:Rublev%27s_saviour.jpg|thumb|215px|left|[[Andrei Rublev]]'s idealized image of [[Christ the Redeemer (icon)|Christ the Redeemer]] ([[1409]]).]]
As a result of the many-decade time gap between the writing of the Gospels and the events they describe, as well as the seemingly heavy pro-Jesus slant of these and other early accounts of Jesus' life, the accuracy of all early texts claiming the existence of Jesus or details of Jesus' life have been disputed by various parties. However, several Biblical historians have responded to claims of the unreliability of the Gospel accounts by pointing out that historical documentation is often biased and second-hand, and must always be interpreted with care.
 
The film features the [[1950 in art|1950]] [[Marc Chagall]] painting ''[[La Mariée]]''. In the story, Anna sees a print of the painting in William's home, and later gives him what is presumably the original. According to director Michell in an article in ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', the painting was chosen because screenwriter Curtis was a fan of Chagall's work, and because ''La Mariée'' "depicts a yearning for something that's lost." Producers had a reproduction made for use in the film, but had to first get permission from the painting's owners as well as clearance from the British [[Design and Artists Copyright Society]]. Finally, according to producer Kenworthy, "we had to agree to destroy it. They were concerned that if our fake was too good, it might float around the market and create problems." The article also noted that "some experts say the real canvas could be worth between $500,000 and $1 million."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,273720,00.html|title=Flashes|date=[[1999-06-11]]|accessdate=2007-05-20|author=Joe Dziemianowicz; Clarissa Cruz|publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref>
Among those who believe that Jesus existed, however, there are numerous divisions over the historical accuracy of the canonical Gospels. Some say that the Gospel accounts are neither objective nor accurate, since they were written or compiled by his followers and seem to exclusively portray a positive, idealized view of Jesus. Those who have a naturalistic view of history do not believe in divine intervention or [[miracles]] such as the resurrection of Jesus mentioned by the Gospels.
 
===Music===
On the other side of the coin, some scholars believe that Jesus has little or no historical basis. There are many similarities between stories about Jesus and contemporary myths of [[Paganism|Pagan]] godmen such as [[Mithras]], [[Apollo]], [[Attis]], [[Horus]] and [[Osiris-Dionysus]], leading to conjectures that the Pagan myths were adopted by some authors of early accounts of Jesus to form a [[syncretism]] with Christianity. Some Christian thinkers, such as [[C. S. Lewis]] and [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], believed that such myths were created by ancient Pagans with vague and imprecise knowledge of Gospel truth. While these connections are disputed by many, it is nevertheless true that many elements of Jesus' story as told in the Gospels have parallels in Pagan mythology, where miracles such as [[virgin birth]] and [[reincarnation]] were not uncommon.
Music for the film was composed by ''Four Wedding and a Funeral'' composer Trevor Jones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/notting_hill.html|title=Notting Hill|accessdate=2007-05-23|publisher=Filmtracks.com}}</ref> Several additional songs written by other artists appeared on the film's soundtrack. These include [[Elvis Costello]]'s [[cover version|cover]] of the [[Charles Aznavour]] song "[[She (Charles Aznavour song)|She]]", as well as [[Ronan Keating]]'s specially recorded cover version of "[[When You Say Nothing at All]]", the song reached number one in the British charts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/whenyousaynothingatall.shtml|title='When You Say Nothing at All'|accessdate=2007-05-21|publisher=BBC}}</ref> Originally, Charles Aznavour's version of the song was used in the film, but American test screening audiences could not understand it. Costello was then brought in by Richard Curtis to record a cover version of the song.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/395140.stm|title=Elvis alive and well in Notting Hill|accessdate=2007-05-23|author=Darryl Chamberlain|date=[[1999-07-20]]|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
 
==Reception==
<!--
===Critical reaction===
scholars such as [[A. N. Sherwin-White]], [[FF Bruce]], [[John Wenham]], [[Gary Habermas]] and others argue for a high degree of historical reliability of the key New Testament events or the New Testament as a whole (see: [[Resurrection of Jesus]] for details).[http://www.leaderu.com/everystudent/easter/articles/josh2.html] [http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/ffbruce/ntdocrli/ntdocont.htm][http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wenham][http://www.apologetics.com/default.jsp?bodycontent=/articles/historical_apologetics/habermas-nt.html] Prominent liberal scholar [[John Robinson (1919-1983)|John A.T. Robinson]] argued for early dates of the entire New Testament and ascribed many of the key New Testament texts to their traditional authors. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Robinson_%281919-1983%29] -->
The film was meet with generally positive reviews, scoring an 85% "Cream of the Crop" rating at [[Rotten Tomatoes]].<ref name=rt>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/notting_hill/|title=Notting Hill (1999)|accessdate=2007-05-21|publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> "Variety's Derek Elley said that "It's slick, it's gawky, it's 10 minutes too long, and it's certainly not "''Four Weddings and a Funeral'' Part 2" in either construction or overall tone", giving it an overall positive review.<ref name=variety/> Cranky Critic called it "Bloody damned good", as well as saying that it was "A perfect date flick."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crankycritic.com/archive99/nottinghill.html|title=Notting Hill|accessdate=2007-05-19|publisher=Cranky Critic}}</ref> Nitrate said that "''Notting Hill'' is whimsical and light, fresh and quirky", with "endearing moments and memorable characters".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nitrateonline.com/1999/rnottinghill.html|title=Notting Hill|accessdate=2007-05-19|author=Savada, Elias|date=[[1999-05-28]]|publisher=Nitrate}}</ref> In his review of the film's DVD John J. Puccio noted that "The movie is a fairy tale, and writer Richard Curtis knows how much the public loves a fairy tale", calling it "a sweet film".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtown.com/reviews/notting-hill/739/2|title=Notting Hill <nowiki>[Ultimate Edition]</nowiki>|accessdate=2007-05-20|author=John J. Puccio|publisher=DVD Town.com}}</ref> Desson Howe of the [[Washington Post]] gave the film a very positive review, praising Rhys Ifans peformance as Spike.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/movies/reviews/nottinghillhowe.htm?movieslede=y|title='Notting Hill': Easy to Love|accessdate=2007-05-21|date=[[1999-05-28]]|author=Desson Howe|publisher=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref> James Sanford gave ''Notting Hill'' three and a half stars, saying that "Curtis' dialogue may be much snappier than his sometimes dawdling plot, but the first hour of "Notting Hill" is so beguiling and consistently funny it seems churlish to complain that the rest is merely good."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interbridge.com/jamessanford/1999/notting.html|title=Notting Hill|accessdate=2007-05-21|author=James Sanford|publisher=Kalamazoo Gazette}}</ref> Sue Pierman of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel stated that "''Notting Hill'' is clever, funny, romantic - and oh, yes, reminiscent of ''Four Weddings and a Funeral''", but that the film "is so satisfying, it doesn't pay to nitpick."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.jsonline.com/enter/movies/reviews/may99/m.nott28052799.asp|title='Notting Hill' is perfect romantic fit for Roberts, Grant|accessdate=2007-05-21|date=[[1999-05-27]]|author=Sue Pierman|publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] praised the film, saying "the movie is bright, the dialogue has wit and intelligence, and Roberts and Grant are very easy to like."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19990528/REVIEWS/905280301/1023|title=Notting Hill|accessdate=2007-05-21|date=[[1999-05-28]]|author=Roger Ebert|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref> Kenneth Turan gave a good review, concluding that "the film's romantic core is impervious to problems".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-movie990527-6,0,7251334.story|title=Notting Hill|accessdate=2007-05-21|date=[[1999-05-28]]|author=Kenneth Turan|publisher=Calender Live}}</ref> [[CNN]] reviewer Paul Clinton said that ''Notting Hill'' "stands alone as another funny and heartwarming story about love against all odds".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Movies/9905/27/review.notting.hill/|title=Review: Julia, Hugh a perfect match for 'Notting Hill'|accessdate=2007-05-21|date=[[1999-05-27]]|author=Paul Clinton|publisher=CNN}}</ref>
 
Widgett Walls of Needcoffee.com gave the film "three and a half cups of coffee", stating that "the humor of the film saves it from a completely trite and unsatisfying (nay, shall I say enraging) ending", but criticised the film's soundtrack.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.needcoffee.com/html/reviews/nhill.html|title=Notting Hill (1999)|accessdate=2007-05-21|publisher=Needcoffee.com|author=Widgett Walls}}</ref> Dennis Schwartz gave the film a bad review with a grade of "C-" citing "this film was pure and unadulterated balderdash".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sover.net/~ozus/nottinghill.htm|title=NOTTING HILL|accessdate=2007-05-21|date=[[2000-11-29]]|author=Dennis Schwartz|publisher=Ozus' World Movie Reviews}}</ref>
==Religious perspectives==
{{main|Religious perspectives on Jesus}}
===Christianity===
{{main|Christian views of Jesus}}
<!--This entire section needs some heavy cutting down. All beliefs that don't _directly_ and _specifically_ relate to Jesus, or that are overlong and would work better in other existing articles with just a summary left here, should be transferred to other articles. We don't need to spend eight paragraphs discussing the Trinity when there are countless other Wikipedia articles specifically about the Trinity.-->
 
''Notting Hill'' was placed 95th on the [[British Film Institute]]'s "list of the all-time top 100 films", the results of the list were based on estimates of each film's British cinema admission level.<ref name=bfi/>
[[Christian]]s are those who believe in and follow what they believe to be the teachings of Jesus, almost always [[religion|religiously]]. However, [[Christianity]] typically has a more specific and involved meaning, as most Christians hold a number of beliefs regarding Jesus and his life that are largely rejected by non-Christians. Generally speaking, Most Christians believe that Jesus is part of a [[Trinity]] of three aspects of [[God]], is the [[Son of God]] and the [[Messiah]], came to earth to [[salvation|save]] mankind from [[sin]] and [[death]] through the [[crucifixion]], and then [[resurrection|rose from the dead]] three days later and ascended to [[Heaven]].
 
