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Virtually all modern scholars of [[classical antiquity|antiquity]] agree that [[Historicity of Jesus|Jesus existed historically]].{{efn |name=exist|In a 2011 review of the state of modern scholarship, [[Bart Ehrman]] wrote, "He certainly existed, as virtually every competent scholar of antiquity, Christian or non-Christian, agrees."{{sfn|Ehrman|2011|p=[https://archive.org/details/forged_ehrm_2011_000_10544376/page/n298 285]}} [[Richard A. Burridge]] states: "There are those who argue that Jesus is a figment of the Church's imagination, that there never was a Jesus at all. I have to say that I do not know any respectable critical scholar who says that any more."<ref>{{cite book|title=Jesus Now and Then|first1=Richard A.|last1=Burridge|first2=Graham|last2=Gould|year=2004|isbn=978-0-8028-0977-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/jesusnowthen0000burr/page/34 34]|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|url=https://archive.org/details/jesusnowthen0000burr/page/34}}</ref> [[Robert M. Price]] does not believe that Jesus existed but agrees that this perspective runs against the views of the majority of scholars.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|first= Robert M.|last= Price|title= Jesus at the Vanishing Point|encyclopedia= The Historical Jesus: Five Views|editor-last1= Beilby|editor-last2= Eddy|year= 2009|publisher= InterVarsity|isbn= 978-0-8308-7853-6|editor-first= James K.|pages= 55, 61|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O33P7xrFnLQC&pg=PA55|editor2-first= Paul R.|access-date= 14 August 2015|archive-date= 7 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907112540/https://books.google.com/books?id=O33P7xrFnLQC&pg=PA55|url-status= live}}</ref> [[James Dunn (theologian)|James D. G. Dunn]] calls the theories of Jesus' non-existence "a thoroughly dead thesis".<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Paul's understanding of the death of Jesus|encyclopedia=Sacrifice and Redemption|first= Stephen W.|last= Sykes |year=2007| publisher= Cambridge University Press| isbn= 978-0-521-04460-8|pages=35–36}}</ref> [[Michael Grant (author)|Michael Grant]] (a [[classicist]]) wrote in 1977, "In recent years, 'no serious scholar has ventured to postulate the non historicity of Jesus' or at any rate very few, and they have not succeeded in disposing of the much stronger, indeed very abundant, evidence to the contrary."<ref name=Grant1977>{{cite book|first=Michael|last=Grant|title=Jesus: An Historian's Review of the Gospels|publisher=Scribner's|year=1977|isbn=978-0-684-14889-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/jesushistoriansr00gran/page/200 200]|url=https://archive.org/details/jesushistoriansr00gran/page/200}}</ref> [[Robert E. Van Voorst]] states that biblical scholars and classical historians regard theories of non-existence of Jesus as effectively refuted.{{sfn|Van Voorst|2000|p=16}} Writing on ''[[The Daily Beast]]'', [[Candida Moss]] and Joel Baden state that "there is nigh universal consensus among biblical scholars&nbsp;– the authentic ones, at least&nbsp;– that Jesus was, in fact, a real guy."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/so-called-biblical-scholar-says-jesus-a-made-up-myth|title = So-Called 'Biblical Scholar' Says Jesus a Made-Up Myth|newspaper = The Daily Beast|date = 5 October 2014|last1 = Baden|first1 = Candida Moss}}</ref>}} Accounts of Jesus' life are contained in the [[Gospels]], especially the [[four canonical Gospels]] in the [[New Testament]]. [[Quest for the historical Jesus|Academic research]] has yielded uncertainty on the [[historical reliability of the Gospels]] and how closely they reflect the [[historical Jesus]].{{sfn|Powell|1998|pp=168–73}}{{efn|Ehrman writes: "The notion that the Gospel accounts are not completely accurate but still important for the religious truths they try to convey is widely shared in the scholarly world, even though it's not so widely known or believed outside of it."<ref>Bart D. Ehrman. [http://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/historical-jesus.html Historical Jesus. 'Prophet of the New Millennium']. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123155853/https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/historical-jesus.html |date=23 January 2019 }} Course handbook, p. 10 (Lecture Three. V. B.) The Teaching Company, 2000, Lecture 24</ref><br />Sanders writes: "The earliest Christians did not write a narrative of Jesus' life, but rather made use of, and thus preserved, individual units—short passages about his words and deeds. These units were later moved and arranged by authors and editors. ... Some material has been revised and some created by early Christians."{{sfn|Sanders|1993|p=57}}}} Jesus was a [[Galilean]] [[Jews|Jew]] who [[Circumcision of Jesus|was circumcised]], was [[Baptism of Jesus|baptized]] by [[John the Baptist]], began [[Ministry of Jesus|his own ministry]],{{sfn|Vermes|1981|pp=20, 26, 27, 29}} and was often referred to as "[[rabbi]]".<ref name="ISBEO">{{cite web |year=1939 |editor=Orr |editor-first=James |title=International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Online |url=http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/R/rabbi.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817024703/http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/R/rabbi.html |archive-date=17 August 2016 |access-date=30 July 2016 |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.}}</ref> Jesus debated with fellow Jews on how to best follow [[God in Christianity|God]], engaged in healings, taught in [[Parables of Jesus|parables]], and gathered followers.{{sfn|Levine|2006|p=4}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Charlesworth|first1=James H.|title=The Historical Jesus: An Essential Guide|date=2008|page=113|publisher=Abingdon Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YTIGy5t45WgC&pg=PT113|isbn=978-1-4267-2475-6|access-date=29 March 2017|archive-date=8 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008221947/https://books.google.com/books?id=YTIGy5t45WgC&pg=PT113|url-status=live}}</ref> He was arrested in [[Jerusalem]] and tried by the [[Sanhedrin|Jewish authorities]],{{sfn|Sanders|1993|p=11}} turned over to the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] government, and [[Crucifixion of Jesus|crucified]] on the order of [[Pontius Pilate]], the [[Roman governor|Roman prefect]] of [[Judaea (Roman province)|Judea]].{{sfn|Levine|2006|p=4}} After his death, his followers believed he [[Resurrection of Jesus|rose from the dead]], and the community they formed eventually became the [[early Church|early Christian Church]].{{sfn|Sanders|1993|pp=11, 14}} Accounts of his teachings and life were [[Oral gospel traditions|initially conserved by oral transmission]], which was the source of the written Gospels.<ref name="Dunn2013">{{cite book|first = James D.G. |last = Dunn |title= The Oral Gospel Tradition |publisher= Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |year = 2013 | pages= 290–91}}</ref>
 
[[Christian theology]] includes the beliefs that Jesus was conceived by the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]], was [[Virgin birth of Jesus|born of a virgin]] named [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Mary]], performed [[Miracles of Jesus|miracles]], founded the [[Christian Church]], died by [[crucifixion]] as a sacrifice to achieve [[Atonement in Christianity|atonement for sin]], rose from the dead, and [[Ascension of Jesus|ascended]] into [[Heaven in Christianity|Heaven]], from where he [[Second Coming|will return]].{{sfn|Grudem|1994|pp=568–603}} Commonly, [[Jesus in Christianity|Christians believe Jesus]] enables people to be reconciled to God. The [[Nicene Creed]] asserts that Jesus will [[Last Judgment|judge the living and the dead]],<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |last=Wilhelm |first=Joseph |title=The Nicene Creed |encyclopedia=The Catholic Encyclopedia |volume=11 |publisher=Robert Appleton Company |date=1911 |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11049a.htm |access-date=11 April 2016 |archive-date=17 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417055109/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11049a.