===Box office performance===
The vast majority of Christian denominations (generally including [[Catholicism]], [[Orthodox Christianity]], and most forms of [[Protestantism]], but not [[Restorationism]]) derive their creeds from the agreement reached at the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in [[325]], known as the [[Nicene Creed]], in the form of the [[Creed of Constantinople]] ([[381]]), though the dominant themes of the Nicene Creed were communicated and widely accepted among the people of the early Christian church. In addition to the belief in "one God, the Father, Almighty, maker ''of heaven and earth''..." and in "the Holy Spirit, ''the Lord and life-giver, Who proceeds from the Father''...", this Creed confesses the belief in:
The film had its world premiere at the [[Odeon]], Leicester Square on [[April 27]] [[1999]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/329426.stm|title=Notting Hill premieres in Leicester Square|accessdate=2007-05-23|date=[[1999-04-27]]|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> The premiere received media attention in the British tabloid press, as Julia Roberts attended sporting unshaven arm pits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/series/field/stories/mclaren02.html|title=Letter from Notting Hill|accessdate=2007-05-23|date=[[2002-12-20]]|author=Leah McLaren|publisher=Globe and Mail}}</ref> ''Notting Hill'' charted well at the box office, earning $116,089,678 as its overall domestic gross, with a worldwide gross of $363,889,678, losing out to ''[[Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace]]''.<ref name=boxoffice>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=nottinghill.htm|title=NOTTING HILL|accessdate=2007-05-20|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> It totaled $27.7 million over its opening weekend, breaking American box office records,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/358820.stm|title=Notting Hill has The Force|accessdate=2007-05-23|date=[[1999-06-02]]|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> and making it the biggest ever opening for a romantic comedy film at that point, beating previous record holder ''[[My Best Friend's Wedding]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1046&p=.htm|title=Weekend Box Office|accessdate=2007-05-20|date=[[1999-06-02]]|author=Brandon Gray|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> ''Notting Hill'' made another $15 million the following week,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1048&p=.htm|title=Weekend Box Office|accessdate=2007-05-20|date=[[1999-06-07]]|author=Brandon Gray|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> but then began to lose out.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1053&p=.htm|title=Weekend Box Office|accessdate=2007-05-20|date=[[1999-06-21]]|author=Brandon Gray|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> One month after its release, ''Notting Hill'' lost its record for highest grossing opening weekend for a romantic comedy film to ''[[Runaway Bride (1999 film)|Runaway Bride]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1065&p=.htm|title=Weekend Box Office|accessdate=2007-05-20|date=[[1999-08-03]]|author=Brandon Gray|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> It was the sixteenth highest grossing film of 1999,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1999&p=.htm|title=1999 DOMESTIC GROSSES|accessdate=2007-05-20|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> and as of May 2007 is the 104th highest grossing film of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/?pagenum=2&p=.htm|title=WORLDWIDE GROSSES|accessdate=2007-05-20|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}</ref> At the time, it had become the highest grossing British film of all time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/431153.stm|title=Notting Hill breaks film record|accessdate=2007-05-23|date=[[1999-08-26]]|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
 
===Awards===
:"one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten [[Son of God]], begotten from the Father ''before all ages'', light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father, through Whom all things came into existence, Who because of us men and because of our salvation came down ''from the heavens'', and was incarnate ''from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary'' and became man, and was crucified ''for us under Pontius Pilate'', and suffered and ''was buried'', and rose again on the third day ''[[Bible prophecy|according to the Scriptures]]'' and ascended to heaven, and ''sits on the right hand of the Father'', and will come again ''with glory'' to judge living and dead, ''of Whose kingdom there will be no end''." (from J. Stevenson, ''Creeds, Councils and Controversies'' (London 1989); note that the above quotation follows Stevenson in italicizing those phrases that do not occur in the Creed of Nicaea). <!--Then where did they occur? I thought that this was a quotation of the Creed? How baffling and needlessly space-consuming this is...-->
''Notting Hill'' won the Audience Award for Most Popular Film at the [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts|BAFTA]]s in 2000,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0855372.html|title=2000 British Academy of Film and Television Awards|accessdate=2007-05-22|publisher=infoplease.com}}</ref> and was nominated in the categories of The Alexander Korda Award for Outstanding British Film of the year, and Best Performance by an Actor in a supporting role for Rhys Ifans.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/662167.stm|title=Bafta nominations in full|accessdate=2007-05-22|date=2000-03-01|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> The film also won Best Comedy Film at the [[British Comedy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/pastwinners99.html|title=The Past Winners 1999|accessdate=2007-05-22|publisher=British Comedy Awards}}</ref> The film's soundtrack won Best Soundtrack at the [[Brit Awards]], beating ''[[Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/entertainment/2000/brit_awards/625884.stm|title=Brits 2000: The winners|accessdate=2007-05-22|date=[[2000-03-03]]|pblisher=BBC News}}</ref> The film won Best British Film, Best British Director for Roger Michell, and Best British Actor for Hugh Grant at the [[Empire Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/news/library/soft/blwh-022000.htm|title=What are they doing?|date=2000-02-20|accessdate=2007-05-21|publisher=British Theatre Guide}}</ref>
The film received three nominations at the [[Golden Globes]], in the categories Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical, Best Motion Picture Actor - Comedy/Musical for [[Hugh Grant]], and Best Motion Picture Actress - Comedy/Musical for [[Julia Roberts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegoldenglobes.com/welcome.html?movie/notting_hill.html|title=Notting Hill|publisher=TheGoldenGlobes.com|accessdate=2007-05-22}}</ref>
 
==References==
[[Image:Rouault head of christ.jpg|thumb|205px|left|''Head of Christ'', by [[Expressionism|Expressionist]] painter [[Georges Rouault]].]]
{{Reflist|2}}
 
Protestant Christians generally believe that [[faith]] in Jesus is the only way to receive [[salvation]] and to enter into [[heaven]], and that salvation is a gift given by the [[grace]] of God. Although most members of the various Christian denominations believe that faith in Jesus is necessary (based upon [[Gospel of John|John]] 3:16), good works are also expected by most. <!--by whom? & does God need evidence of "what is in our hearts"?--> The [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] position is the one stated in John 13:15, where Jesus says that his life was given as an example or role model for his followers. <!--Roman Catholics believe that good works are even necessary for salvation, and that also those without faith can be saved by leading a just life.[http://www.beliefnet.com/story/57/story_5704.html]-->In contrast, Roman Catholics believe that even non-Christians can receive the grace needed for salvation if they live a just life. {{ref|Catechism}} {{ref|JointDeclaration}}
 
As reflected in the many different Christian denominations, Christianity has undergone several [[schism]]s in its beliefs regarding Jesus. However, there are several beliefs which are common to most believers in the divinity of Jesus. The vast majority of Christians believe that Jesus is [[God]], is the only begotten [[Son of God]], and is the second member of the [[Trinity|Divine Trinity]]. He is said to have been made [[incarnation|incarnate]] by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary; that is to say, he took on a human body and became a man as well as a god.
 
There are many differing views within Christian groups as to whether or not Jesus ever claimed divinity. The majority of Christian laypeople, theologians and clergy hold that the Bible shows Jesus both as divine, and claiming divinity. Others, however, believe that Jesus never claimed divinity, and stated plainly that he was not equal with God.
 
This dispute is also sometimes reflected in the rejection of the common Christian doctrine of the [[Trinity]]. [[Unitarianism]] is Christian belief in only one God, not in the differing aspects of God represented by the Trinity&mdash;[[Unitarian Universalism]], while no longer stricly unitarian, nor even necessarily Christian, derives partly from this belief. Less common is [[Binitarianism]], belief in the divinity of both the Father and the Son, but not in the Holy Spirit.
 
[[Image:Ushakov Nerukotvorniy.jpg|thumb|220px|''Saviour Not Made by Hands'' is the most popular iconography of Christ in the [[Eastern Orthodoxy]]. This version was made by [[Simon Ushakov]] in [[1658]].]]
Some groups, such as the [[Christadelphians]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] and [[Christian Science|Christian Scientists]], interpret the Bible as teaching that Jesus is the Son of God, but not necessarily God himself. These Christians believe that Jesus was divinely inspired, but not God incarnate. Others, such as [[Mormon]]s (members of the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]), believe in a [[Godhead (Mormonism)|Trinity]], but maintain that God the Father begat Jesus as God the Son, and that Jesus created the Earth under the direction of God the Father. Mormons also have additional, relatively recent sacred texts&mdash;the [[Book of Mormon]], [[Doctrine and Covenants]] and [[Pearl of Great Price]]&mdash;that testify that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. [[Swedenborgianism|Swedenborgians]] (members of the [[New Church]]) believe that Jesus is God incarnate, but not a separate person from the Father; the Father is in the Son like the [[soul]] in the body.
 
The [[Docetism|Docetics]], an early Christian sect, believed (as Muslims do today) that Jesus never died, and that the Crucifixion was a type of illusion done by God. Another early sect, the [[Marcionism|Marcionites]], believed Paul and Jesus rejected the [[Law of Moses]] and revealed in Jesus Christ a Supreme God, greater than the creator god of the [[Old Testament]]. Another, the [[Ebionites]], believed in Jesus as a great prophet who had commanded the end of animal sacrifices and the end of the eating of animal flesh. Other than that, they were observant Jews and did not believe in Jesus as God. They followed Jacob ("James" in the English New Testament), the brother of Jesus, and insisted that Paul's teachings were without authority and totally alien to what Jesus taught. Still another, the [[Arianism|Arians]], believed that the Father was the only true God, based on John 17:3. On the other hand, some semi-Arians believed that the Father and the Son are two beings, both called God. They do not believe that the Holy Spirit is God (as it is not, in their view, a distinct person, but rather an impersonal force emanating from God)&mdash;modern groups that hold this semi-Arian view sometimes refer to themselves as [[Binitarianism|Binitarian]].
 
===Islam===
{{main|Isa}}
 
In [[Islam]], Jesus is known as ''[[Isa]]'' and is one of God's highest-ranked and most-beloved [[prophets of Islam|prophets]], specifically sent to guide the [[Children of Israel]]. He is said to have lived a life of strict [[nonviolence]], renounced all worldly possessions, and abstained from eating animal flesh and drinking [[alcohol]].
 
Unlike Christian writings, the [[Qur'an]] does not describe Jesus as the son of God, but only as one of the many human prophets sent by God throughout history to guide mankind. It also states that Jesus' message to mankind was originally very similar to that of the other Islamic prophets, from [[Adam]] to [[Muhammad]], but that it was subsequently distorted by early Christians.
 
Muslims believe that Jesus received a Gospel from God, called the ''Injeel'' and corresponding to the Christian New Testament. However, Muslims hold that the New Testament Christians have today has been changed and does not accurately represent the original. Some Muslims accept the [[Gospel of Barnabas]] as the most accurate testament of Jesus. The authenticity and date of this text is disputed in Islamic, Christian and secular academic circles.
 
However, the Qur'an and New Testament overlap in other aspects of Jesus' life; both Christians and most Muslims believe that Jesus was miraculously born without a human biological father by the will of God, and that his mother, Mary (''[[Maryam]]'' in Arabic), is among the most saintly, pious, chaste and virtuous women ever. The Qur'an also specifies that Jesus was able to perform [[miracle]]s&mdash;though only by the will of God&mdash;including being able to raise the dead, restore sight to the blind and cure lepers. One miracle attributed to Jesus in the Qur'an, but not in the New Testament, is his being able to speak at only a few days old, to defend his mother from accusations of [[adultery]]. The Qur'an also says that Jesus was a 'word' from God, since he was predicted to come in the [[Old Testament]].
 
Most Muslims believe that he was neither killed nor crucified, but that God made it appear so to his enemies. The Qur'an narrates that God made it appear so that Jesus was crucified to his enemies but he was not, and lived. According to Islam, Jesus ascended bodily to heaven and is alive. Some Muslim scholars (notably [[Ahmad Deedat]]) maintain that Jesus was indeed put up on the cross, but did not die on it&mdash;rather, he revived and then ascended bodily to heaven. Others say that it was actually [[Judas Iscariot]] who was mistakenly crucified by the Romans. Regardless, Muslims believe that Jesus is alive in [[heaven]] and will return to the world in the flesh with [[Imam Mahdi]] to defeat the [[Dajjal]] ("Deceiver"; the [[Antichrist]] in Islamic belief) once the world has become filled with injustice, and then live out the rest of his natural life.
 
====Ahmadiyya Movement====
{{main|Ahmadi}}
 
[[Mirza Ghulam Ahmad]] (1835&ndash;1908), the founder of the [[Ahmadi|Ahmadiyya]] Movement, wrote in his book [http://www.alislam.org/books/jesus-in-india/index.html Jesus in India] (April 1896) that Jesus survived the crucifixion and later travelled to [[India]], where he lived as a prophet (and died) under the name of [[Yuz Asaf]]. Ahmad argued that when Jesus was taken down from the cross, he had lapsed into a state similar to Jonah's state of "swoon" in the belly of a fish [Matthew 12:40] (see ''[[swoon hypothesis]]''). A medicine known as ''Marham-e-Issa'' (Ointment of Jesus) was applied to his wounds and he revived. Drawing from Biblical, Quranic and Buddhist scriptures, Ahmad wrote that Jesus appeared to Mary, his apostles and others with the same (not resurrected) human body, evidenced by his human wounds and his subsequent clandestine rendezvous over about forty days in the Jerusalem surroundings. The book uses historical documents to suggest Jesus' travel to Nasibain (Nisbis), Afghanistan and then to [[Kashmir]], India in search of some of the [http://www.moshiach.com/features/tribes/default.php lost tribes of Israel], who had settled in the east some 700 years prior.
 
[[Ahmadiyya]] Muslims also believe that references to the [[Second Coming]] of Jesus in religious scriptures are [[allegorical]] and refer to the arrival of [[Mirza Ghulam Ahmad]].
 
===Judaism===
{{main|Jewish view of Jesus}}
 
[[Judaism]] rejects both the [[Christian]] belief that Jesus was the [[Messiah]] and the [[Muslim]] belief that he was a [[prophet]]. Most Jews are still awaiting the coming of the Messiah; a notable exception concerns many members of the [[Chabad Lubavitch]] sect, who view their last [[Rebbe]] as being the Messiah.
 
As for the historical personality of Jesus, Judaism has fewer objections to quotations attributed to him than they do with subsequent [[confession#Confession_of_faith|confessions]] by early Christian adherents, [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]] in particular. Some scholars believe that Jesus is mentioned as [[Yeshu]] in the Jewish [[Talmud]], although others dispute this. [[Joseph Klausner]], a prominent Israeli scholar, was vigorous in asserting the Jewish beliefs of Jesus.
 
The primary reasons why Jesus is not accepted as the Jewish Messiah are as follows: <!--Why do they need reasons? Reasons for why they don't believe that Jesus is a prophet or a time traveler or a space alien aren't listed, and various people have thought all those things about him. Is believing that Jesus is Messiah the "default" state, and all deviation from this belief by nature noteworthy?-->
 
*The many Biblical prophecies regarding the Messiah, such as his bringing the Jews back to the [[Land of Israel]], causing peace on earth, bringing back the dead, having all people know god, and ruling from his throne in Jerusalem, have not been fulfilled.
*According to the [[New Testament]], Jesus' father is God, but according to the [[Hebrew Bible]], the Messiah must descend patrilineally from King [[David]].
*According to the New Testament, Jesus was killed. In Laws of Kings 11:4, [[Maimonides]] rules concerning one who is killed that "it is certain that he is not the one whom the [[Torah]] has promised."
 
===Hinduism===
Most [[Hindu]]s believe that Jesus existed, and that he was an [[avatar]] of god on earth, of the same sort as [[Krishna]], [[Rama]], [[Buddha]] and many others. [[Hinduism]] as a whole is an open religion, and does not identify itself as the only true religion. Some Hindus believe that Jesus spent the so-called "lost years" between his birth and his baptism (which are not described in the canonical Gospels) in India living with the gurus and saints and learning from them. They claim that this was not mentioned in the Bible because Christians did not want to give the teachings of Hinduism credit, and instead labeled these years as Jesus' lost years.
 
The [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness|Hare Krishna]] sect of Hinduism believes that Jesus is the son of [[Krishna]]&mdash;who they believe is God the Father that Jesus spoke of&mdash;and they accept many of his teachings. On the other hand, many Hindus do not believe he was actually god on Earth, instead believing that he was a [[guru]] or a [[yogi]].
 
===Other perspectives===
The [[Bahá'í Faith]] considers Jesus to be a manifestation and prophet of God, while not being God incarnate. Some [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] believe that Jesus may have been a [[Bodhisattva]], one who gives up his own [[Nirvana]] to help others reach theirs. Many in the [[Surat Shabd Yoga]] tradition regard Jesus as a [[Satguru]]. Some Buddhists also interpret of Jesus through [[Zen Buddhism]], sometimes basing their perspective on the [[Gospel of Thomas]].
 
Some religions consider Jesus to be a false prophet. [[Mandaeanism]] regards Jesus as a deceiving prophet of the false Jewish god [[Adunay]], and an opponent of the good prophet [[John the Baptist]]&mdash;whom they nonetheless believe to have baptized him.
 
The [[New Age]] movement has reinterpreted the life and teachings of Jesus in a large variety of ways (e.g., see [[A Course in Miracles]]). He has been claimed to be an [[Ascended Master]] by the [[Theosophical Society]] and some of its offshoots; related speculations have him studying [[mysticism]] in the [[Himalaya]] or [[hermeticism]] in [[Egypt]] in the period between his childhood and his public career.
 
==Birth, death, and resurrection chronology==
{{main|Chronology of Jesus' birth and death}}
<div class="floatright" style="border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; background-color: #fafafa; margin-left: 1em; padding: 1em">
<div style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 2px solid #d8d8d8">
'''Brief timeline of Jesus'''<br/>
of important years from <br/>empirical sources.
</div>
{| border="0" cellpadding="3" style="background-color: inherit"
|-
|c. [[6 BC|6 BC/BCE]]
|Suggested birth. <br/>(Earliest)
|-
|c. [[4 BC|4 BC/BCE]]
|Herod's death.
|-
|c. [[6|6 AD/CE]]
|Quirinius census. <br/> Suggested birth.<br/>(Latest)
|-
|c. [[26]]/[[27]]
|Pilate appointed Judea <br/>governor.
|-
|c. [[27]]
|Suggested death <br/>(Earliest)
|-
|c. [[27]]
|Suggested resurrection <br/>(Earliest)
|-
|c. [[36]]
|Suggested death. <br/>(Latest)
|-
|c. [[36]]
|Suggested resurrection.<br/>(Latest)
|-
|c. [[36]]/[[37]]
|Pilate removed from <br/>office.
|}
</div>
 
In Christianity, the most detailed information about Jesus' birth is contained in the [[Gospel of Matthew]] and the [[Gospel of Luke]]. There is considerable debate about the details of Jesus' birth even among Christian scholars. Few, if any, scholars claim to know either the year or the date of his birth or of his death.
 