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> either [[Intermediate state (Christianity)|before]] or [[Christian mortalism|after]] their [[Resurrection of the dead#Christianity|bodily resurrection]],<ref name="Oxford Companion" /><ref>{{cite web | first = James | last = Tabor | publisher = UNCC |url=https://clas-pages.uncc.edu/james-tabor/ancient-judaism/death-afterlife-future/ | title = What the Bible Says About Death, Afterlife, and the Future | date = 22 March 2013 | access-date = 13 June 2015 | archive-date = 23 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823115040/https://clas-pages.uncc.edu/james-tabor/ancient-judaism/death-afterlife-future/ | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hoekema |first=Anthony A. |year=1994 |title=The Bible and the Future |publisher=Eerdmans Publishing |pages=88–89 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c2yT_7xw35sC |isbn=978-0-85364-624-2 |access-date=8 October 2020 |archive-date=8 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008221946/https://books.google.com/books?id=c2yT_7xw35sC |url-status=live }}</ref> an event tied to the [[Second Coming]] of Jesus in [[Christian eschatology]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Systematic Theology, Volume 2, Second Edition: Biblical, Historical, and Evangelical |first= James L. |last= Garrett |publisher= Wipf and Stock Publishers |year= 2014 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WZEhBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA766 |page= 766 |isbn= 978-1-62564-852-5 |access-date= 5 December 2019 |archive-date= 25 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125164743/https://books.google.com/books?id=WZEhBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA766 |url-status= live }}</ref> The great majority of Christians worship Jesus as the incarnation of God the Son, the second of three [[Prosopon|prosopons]] of the [[Trinity]].{{efn|A small minority of Christian denominations reject trinitarianism, wholly or partly, as non-scriptural}} The [[Nativity of Jesus|birth of Jesus]] is celebrated annually on 25 December as [[Christmas]].{{efn|Part of the [[Eastern Christian]] churches celebrate Christmas on 25 December of the [[Julian calendar]], which currently corresponds to 7 January in the Gregorian calendar. In many countries, Christmas is celebrated on 24 December.}} His crucifixion is honored on [[Good Friday]] and his resurrection on [[Easter Sunday]]. The world's most widely used [[calendar era]]—in which the current year is [[Anno Domini|AD]] {{CURRENTYEAR}} (or {{CURRENTYEAR}} [[Common Era|CE]])—is based on the approximate [[Date of birth of Jesus|birthdate of Jesus]].<ref name="AD">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/Anno%20Domini |title=anno Domini |encyclopedia=Merriam Webster Online Dictionary |year=2003 |publisher=Merriam-Webster |quote=Etymology: Medieval Latin, in the year of our Lord |access-date=3 November 2016 |archive-date=22 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222112520/http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/anno%20domini |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
Jesus is also revered in the [[Baha'i faith]], the [[Druze faith]], and [[Islam]]. [[Jesus in Islam|In Islam]], Jesus (often referred to by his Quranic name {{transliteration|ar|ISO|''[[Isa (name)|ʿĪsā]]''}}) is considered the penultimate [[Prophets in Islam|prophet]] of [[God in Islam|God]] and the [[Messiah#Islam|messiah]], who [[Second Coming#Islam|will return]] before the [[Judgement Day in Islam|Day of Judgement]]. [[Muslims]] believe Jesus was born of the virgin [[Mary in Islam|Mary]] but was neither God nor a son of God. Most Muslims do not believe that he [[Islamic views on Jesus' death|was killed or crucified]] but that God [[Entering heaven alive|raised him into Heaven while he was still alive]].{{efn|Some medieval Muslims believed that Jesus was crucified, as do the members of the modern Ahmadiyya movement; see [[#Islam|§ Islamic perspectives]].}} In contrast, [[Judaism's view of Jesus|Judaism rejects the belief]] that Jesus was the awaited messiah, arguing that he did not fulfill [[Messiah in Judaism|messianic prophecies]], was not [[Anointment|lawfully anointed]] and was neither divine nor resurrected.