Based on the accounts in the Gospels of the shepherds' activities, the time of year depicted for Jesus' birth could be spring or summer. However, as early as [[354]], Roman Christians celebrated it following the [[December]] [[solstice]] in an attempt to replace the Roman pagan festival of [[Saturnalia]]. Before then, Jesus' birth was generally celebrated on [[January 6]] as part of the feast of [[Theophany]], also known as [[Epiphany (feast)|Epiphany]], which commemorated not only Jesus' birth but also his [[baptism]] by [[John the Baptist|John]] in the [[Jordan Valley|Jordan]] and possibly additional events in Jesus' life.
 
In the 248th year of the [[Diocletian]] [[Calendar era|Era]] (based on Diocletian's ascension to the Roman throne), [[Dionysius Exiguus]] attempted to pinpoint the number of years since Jesus' birth, arriving at a figure of 753 years after the founding of [[Rome]]. Dionysius then set Jesus' birth as being [[December 25]] [[1 BC|1 ACN]] (for "Ante Christum Natum", or "before the birth of Christ"), and assigned AD [[1]] to the following year&mdash;thereby establishing the system of numbering years from the birth of Jesus: ''[[Anno Domini]]'' (which translates as "in the year of the [[Lord]]"). This system made the then current year [[532]], and almost two centuries later it won acceptance and became the established calendar in Western civilization due to its championing by the [[Bede|Venerable Bede]].
 
However, based on a [[lunar eclipse]] that Josephus reports shortly before the death of [[Herod the Great]], the birth of Christ would have been some time before the year [[4 BC| 4 BC/BCE]]. This estimate itself relies on the historicity of the [[Massacre of the Innocents|story]] in the Gospel of Matthew involving Herod around the time of Jesus' birth. Having fewer sources and being even further removed in time from the authors of the New Testament, details surrounding Jesus' birth are regarded, even by many believers, as less likely to be historical fact, and therefore establishing a reliable birth date is particularly difficult.
 
As for Jesus' death, the exact date is also unclear. The Gospel of John depicts the crucifixion just '''before''' the Passover festival on Friday 14 [[Nisan]], called the [[Quartodecimanism|Quartodeciman]], whereas the [[synoptic gospels]] describe the [[Last Supper]], immediately before Jesus' arrest, as the [[Passover]] meal on Friday 15 Nisan. Further, the Jews followed a [[lunisolar calendar]] with phases of the moon as dates, complicating calculations of any exact date in a solar calendar. According to John P. Meier's ''A Marginal Jew'', allowing for the time of the [[procurator]]ship of [[Pontius Pilate]] and the dates of the [[Passover]] in those years, his death can be placed most probably on [[April 7]], [[30]] or [[April 3]], [[33]] or [[March 30]], [[36]].
 
[[Hyam Maccoby]] and other scholars have pointed out that several details of the Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem&mdash;the waving of palm fronds, the [[Hosanna]] cry, the proclamation of a king&mdash;are connected with the Festival of [[Sukkot]] or [[Tabernacles]], ''not'' with Passover. It is possible that the Entry (and subsequent events, including the Crucifixion and Resurrection) in historical reality took place at this time&mdash;the month of [[Tishri]] in the autumn, not Nisan in the spring. There could have been confusion due to a misunderstanding, or a deliberate change due to doctrinal points.
 
== Life and teachings ==
[[Image:Birth.jpg|thumb|205px|left|This stained glass window shows Jesus' birth in Bethlehem.]]
{{main2|New Testament view on Jesus' life|Historical Jesus}}
 
According to the texts of Christianity, Jesus was born in [[Bethlehem]] to [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Mary]], a [[virgin]], via the [[Holy Spirit]]. [[Saint Joseph|Joseph]], Mary's betrothed husband, appears only in stories of Jesus' childhood; this is generally taken to mean that he was dead by the time of Jesus' ministry. In the Gospels, Jesus' birth is attended by visits from shepherds who were told of the birth by angels. [[Magi]] ("Wise Men") from the East were guided by a star to his ___location some months later.
 
Mark 6:3 (and analogous passages in Matthew and Luke) reports that Jesus was "''[[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Mary]]'s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon,''" and also states that Jesus had sisters. The 1st-century Jewish historian [[Josephus]] and the Christian historian [[Eusebius of Caesarea|Eusebius]] (who wrote in the [[4th century]] but quoted much earlier sources now unavailable to us) refer to [[James the Just]] as Jesus' brother (See [[Desposyni]]). However, [[Jerome]] argued that they were Jesus' cousins, which the Greek word for "brother" used in the Gospels would allow. This was based on the [[Roman Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodox]] tradition that Mary remained a perpetual virgin, thus having no biological children before or after Jesus. Luke's Gospel records that Mary was a relative of Elizabeth, mother of [[John the Baptist]] (Luke 1:36). The Bible, however, does not exactly reveal how Mary and Elizabeth were related.
 
[[Image:Jesus and the doctors of the Faith dsc01783.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Depiction of Jesus at age twelve from ''Jesus and the doctors of the Faith'', a painting by the entourage of [[Giuseppe Ribera]].]]
 
[[Nazareth]] in [[Galilee]] is represented as his childhood home. Only one incident between his infancy and his adult life is mentioned in the canonical Gospels (although [[New Testament apocrypha]] go into these details, some quite extensively). At the age of twelve, Jesus was left behind by his parents after a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. On being missed, he was found "instructing the scholars in the temple".
 
Just after he was [[baptized]] by [[John the Baptist]] he began his public teaching; he is generally considered to have been about thirty years old at that time. Jesus used a variety of methods in his teaching, such as [[paradox]], [[metaphor]] and [[parable]]. His teaching frequently centered on the ''Kingdom of God'', or ''Kingdom of Heaven''. Some of his most famous teachings are in the [[Sermon on the Mount]], which also contains the [[Beatitudes]]. His [[parable]]s (or stories with a hidden meaning) include the parable of the [[Good Samaritan]], and the [[Prodigal Son]]. Jesus had a number of [[disciples]]. His closest followers were twelve [[apostle]]s, headed by [[Saint Peter|Peter]]. According to the New Testament, Jesus also performed various [[Miracles of Jesus|miracles]] in the course of his ministry, including healings, [[exorcism]]s, and raising [[Lazarus]] from the dead.
 
Jesus frequently put himself in opposition to the Jewish religious leaders including the opposing forces of [[Sadducee]]s and [[Pharisees]]. His teaching castigated the Pharisees primarily for their [[legalism]] and hypocrisy, although he also had followers among the religious leaders (see [[Nicodemus]]). In his role as a social reformer, and with his followers holding the inflammatory view that he was the [[Jewish Messiah]], Jesus threatened the [[status quo]].
 
Jesus preachings included the forgiveness of sin, life after death, and resurrection of the body. Jesus also preached the imminent end of the current era (&#945;&#943;&#974;&#957;) of history, or even the literal end of the world; in this sense he was an [[apocalyptic]] preacher. Some interpretations of the text, particularly amongst [[Protestant]]s, suggest that Jesus opposed stringent interpretations of [[Halakha|Jewish law]], supporting the spirit more than the letter.
 
It is commonly thought that Jesus preached for a period of three years, but this is never mentioned explicitly in any of the Gospels. However, many interpretations of the [[Synoptic Gospels]] suggest a span of only one year, and to achieve consistency with the [[Gospel of John]], one theory suggests that the last Gospel describes a timeline which depicts a ministry time period of approximately one year.
 
[[Image:Michelangelo.pieta.650pix.jpg|thumb|right|205px|[[Michelangelo]]'s ''[[Michelangelo's Pietà|Pietà]]'' shows Mary holding the dead body of Jesus.]]
 
===Arrest and trial===
Jesus came with his followers to Jerusalem during the [[Passover]] festival, and created a disturbance at the [[Temple in Jerusalem|Temple]] by overturning the tables of the moneychangers there. He was subsequently arrested on the orders of the [[Sanhedrin]] and the High Priest, [[Caiaphas|Joseph Caiaphas]]. He was identified to the guards by one of his apostles, [[Judas Iscariot]], who is portrayed as having betrayed Jesus by a kiss.
 
He was condemned for [[blasphemy]] by the Sanhedrin and turned over to the [[Roman Empire|Romans]] for execution&mdash;not for blasphemy, but for [[sedition]] against the Empire. According to the canonical gospel accounts (Matt 27:24&ndash;26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:24&ndash;25, 24:20; John 19:16a), [[Pontius Pilate]], bowing to the Jewish religious leaders' pressure, handed Jesus over (''paredōken'') (to his Roman soldiers) to be crucified. Some scholars argue that it was an ordinary Roman trial of a rebel, whose Messianic claims made him especially dangerous, but the Gospels consistently paint the sedition charge as a strained treatment of Jesus' theological position, a tactic used by the Jewish religious leadership as a method to force Pilate's hand (see [[Barabbas]]). One modern suggestion is that Jesus did advocate resistance to the Roman Empire, but strictly through nonviolent means. All four Gospel accounts mention that the charge noted on the tablet called the ''titulus crucis'', attached by orders of Pilate atop the cross, included the term "King of the Jews", though Pilate is represented as having found nothing inherently seditious in Jesus' kingdom conception. In art the titulus crucis is often written as [[INRI]], the [[Latin]] acronym for "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."
 
Following the crucifixion, [[Joseph of Arimathea]] obtained Pilate's permission to take down Jesus' body and lay it into his own new tomb. This was observed by Mary and other women, notably [[Mary Magdalene]].
 
===Resurrection and Ascension===
{{main|Resurrection of Jesus}}
[[Image:ac.christ.jpg|thumb|205px|Another Byzantine representation of Jesus]]
 
In accordance with the four canonical Gospel accounts [[Christianity|Christian]]s believe that Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day after his [[crucifixion]]. This article of faith is referred to in Christian terminology as the [[Resurrection of Jesus|Resurrection of Jesus Christ]]; and each year at [[Easter]] (on a [[Sunday]]) it is commemorated and celebrated by most groups who consider themselves Christians.
 
No one was a witness to the event of the alleged [[Resurrection of Jesus|resurrection]]. However, the women who had witnessed the entombment and the closure of the tomb with a great stone, found it empty when they arrived on the third day to [[anoint]] the body. The Synoptic Gospel accounts further state that an angel was waiting at the tomb to explain to them that Jesus had been resurrected, though the Gospel according to John makes no mention of this encounter. The sight of the same angel had apparently left the guards unconscious (cf. Matt 28:2&ndash;4) that according to Matthew 27:62&ndash;66 the high priests and Pharisees, with Pilate's permission, had posted in front of the tomb to prevent the body from being stolen by Jesus' disciples. Mark 16:9 says that Mary Magdalene was the first to whom Jesus appeared very early that morning. John 20:11&ndash;18 states that when Mary looked into the tomb, two angels asked her why she was crying; and as she turned round she initially failed to recognize Jesus&mdash;even by his voice&mdash;until he called her by her name. The Gospel accounts and the [[Acts of the Apostles]] tell of several appearances of Jesus to various people in various places over a period of forty days before he "ascended into heaven". Just hours after his resurrection he appeared to two travelers on the road to [[Emmaus]]. To his assembled disciples he showed himself on the evening after his resurrection, when [[Thomas (Apostle)|Thomas]] was however absent, though he was present when Jesus repeated his visit to them a week later. Thereafter he went to [[Galilee]] and showed himself to several of his disciples by the lake and on the mountain; and they were present when he returned to [[Bethany]] and was lifted up and a cloud concealed him from their sight.
 
The resurrection of Jesus is almost universally denied by those who do not follow the Christian religion. Most Christians&mdash;even those who do not hold to the literal truth of everything in the canonical Gospel accounts&mdash;accept the [[New Testament]] presentation of the Resurrection as a [[historical]] account of an actual event central to their [[faith]]. Therefore, belief in the resurrection is one of the most distinctive elements of Christian faith; and defending the [[Resurrection of Jesus#The historicity of the resurrection|historicity of the resurrection]] is usually a central issue of [[Christian apologetics]]. However, some [[liberal Christian]]s do not accept that Jesus was raised bodily from the dead, or that he still lives bodily (e.g., [[Bishop Spong|John Shelby Spong]]).
 
=== Preparation of apostles ===
According to most Christian interpretations of the [[Bible]], the theme of Jesus' preaching was that of [[apocalyptic]] [[repentance]]. During his public ministry Jesus extensively trained twelve [[Apostle]]s to continue after his departure his leadership of the many who had begun to follow him mainly in the towns and villages throughout [[Galilee]], [[Samaria]], and the [[Decapolis]]. Most Christians who hold that Jesus' miracles were literally true, not allegory, think that the Apostles gained the power to perform healing for both [[Jews]] and [[Gentiles]] alike after they had been empowered by the [[Holy Spirit]] of Truth (''to pneuma tēs alētheias'', John 14:17, 26; Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8, 2:4) that he had promised the Father would send them after his departure&mdash;a promise that according to Acts 2:4 was fulfilled at [[Pentecost]], poignantly the Jewish feast that, in addition to other Scriptural events, commemorates also the giving of the [[Torah|Law]] to [[Moses]]. {{ref|JewishEncyclopedia}}
 
== Names and titles==
''Main article:'' [[Names and titles of Jesus]]
 
''Jesus'' is derived from the [[History of the Greek language|Koine Greek]] ''&Iota;&eta;&sigma;&omicron;&upsilon;&sigmaf;'' (''I&#x0113;so&#x00fb;s'') via [[Latin]]. The earliest uses of ''I&#x0113;so&#x00fb;s'' are found in the writings of [[Philo of Alexandria]], [[Josephus]], and the [[Septuagint]], as a [[transliterate|transliteration]] of the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] name ''Yehoshua'' (&#1497;&#1492;&#1493;&#1513;&#1506;&mdash;known in English as [[Joshua]] when transliterated directly from [[Hebrew alphabet|Hebrew]]), and also ''[[Yeshua]]'' (&#1497;&#1513;&#1493;&#1506;). Jesus' original name is not reported by contemporary or near-contemporary sources, but modern scholars have suggested that Jesus' name was the [[Aramaic]] &#1497;&#64298;&#1493;&#1506; / ''Y&#275;&scaron;ûa&#703;'' (as in the [[Syriac]] New Testament) a shortened form of Yehoshua used in [[Book of Ezra|Ezra]], [[Book of Nehemiah|Nehemiah]] and [[Book of Chronicles|Chronicles]]), which was a fairly common name at the time. Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, mentions no fewer than nineteen different people with this name, about half of them contemporaries of Jesus of Nazareth. Other Aramaic forms of the name include '''Yeshu`''', '''Ishu`''', and '''Eshu`'''. His [[patronymic]] would have been, ''bar Yosef'', for "son of Joseph".
 
Some scholars speculate that Jesus was also known as "Bar Abba" ("Son of the Father") because many times in the Gospels he addressed God as "Father". The Aramaic word for "father" (''[[Aramaic_of_Jesus#Abba|Abba]]'') survives still untranslated in Mark 14:36. Such speculations are largely in connection with further theories concerning [[Barabbas]].
 
The [[Arabic language|Arabic]] form of the name used by Christians, following [[Syriac language|Syriac]], is '''Yasu`'''. Muslims, following [[Qur'an]]ic usage, refer to him by the name '''`[[Isa]]''' (possibly cognate with the Hebrew name [[Esau]]).
 
''[[Christ]]'' is not a name but a title, which comes from the [[Ancient Greek language|Greek]] ''&Chi;&rho;&iota;&sigma;&tau;&#972;&sigmaf;'' (''Christos'') via [[Latin]], meaning ''[[Anointing|anointed]] with [[Chrismation|chrism]]''. The Greek form is a liberal translation of ''Messiah'' from Hebrew ''mashiach'' (&#1502;&#1513;&#1497;&#1495;) or Aramaic ''m'shikha'' (&#1502;&#1513;&#1497;&#1495;&#1488;), a word which occurs often in the [[Hebrew Bible]] and typically refers to the "high priest" or "[[Monarch|king]]". The word ''mashiach'' in Hebrew means anointed (a cognate in English is "massage," from the Arabic for "vigorous rubbing with aromatic oils") , because the [[Israelite]] kings were anointed with oil. The title does not imply, either in Greek or in Hebrew, a divine nature for the possessor of it. In fact, it would seem ''[[prima facie]]'' that an inherently divine being would not be in need of being anointed. The title ''Christ'' is also sometimes identified with the Greek ''chrestos'', meaning "good", although the words are unrelated in terms of [[etymology]], and ''Chrestus'' was often used as a pet name for slaves.
 
The Gospels record Jesus referring to himself both as ''[[Son of Man]]'' and as ''[[Son of God]]'', but not as ''God the Son''. However, some scholars have argued that ''Son of Man'' was an expression that functioned as an indirect first person pronoun, and that ''Son of God'' was an expression that signified "a righteous person". Evidence for these positions is provided by similar use by persons other than Jesus at a similar time to the writing of the Gospels, such as Jewish priests and judges.
 
In the Gospels, Jesus has many other titles, including [[Prophet]] (a title that he applied to himself, unlike others), [[Lord]], [[INRI|King of the Jews]], and [[Aramaic_of_Jesus#Rabboni|Rabboni]]. Together, the majority of Christians understand these titles as attesting to Jesus' divinity. Some historians argue that when used in other Hebrew and Aramaic texts of the time, these titles have other meanings, and therefore may have other meanings when used in the Gospels as well.
 
The title Jesus ''the Nazarene'' may be a reference to a place of origin called Nazareth, or to a Jewish sect called the [[Nazarene|Nazarenes]]. It is often translated ''Jesus of Nazareth'' to support the former hypothesis.
 
[[Raymond E. Brown]] in ''Theological Studies'' #26 (1965) pp. 545&ndash;73, ''Does the NT call Jesus God?'' wrote that Mk 10:18, Lk18:19, Mt 19:17, Mk 15:34, Mt 27:46, Jn 20:17, Eph 1:17, 2 Cor 1:3, 1 Pt 1:3, Jn 17:3, 1 Cor 8:6, Eph 4:4&ndash;6, 1 Cor 12:4&ndash;6, 2 Cor 13:14, 1 Tm 2:5, Jn 14:28, Mk 13:32, Ph 2:5&ndash;10, 1 Cor 15:24&ndash;28 are "texts that seem to imply that the title God was not used for Jesus" and are "negative evidence which is often somewhat neglected in Catholic treatments of the subject." Also: "Jesus is never called God in the [[Synoptic Gospels]], and a passage like Mk 10:18 would seem to preclude the possibility that Jesus used the title of himself. Even the fourth Gospel never portrays Jesus as saying specifically that he is God. The sermons which [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] attributes to the beginning of the Christian mission do not speak of Jesus as God. Thus, there is no reason to think that Jesus was called God in the earliest layers of [[New Testament]] tradition. This negative conclusion is substantiated by the fact that [[Paul of Tarsus|Paul]] does not use the title in any epistle written before 58." In his ''An Introduction to New Testament Christology'', Appendix III, p.189, he wrote: "[i]n three reasonably clear instances in the NT [Heb 1:8&ndash;9; Jn 1:1, Jn 20:28] and in five instances that have probability, Jesus is called God. The use of ''God'' for Jesus that is attested in the early 2nd-century [ [[Pliny the Younger]] ''Letter 10.96''] was a continuation of a usage that had begun in NT times. There is no reason to be surprised at this. ''Jesus is Lord'' was evidently a popular confessional formula in NT times, and in this formula Christians gave Jesus the title ''kyrios'' [Greek for Lord] which was the [[Septuagint]] translation for [[YHWH]]. If Jesus could be given this title, why could he not be called ''God'' (theos), which the Septuagint often used to translate [[Elohim]]? The two Hebrew terms had become relatively interchangeable, and indeed YHWH was the more sacred term."
 