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{{Main|Gospel|Gospel harmony|Historical reliability of the Gospels}}
 
The four [[canonical gospel]]s ([[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]], [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]], [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]], and [[Gospel of John|John]]) are the foremost sources for the life and message of Jesus.<ref name="Britannica" /> But other parts of the New Testament also include references to key episodes in his life, such as the [[Last Supper]] in [[1 Corinthians 11]]:23–26.<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Corinthians|11:23–26|9}}</ref>{{sfn|Blomberg|2009|pp=441–42}}<ref name="Fahlbusch52" />{{sfn|Evans|2003|pp=465–77}} [[Acts of the Apostles]]<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|10:37–38|9}} and {{bibleverse|Acts|19:4|9}}</ref> refers to Jesus' early ministry and its anticipation by [[John the Baptist]].<ref name="Bruce1988">{{cite book|title=The Book of the Acts|first=Frederick F.|last= Bruce|year= 1988 |isbn= 978-0-8028-2505-6 |page= 362 |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing}}</ref>{{sfn|Rausch|2003|p=77}}{{sfn|Vermes|1981|pp=20, 26, 27, 29}} Acts 1:1–11<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|1:1–11|9}}</ref> says more about the [[Ascension of Jesus]]<ref>also mentioned in {{bibleverse|1 Timothy|3:16}}</ref> than the canonical gospels do.{{sfn|Evans|2003|pp=521–30}} In the [[Pauline epistles#Authenticity|undisputed Pauline letters]], which were written earlier than the Gospels, Jesus' words or instructions are cited several times.<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Corinthians 7:10–11, 9:14, 11:23–25|multi=yes}}, {{bibleverse|2 Corinthians|12:9}}</ref>{{efn|Powell writes: "[Paul] does cite words or instructions of Jesus in a few places,<ref>{{bibleverse|1 Cor. 7:10–11; 9:14; 11:23–25|multi=yes}}; {{bibleverse|2 Cor.|12:9}}; cf. {{bibleverse|Acts|20:35}}</ref> but for the most part he displays little interest in the details of Jesus' earthly life and ministry."<ref>{{cite book |last= Powell |first= Mark A. |title= Introducing the New Testament |url=https://archive.org/details/introducingnewte00powe |url-access= limited |date= 2009 |publisher= Baker Academic |page= [https://archive.org/details/introducingnewte00powe/page/248 248]|isbn= 978-0-8010-2868-7 }}</ref>}}
 
Some [[Early Christianity|early Christian]] groups had separate descriptions of Jesus' life and teachings that are not in the New Testament. These include the [[Gospel of Thomas]], [[Gospel of Peter]], and [[Gospel of Judas]], the [[Apocryphon of James]], and [[New Testament apocrypha|many other apocryphal writings]]. Most scholars conclude that these were written much later and are less reliable accounts than the canonical gospels.{{sfn|Brown|1997|pp=835–40}}<ref>{{cite book|last1=Evans|first1=C.A.|title=Exploring the Origins of the Bible|date=2008|publisher=Baker Academic|page=154}}</ref>{{sfn|Keener|2009|p=56}}
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[[File:Christ cleans leper man.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|[[Jesus cleansing a leper]], medieval [[mosaic]] from the [[Monreale Cathedral]], late 12th to mid-13th centuries|alt=Jesus, his head surrounded by a halo, puts his hands on a leper, thereby healing him]]