==Cultural and historical background==
''Main article:'' [[Cultural and historical background of Jesus]]
[[Image:Judea.jpg|right|thumb|205px||Desert hills in southern Judea, looking east from the town of [[Arad, Israel|Arad]]]]
 
The world in which Jesus lived was volatile, marked by cultural and political dilemmas. Culturally, [[Jew]]s had to grapple with the values and philosophy of [[Hellenism]], and the imperialism of [[Rome]], together with the paradox that their [[Torah]] applied only to them, but revealed universal truths. This situation led to new interpretations of the Torah, influenced by Hellenic thought and in response to Gentile interest in Judaism.
 
All of the [[land of Israel]] belonged to the [[Roman Empire]] at the time of Jesus' birth. It was directly ruled by the [[Idumea|Idumaean]] [[Herod the Great]] who was appointed King of the Jews in [[Rome]] in [[39 BC| 39 BC/BCE]] by [[Mark Antony]] and [[Caesar Augustus]] (earlier known as [[Octavian]]). In [[6|6 AD/CE]] the Roman emperor Augustus deposed Herod's son [[Herod Archelaus]]. He combined [[Judea]], [[Samaria]], and [[Idumea]] into [[Iudaea Province]] which was placed under direct Roman administration and supervision by a Roman [[prefect]] who appointed a Jewish High Priest for [[Herod's Temple]] in Jerusalem. This situation existed, more or less, till [[64]] and the start of the [[Great Jewish Revolt]]. [[Galilee]], where Jesus grew up according to the Gospels, remained under the jurisdiction of another of Herod's sons, [[Herod Antipas]], [[Tetrarch]] of Galilee and [[Perea]], from [[4 BC|4 BC/BCE]] to [[39|39 AD/CE]].
 
At this time Jesus' childhood hometown of Nazareth (Hebrew, ''Natserath'') was, as revealed by archaeology, a tiny hamlet of a few hundred inhabitants. It had no [[synagogue]], nor any public buildings. No gold, silver or imported goods have been found in it by archaeological excavation.
 
According to [[Josephus]], within 1st-century Judaism there were several sects, primarily the [[Sadducees]], closely connected with the priesthood and the Temple, and the [[Pharisees]], who were teachers and leaders of the [[synagogue]]s. They resented Roman occupation, but, according to historian Shaye Cohen (1988), were in Jesus' time relatively apolitical. In addition, isolated in small communities from these main groups, by choice, some even taking to remote desert caves in anticipation of the [[end times]], lived the [[Essenes]], whose theology and philosophy are thought, by some scholars, to have influenced Jesus and/or [[John the Baptist]].
 
Many Jews hoped that the Romans would be replaced by a Jewish king (or [[Messiah]]) of the line of [[King David]]&mdash;in their view the last legitimate Jewish regime. Most people at that time believed that their history was governed by God, meaning that even the conquest of Judea by the Romans was a divine act. Therefore the Romans would be replaced by a Jewish king only through divine intervention. Some, like John the Baptist in the first half of the century, and [[Yehoshua ben Ananias]] in the second half, claimed that a [[Kingdom of God|messianic age]] was at hand. Josephus' [[Jewish Antiquities]] book 18 states there was a "fourth sect", in addition to Sadducees, Pharisees and Essenes, which scholars associate with those he called [[Zealotry|Zealots]]. They were founded by [[Judas of Galilee]] and Zadok the Pharisee in the year 6 against [[Quirinius]]' tax reform and "agree in all other things with the Pharisaic notions; but they have an inviolable attachment to liberty, and say that God is to be their only Ruler and Lord." (18.1.6) They believed that the kingdom should be restored immediately, even through violent human action, and advocated direct action against the Romans. Roman reaction to the Zealots eventually led to the destruction of [[Herod's Temple]] by [[Vespasian]] in August of [[70]] , and the subsequent decline of the Zealots, Sadducees and Essenes.
 
Some scholars have asserted that, despite the depictions of him as antagonistic towards the Pharisees, Jesus was a member of that group. {{ref|EPSaunders}}
See also [[Pharisees#.22Pharisees.22_and_Christianity|Pharisees and Christianity]]
 
Jesus' language was most probably Aramaic; see [[Aramaic of Jesus]]. He may also have spoken other languages of the time, such as the Jewish [[liturgical language]] [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], and the administrative language, [[Greek language|Greek]].
 
==Relics==
{{main|Relics of Jesus}}
 
There are many items that are purported to be authentic [[relic]]s of the Gospel account. The most famous alleged relics of Jesus are the [[Shroud of Turin]], which is claimed to be the burial [[shroud]] used to wrap his body, the [[Sudarium of Oviedo]], which is claimed to be the cloth which was used to cover his face, and the [[Holy Grail]] which is said to have been used to collect his blood during his [[crucifixion]] and possibly used at the [[Last Supper]]. Many modern Christians, however, do not accept any of these as true relics. Indeed, this skepticism has been around for centuries, with [[Erasmus]] joking that so much wood formed parts of the [[True Cross]], that Jesus must have been crucified on a whole forest.
 
==Artistic portrayals==
{{main2|Dramatic portrayals of Jesus|Images of Jesus}}
[[image:Baptism-christ.jpg|thumb|204.5px|''The Baptism of Christ'', by [[Piero della Francesca]], [[1449]]]]
 
Jesus has been portrayed in countless [[painting]]s and [[sculpture]]s throughout the [[Middle Ages]], [[Renaissance]], and modern times. Often he is portrayed as looking like a male from the region of the artist creating the portrait. According to historians, forensic scientists, and genetics experts, he was most likely a bronze-skinned man&mdash;resembling a modern-day man of [[Middle Eastern]] descent.
 
Jesus has been featured in many films and media forms, sometimes seriously, and other times [[satire|satirically]]. The British musical stage play ''[[Jerry Springer - The Opera]]'' is a notable recent example of the latter. Many of these portrayals have attracted controversy, either when they were intended to be based on genuine Biblical accounts (such as [[Mel Gibson]]'s [[2004]] film ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'' and [[Pier Pasolini]]'s ''[[The Gospel According to St. Matthew]]'') or based on alternative interpretations (such as [[Martin Scorsese]]'s ''[[The Last Temptation of Christ]]''). Other portrayals have attracted less controversy, such as the television [[miniseries]] ''[[Jesus of Nazareth (movie)|Jesus of Nazareth]]'' by [[Franco Zeffirelli]]. Another theme is bringing Jesus' story into the present day (such as in ''[[Jesus of Montreal]]'') or imagining his Second Coming (in ''[[The Seventh Sign]]'', for example). In many films Jesus himself is a minor character, used to develop the overall themes or to provide context. For example, in ''[[Ben-Hur (1959 film)|Ben-Hur]]'' and ''[[The Life of Brian]]'' Jesus only appears in a few scenes.
 
In music, many [[List of songs which refer to Jesus|songs refer to Jesus]] and Jesus provides the theme for many classical works throughout [[music history|musical history]].
 
In literature, we find Yeshua, the historical original of Jesus, as a character in the fantasy novel ''[[The Master and Margarita]]'', by the [[20th century]] [[Russia]]n writer [[Mikhail Bulgakov]] and in the [[science fiction]] short novel ''[[Riverworld]]'' by the 20th-century [[United States|American]] writer [[Philip Jose Farmer]]. The portrayal in these two works is so similar that Farmer's narrative can easily be read as a sequel to Bulgakov's.
A [[mystical]] version of Jesus as the [[Eternal Holy Child]] can be read in the story ''[[The Selfish Giant]]'' by [[Oscar Wilde]]. Also the Portuguese [[Nobel Prize]] winner [[José Saramago]] wrote his novel [[The Gospel According to Jesus Christ]] (ISBN 0151367000) based on his atheist view of Jesus and the [[Gospels]].
 
==Interpretations of Jesus by influential leaders==
The following wikilinks provide more information on notable interpretations of Jesus:
*[[Dramatic portrayals of Jesus]]
*[[Marcion]] ca.110&ndash;160 called "most dangerous" heretic
*[[Augustine of Hippo]] 354&ndash;430 [[Catholic]] [[Doctor of the Church]]
*[[Martin Luther]] 1486&ndash;1546 German theologian [[Lutheran]]
*[[John Calvin]] 1509&ndash;64 French theologian [[Calvinism]]
*[[Thomas Jefferson]] 1743&ndash;1826 [[Jefferson Bible]]
*[[Albert Schweitzer]] 1875&ndash;1965 ''Quest for the Historical Jesus''
*[[F.F. Bruce]] 1910&ndash;90 British [[Evangelical]] scholar
*[[Raymond E. Brown]] 1928&ndash;98 [[Union Theological Seminary]] Professor Emeritus, ''Does the New Testament call Jesus God?'', Theological Studies #26, 1965, pp. 545&ndash;73
*[[Hyam Maccoby]] 1924&ndash;2004, British scholar
*[[Geza Vermes]] [[Oxford University]] Professor of Jewish Studies
*[[Jacob Neusner]] scholar of [[Judaism]], author of ''A Rabbi talks with Jesus''
*[[E. P. Sanders]] [[Duke University]] Professor of Religion
*[[James D. G. Dunn]] [[Durham University]] Emeritus Lightfoot Professor of Divinity
*[[John Dominic Crossan]] retired former [[DePaul University]] Professor of Biblical Studies
*[[Marcus Borg]] [[Oregon State University]] Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture
*[[Tom Wright]] [[Anglican]] [[Bishop of Durham]]
*[[Josh McDowell]] proponent of [[Trilemma]] of [[C. S. Lewis]]: Jesus is either "Liar, Lunatic, or Lord"
*[[Left Behind]] popular [[End Times]] books on Apocalyptic Jesus: "It was as if the very words of the Lord had superheated their blood, causing it to burst through their veins and skin."
*''[[The Master and Margarita]]'', by [[Mikhail Bulgakov]].
 
==Notes==
#{{note|BarnettAncientHistory}} [[Paul Barnett]], "Is the New Testament History?", p.1.
#{{note|Catechism}} catechism entry on grace and justification [http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c3a2.htm catechism]. Nostra Aetate, [http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html declaration of Vatican II]
#{{note|JointDeclaration}}Joint declaration [http://www.elca.org/ecumenical/ecumenicaldialogue/romancatholic/jddj/declaration.html ELCA] [http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_31101999_cath-luth-joint-declaration_en.html Vatican]
#{{note|JewishEncyclopedia}} [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=177&letter=P&search=pentecost Jewish Encyclopedia on Pentecost]
#{{note|EPSaunders}}[[E. P. Sanders]] in ''Jesus and Judaism'', pp.264-269, states: "I am one of a growing number of scholars who doubt that there were any substantial points of opposition between Jesus and the Pharisees ... We find no criticism of the law which would allow us to speak of his opposing or rejecting it."
 
==Sources and further reading==
<!--Please keep this for general sources and further readings, and in MLA style. Thanks.-->
*The [[New Testament]] of the [[Bible]], especially the [[Gospels]].
*The Greek New Testament, Aland, United Bible Societies
*A Textual Commentary on the Greek NT, Metzger
*Teach Yourself NT Greek, Hudson, ISBN 0844237892
*The Apostolic Fathers, Lightfoot, Harmer, Holmes
*Akers, Keith, "The Lost Religion of Jesus," ISBN 1930051263
*Albright, William F. ''Yahweh and the Gods of Canaan: An Historical Analysis of Two Contrasting Faiths'', ISBN 0931464013
*Badenas, Robert. ''Christ the End of the Law, Romans 10.4 in Pauline Perspective'', ISBN 0905774930
*Blomberg, Craig L. ''The Historical Reliablility of the Gospels'', ISBN 0877849927
*Brown, Raymond. ''Does the NT call Jesus God?'', Theological Studies #26, 1965
*Browne, Sir Thomas. ''[[Pseudodoxia Epidemica]]'', 6th edition, 1672, V:vi.
*Cohen, Shaye J.D. 1988 ''From the Maccabees to the Mishnah'' ISBN 0-664-25017-3
*Craig, William Lane. ''The Son Rises: The Historical Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus'' ISBN 1579104649
*Craig, William Lane. ''Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?: A Debate Between William Lane Craig and John Dominic Crossan'' ISBN 0801021758
*Crossan, John Dominic. ''Who Killed Jesus?: Exposing the Roots of Anti-Semitism in the Gospel Story of the Death of Jesus''
*[[Guy Davenport|Davenport, Guy]] and [[Benjamin Urrutia|Urrutia, Benjamin]]. ''The Logia of Yeshua: The Sayings of Jesus'', ISBN 1887178708
*Doherty, Earl. ''The Jesus Puzzle. Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ?: Challenging the Existence of an Historical Jesus'', ISBN 0968601405
*Dunn, James D.G. ''Jesus, Paul and the Law'', ISBN 0664250955
*Ehrman, Bart. ''Jesus: apocalyptic prophet of the new millennium'', ISBN 019512474X
*Ehrman, Bart. ''The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to the Early Christian Writings'', ISBN 0195154622
*Fredriksen, Paula. ''Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews: A Jewish Life and the Emergence of Christianity'' ISBN 0679767460
*Fredriksen, Paula. ''From Jesus to Christ: The Origins of the New Testament Images of Christ'' ISBN 0300084579, ISBN 0300040180
*Funk, Robert W. ''The Five Gospels: What Did Jesus Really Say? The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus''
*Gaus, Andy. ''The Unvarnished New Testament'', A new translation from the original Greek free of doctrines and dogmas, ISBN 0933999992
*Lewis, C.S. ''Mere Christianity'' A book on Christianity and logical support for Jesus as God. ISBN 0060652926
*McDowell, Josh. ''Evidence that Demands a Verdict'', Two volumes looking at Jesus from the point of view of evidence. Vol I: ISBN 0918956463 , Vol. II: ISBN 0918956730
*Meier, John P. ''A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus'' ISBN 0385264259
*Mendenhall, George E. ''The Tenth Generation: The Origins of the Biblical Tradition'', The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1973. ISBN 0-8018-1654-8. A study of the earliest traditions of Israel from linguistic and archaeological evidence which also treats the teachings and followers of Jesus in that context.
*Mendenhall, George E. ''Ancient Israel's Faith and History: An Introduction to the Bible in Context'', Westminster John Knox Press, 2001. ISBN 0-664-22313-3. Another, less technical, study of the earliest traditions of Israel from linguistic and archaeological evidence which also treats the teachings and followers of Jesus in that context.
*Messori, Vittorio. ''Jesus hypotheses'', St Paul Publications, 1977, ISBN 0854391541; The translation from Italian ''Ipotesi su Gesù''. An amazing and very readable book that shows how [[Vittorio Messori]], a recognized Italian historian who didn't care about faith, explores the question of Jesus, starting from two points of view, mythical (Jesus never lived) and critical (Jesus was not God) and finally comes to the third hypothesis, the one of the faith. The author is also famous as one of the rare who did an interview with [[Pope John Paul II]].
*Metzger, Bruce, The New Testament Canon, page 254
*Miller, Robert, ''The Complete Gospels'', the Scholars Version translation of gospels from the first three centuries, includes canonical gospels, Thomas, James, Mary, infancy gospels, fragments, ISBN 0944344305
*Mithraic Studies: Proceedings of the First International Congress of Mithraic Studies. Manchester U. Press, 1975.
*Pelikan, Jaroslav. ''Jesus Through the Centuries: His Place in the History of Culture'', [http://www.yale.edu/yup/ Yale University Press], 1985, hardcover, 270 pages, ISBN 0300034962; trade paperback, HarperCollins reprint, 304 pages, ISBN 0060970804; trade paperback, Yale University Press, 1999, 320 pages, ISBN 0300079877
*Price, Robert M. ''Incredible Shrinking Son of Man: How Reliable Is the Gospel Tradition?'' ISBN 1591021219
*Sanders, E.P. ''The historical figure of Jesus'', Penguin, 1996, ISBN 0140144994. An up-to-date, popular, but thoroughly scholarly book.
*Sanders, E.P. ''Jesus and Judaism'', Fortress Press, 1987, ISBN 0800620615. More specialistic than the previous book, though not inaccessible.
*Schaberg, Jane. ''Illegitimacy of Jesus: A Feminist Theological Interpretation of the Infancy Narratives''
*Theissen, Gerd, and Annette Merz. ''The Historical Jesus: A Comprehensive Guide'', Fortress Press, 2003, ISBN 0800631226. An amazing book, tough but rewarding, exceptionally detailed.
*Theissen, Gerd. ''The Shadow of the Galilean: The Quest of the Historical Jesus in Narrative Form''. Fortress Press.
*[[Leo Tolstoy|Tolstoy, Leo]] ''[[The Kingdom of God is Within You]]'' ISBN 0803294042
*[[C. S. Lewis|Lewis, C.S.]] ''Mere Christianity'' ISBN 0060652926
*[[Geza Vermes|Vermes]], Geza. ''Jesus the Jew: A Historian's Reading of the Gospels'' ISBN 0800614437
*Walvoord, John F. ''Jesus Christ Our Lord.'' Moody Press, 1969. ISBN 0802443265
*[[Ian Wilson|Wilson, Ian]] ''Jesus: The evidence'' ISBN 0297835297
*[[John Howard Yoder|Yoder, John H.]] ''The Politics of Jesus'' ISBN 0-8028-0734-8
*Yogananda, Paramahansa: ''The Second Coming of Christ'', ISBN 0876125550
*''In Quest of the Hero:(Mythos Series)'' &amp;mdash; Otto Rank, Lord Fitzroy Richard Somerset Raglan and Alan Dundes, Princeton University Press, 1990, ISBN 0691020620
*Carlyle, Thomas. ''On Heroes, Hero-Worship, & the Heroic in History''.
*''The Superhuman life of Gesar of Ling'' &mdash; Alexandra David-Neel (A divine hero still in oral tradition)
*In some editions of ''Jewish Antiquities'' by the Jewish historian [[Josephus]] Book 18, chapter 3, paragraph 3 [http://www.josephus-1.com/ www.josephus-1.com] refer to Jesus. Most scholars believe that these passages were added to Josephus's text by later Christians. The Arabic version of Josephus is free of these apparent Christian interpolations, but still makes it clear that Pilate ordered the execution of Jesus.
* ''Jesus and the Victory of God'' [[Tom Wright|N.T.Wright]], SPCK (London), 1996 ISBN 0281047170. Second in a projected massive five or six volume series on Christian origins, dealing with the life and death of Christ from a very open Evangelical perspective. The author is now Bishop of [[Durham]] (Church of England).
* [[Michael H. Hart]], ''[[The 100 (book)|The 100]]'', Carol Publishing Group, July 1992, paperback, 576 pages, ISBN 0806513500
*Kierkegaard, Soren: "''Training in Christianity''", Vintage Spiritual Classics
*Kumar V. and Panakal L.: "''The Ancient Mother – I : The Key to the bible''" and "''The Ancient Mother – II : The Key to the bible''", Identity Publishers, Switzerland, 1997. (Available online in PDF format - http://www.quicknet.ch/urech/online.htm)
 