In the gospel accounts, Jesus devotes a large portion of his ministry to performing [[miracle]]s, especially healings.{{sfn|Green|McKnight |Marshall|1992|p=299}} The miracles can be classified into two main categories: healing miracles and nature miracles.{{sfn|Twelftree|1999|p=350}}{{sfn|Levine|2006|p=4}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Charlesworth |first1=James H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YTIGy5t45WgC&pg=PT113 |title=The Historical Jesus: An Essential Guide |date=2008 |publisher=Abingdon Press |isbn=978-1-4267-2475-6 |page=113 |access-date=29 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008221947/https://books.google.com/books?id=YTIGy5t45WgC&pg=PT113 |archive-date=8 October 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> The healing miracles include cures for physical ailments, [[exorcism]]s,{{sfn|Witherington|1997|p=113}}{{sfn|Theissen|Merz|1998|p=298}} and [[Miracles of Jesus#Resurrection of the dead|resurrections of the dead]].{{sfn|Green|McKnight|Marshall|1992|p=300}}<ref name="Oxford Companion" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Tabor |first=James |date=22 March 2013 |title=What the Bible Says About Death, Afterlife, and the Future |url=https://clas-pages.uncc.edu/james-tabor/ancient-judaism/death-afterlife-future/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160823115040/https://clas-pages.uncc.edu/james-tabor/ancient-judaism/death-afterlife-future/ |archive-date=23 August 2016 |access-date=13 June 2015 |publisher=UNCC}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hoekema |first=Anthony A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c2yT_7xw35sC |title=The Bible and the Future |publisher=Eerdmans Publishing |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-85364-624-2 |pages=88–89 |access-date=8 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008221946/https://books.google.com/books?id=c2yT_7xw35sC |archive-date=8 October 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> The nature miracles show Jesus' power over nature, and include [[turning water into wine]], walking on water, and calming a storm, among others. Jesus states that his miracles are from a divine source. When his opponents suddenly accuse him of performing exorcisms by the power of [[Beelzebul]], the prince of demons, Jesus counters that he performs them by the "Spirit of God" ([[s:Bible (American Standard)/Matthew#12:28|Matthew 12:28]]) or "finger of God", arguing that all logic suggests that Satan would not let his demons assist the Children of God because it would divide Satan's house and bring his kingdom to desolation; furthermore, he asks his opponents that if he exorcises by [[Beelzebub|Beel'zebub]], "by whom do your sons cast them out?"<ref>[[s:Bible (American Standard)/Luke#11:20|Luke 11:20]]</ref><ref name="Britannica2">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Jesus Christ|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/303091/Jesus-Christ|access-date=10 June 2015|first1=E.&nbsp;P.|last1=Sanders|first2=Jaroslav J.|last2=Pelikan|archive-date=3 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503100711/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/303091/Jesus-Christ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Js9nFESO0VAC&pg=PA100|title=Zondervan King James Version Commentary: New Testament|last2=Mitchell|first2=Daniel R.|publisher=Zondervan|year=2010|isbn=978-0-310-25150-7|page=100|first1=Edward E.|last1=Hindson|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910171333/https://books.google.com/books?id=Js9nFESO0VAC&pg=PA100|url-status=live}}</ref> In [[s:Bible (American Standard)/Matthew#12:28|Matthew 12:31–32]], he goes on to say that while all manner of sin, "even insults against God" or "insults against the son of man", shall be forgiven, whoever insults goodness (or "The [[Holy Spirit]]") shall never be forgiven; they carry the guilt of their sin forever.