==See also==
*'''General Topics'''
**[[Anno Domini]] and [[Common Era]] (which show how Jesus' birth has influenced the modern day calendar)
**[[Comparative religion]], and its sub-school, [[Comparative mythology]], studies, among other things, the similarities between Jesus and the heroes found in traditions other than Christianity.
**[[Jewish Christians]]
**[[Pauline Christianity]]
*'''Jesus and History'''
**[[Genealogy of Jesus]]
**[[Historical Jesus]]
*'''New Testement Jesus'''
**[[Miracles of Jesus]]
**[[Resurrection of Jesus]]
**[[Sermon on the Mount]]
*'''Other views on Jesus'''
**[[Apocrypha]], [[Christian mythology]] and [[Folk Christianity]] include many stories about Jesus besides those in the Bible.
**[[Christadelphians]] &mdash; a distinctive non-trinitarian view of Jesus that arose in the 19th century.
**[[Isa]]
**[[Jesus Seminar]] modern scholars attempt to find Historical Jesus, solely using first stratum sources (those dateable to 30&ndash;70) and only considering events and sayings with multiple independent attestations.
*'''Lists of related topics'''
**[[List of founders of major religions]]
**[[List of people believing themselves deities]]
 
==External links==
{{wikiquotepar|Notting Hill}}
===Christian views===
*[http://www.notting-hill.com/ ''Notting Hill''] official site
{{commons|Jesus}}
*{{imdb title|id=0125439|title=Notting Hill}}
{{wikiquote}}
*{{rotten-tomatoes|id=notting_hill|title=Notting Hill}}
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08374c.htm Jesus Christ Catholic Encyclopedia article]
*{{metacritic film|id=nottinghill|title=Notting Hill}}
* [http://www.LatinVulgate.com/christverse.aspx Complete Sayings of Jesus Christ] - The complete sayings of Jesus Christ in parallel English and Latin
*{{mojo title|id=nottinghill|title=Notting Hill}}
* [http://dubitando.no.sapo.pt/quattuor-evangeliorum-consonantia.htm Quattuor Evangeliorum Consonantia] - The latin harmony of the Gospels (1)
* [http://dubitando.no.sapo.pt/quattuor-evangeliorum-consonantia-n.htm Quattuor Evangeliorum Consonantia] - The Latin harmony of the Gospels (2)
* [http://www.rejesus.co.uk/ rejesus: UK interdenominational web site about Jesus]
* [http://www.godonthe.net/evidence/said_god.htm Jesus claims to be God]
* [http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/unique.html Was he God?]
* [http://www.jesuschristonly.com/ Jesus Christ Only &mdash; Articles, Sermons & Quotes Dedicated to Jesus Christ]
* [http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/ All About Jesus Christ &mdash; Articles and FAQs]
* [http://www.alamoministries.com/ Literature about Jesus in english and many other languages]
* [http://st-takla.org/Gallery/Gallery-Jesus-01.html Jesus Gallery] Full from http://St-Takla.org
* [http://www.jcsm.org/biblelessons/JesusGod.htm Did Jesus Claim To Be God?]
* [http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/topic/christ.html Christology from a conservative calvinist perspeective]
* [http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/JESUMENU.HTM EWTN on Jesus] (conservative Catholic)
 
===Islamic views===
* [http://www.thetruecall.com/home/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=25 Status of Jesus in Islam]
* [http://www.islamfrominside.com/Pages/Articles/Jesus%20-%20An%20Islamic%20Perspective.html An Islamic perspective on Jesus] - Islamic Perspective
* [http://www.islam.tc/prophecies/jesus.html Jesus' second coming in Islam]
* [http://www.sunna.info/Lessons/islam_339.html Jesus the prophet of Allah ]
* [http://www.al-qiyamah.org/_/do_the_muslims_believe_in_jesus.htm Jesus' importance in Islam]
 
===Other religious views===
 
*[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=254&letter=J&search=Jesus Jewish Encyclopedia: Jesus of Nazareth]
* [http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2001/11/15/article_02.htm Jehovah's Witnesses' perspective]
* [http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,810-1,00.html Latter-day Saint (Mormon) beliefs about Jesus]
* [http://aaiil.org/text/books/others/khwajanazirahmad/jesusinheavenonearth/jesusinheavenonearth.shtml Jesus in Heaven on Earth: A Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement perspective] - Ahmadiyya perspective
* [http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1988.htm/ensign%20november%201988.htm/what%20think%20ye%20of%20christ.htm What think ye of Christ?] (Mormon)
* [http://www.uua.org/pamphlet/3040.html Unitarian Universalist Views of Jesus]: prophet; dissident; one of many Christs
 
===Other views===
* [http://pages.ca.inter.net/~oblio/jhcjp.htm The Jesus Puzzle]
* [http://www.geocities.com/paulntobin/jesus.html Skeptic's Guide to Jesus]
* [http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/ Jesus Never Existed]
* [http://www.users.bigpond.com/pontificate/bindex.htm The Creation of Christ] The theory that Jesus was a myth based on Julius Caesar.
* [http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_jckr.htm The theory that the story of Jesus is based on the older Hindu story of Krishna]
* [http://www.mind.net/rvuuf/pages/quests.htm The Many Quests for the Historical Jesus] (Unitarian summary of historical quests)
* [http://www.hilalplaza.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=225 What did Jesus Really Say]
* [http://reluctant-messenger.com/issa.htm The theory and evidence of Jesus having lived in Ladakh, in the Himalaya from 12 to 29 years]
* [http://www.swami-center.org/en/chpt/jesusteaching/index.shtml The Original Teaching of Jesus Christ] Online book purporting to reconstruct the original teachings of Jesus.
* [http://www.eliyah.com/nameson.htm Jesus was actually called Yahushua]
* [http://www.aaiil.org/text/rlgn/rlgnmain.shtml Various articles related to the natural death of Jesus]
[[Category:Jesus| ]]
* [http://www.neo-tech.com/jesus/ Jesus' Secret Message] Estimated guess that Jesus was teaching how to exercise conscious thought
* http://www.truthbeknown.com/origins.htm - The Origins of Christianity and the Quest for the Historical Jesus Christ
* [http://home1.gte.net/deleyd/religion/appendixd.html Evidence that Jesus Never Existed]
 
===Historical===
*[http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth22.html Contemporary Scholarship and the Historical Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus]Article concerning the consensus of New Testament historians in regards to the historical facts surrounding the resurrection narrative.
*[http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/history/jesus.htm Overview of the Life of Jesus] A summary of New Testament accounts.
* [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/ From Jesus to Christ] &ndash; A [[Frontline_(PBS_TV_series)|Frontline]] documentary on Jesus and early [[Christianity]].
*[http://www.apologetics.com/default.jsp?bodycontent=/articles/historical_apologetics/habermas-nt.html Why I Believe The New Testament Is Historically Reliable by Dr. Gary Habermas]
* [http://www.Jesus-Institute.org The Words and Life of Historical Jesus] by Jesus Institute
* [http://st-takla.org/Gallery/Gallery-Jesus-01.html Jesus Gallery] Portraits of Jesus Christ.. past and present
* [http://www.atmajyoti.org/sw_unknown_life.asp The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ] by Nicholas Notovitch
* [http://www.uncc.edu/jdtabor/index.html The Jewish Roman World of Jesus]
* [http://religion.rutgers.edu/iho/index.html Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus]
* [http://www.united.edu/portrait/ A Portrait of Jesus: From Galilean Jew to the Face of God]
* [http://www.michaelhorner.com/articles/resurrection/ Did Jesus really rise from the dead?]
* [http://www.atmajyoti.org/spirwrit-the_christ_of_india.asp The Christ of India] Alleged evidence of what happened during the "lost years".
* [http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/oct1993/v50-3-article8.htm Historical context of Jesus' time]
* [http://www.sullivan-county.com/news/mine/jesus.htm Jewish sects during Jesus' time]
* [http://www.vatican.va/jubilee_2000/magazine/documents/ju_mag_01031997_p-29_en.html Christ and the Other Religions]
* [http://www.emerald-energies.com/biographies.php?authors_id=59 Free Video] &mdash; renowned scholar Bruce Chilton discusses Jesus as the Rabbi
* [http://www.atmajyoti.org/ul_unknown_lives_forward.asp The Unknown Lives of Jesus and Mary] from the Apocrypha and other little known sources.
* [http://www.ynca.com/Mini%20Studies/mistaken_j.htm The Mistaken J]
* [http://www.yaim.com/Pages/missingJ.htm Missing J]
* [http://www.tektonics.org/jesusexist/jesusexisthub.html The Reliability of the Secular References to Jesus]
 
 
{{Apostles}}
 
[[Category:1st1990s centuryRomantic BCcomedy birthsfilms]]
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[[Category:ChristianFilms martyrs|Jesusset in London]]
[[Category:33Films deathsshot in Super 35]]
[[Category:30s deaths]]
[[Category:Abrahamic mythology]]
[[Category:Deities]]
[[Category:Pop icons]]
[[Category:Charismatic religious leaders]]
[[Category:Martyred people]]
 
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