 
In John, Jesus' miracles are described as "signs", performed to prove his mission and divinity.<ref name="Sign" />{{sfn|Ehrman|2009|page=[https://archive.org/details/jesusinterrupted00ehrm_0/page/84 84]}} In the Synoptics, when asked by some teachers of the Law and some Pharisees to give miraculous signs to prove his authority, Jesus refuses,<ref name="Sign">{{cite book|title=Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology|year=2001|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|isbn=978-0-8028-3717-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/introducingnewte00paul/page/198 198] |url=https://archive.org/details/introducingnewte00paul/page/198|first1=Paul J.|last1=Achtemeier|first2=Joel B.|last2=Green|first3=Marianne M.|last3=Thompson}}</ref> saying that no sign shall come to corrupt and evil people except the sign of the prophet [[Jonah]]. Also, in the Synoptic Gospels, the crowds regularly respond to Jesus' miracles with awe and press on him to heal their sick. In John's Gospel, Jesus is presented as unpressured by the crowds, who often respond to his miracles with trust and faith.{{sfn|Twelftree|1999|p=236}} One characteristic shared among all miracles of Jesus in the gospel accounts is that he performed them freely and never requested or accepted any form of payment.<ref>{{cite book |last=van der Loos |first=Hendrik |title=The Miracles Of Jesus |year=1965 |publisher=Brill |page=197 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n4geAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA197 |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-date=10 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910165838/https://books.google.com/books?id=n4geAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA197 |url-status=live }}</ref> The gospel episodes that include descriptions of the miracles of Jesus also often include teachings, and the miracles themselves involve an element of teaching.<ref name="WPent212">{{cite book |title=The words and works of Jesus Christ |first=J. Dwight |last=Pentecost |year=1981 |isbn=978-0-310-30940-6 |page=212 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bh3M_AfgXZAC&pg=PA212 |publisher=Zondervan |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-date=10 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910063513/https://books.google.com/books?id=bh3M_AfgXZAC&pg=PA212 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Twelftree|1999 |p=95}} Many of the miracles teach the importance of faith. In the [[Cleansing ten lepers|cleansing of ten lepers]] and the [[Daughter of Jairus|raising of Jairus's daughter]], for instance, the beneficiaries are told that their healing was due to their faith.{{sfn|Donahue|Harrington |2002|p=182}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Lockyer|first= Herbert|year= 1988 |title=All the Miracles of the Bible| isbn= 978-0-310-28101-6 |page= 235 |publisher=Zondervan}}</ref>
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{{Main|Chronology of Jesus}}
{{See also|Anno Domini|Saturnalia#Influence}}
Jesus was a Galilean Jew,{{sfn|Vermes|1981|pp=20, 26, 27, 29}} born around the beginning of the 1st century, who died in 30 or 33 AD in [[Judea (Roman province)|Judea]].{{sfn|Humphreys|Waddington|1992|p=340}} The general scholarly consensus is that Jesus was a contemporary of [[John the Baptist]] and was crucified as ordered by the Roman governor [[Pontius Pilate]],{{sfn|Levine|2006|p=4}} who held office from 26 to 36 AD.{{sfn|Levine|2006|p=4}}
 
The Gospels offer several indications concerning the year of Jesus' birth. Matthew 2:1 associates the birth of Jesus with the reign of [[Herod the Great]], who died around 4 BC, and Luke 1:5 mentions that Herod was on the throne shortly before the birth of Jesus,{{sfn|Maier|1989|pp=115–18}}{{sfn|Niswonger|1992|pp=121–22}} although this gospel also associates the birth with the [[Census of Quirinius]] which took place ten years later.{{sfn|Köstenberger|Kellum|Quarles|2009|pp=137–38}}{{sfn|Niswonger|1992|pp=122–24}} Luke 3:23 states that Jesus was "about thirty years old" at the start of his [[ministry of Jesus|ministry]], which according to Acts 10:37–38 was preceded by John the Baptist's ministry, which was recorded in Luke 3:1–2 to have begun in the 15th year of [[Tiberius]]'s reign (28 or 29 AD).{{sfn|Niswonger|1992|pp=121–22}}<ref name="Vermes2006">{{cite book | first = Géza | last = Vermes | title = The Nativity: History and Legend | publisher = Random House Digital | year = 2010 | pages = 81–82 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a9EiEU_Yz_kC&pg=PA81 | isbn = 978-0-307-49918-9 | access-date = 25 January 2016 | archive-date = 3 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503100006/https://books.google.com/books?id=a9EiEU_Yz_kC&pg=PA81 | url-status = live }}</ref> By collating the gospel accounts with historical data and using various other methods, most scholars arrive at a date of birth for Jesus between 6 and 4 BC,<ref name="Vermes2006" />{{sfn|Dunn|2003|p=324}} but some propose estimates that include a wider range.{{efn|For example, John P. Meier states that Jesus' birth year is ''c.'' 7/6 BC,{{sfn|Meier|1991|p=407}} while Finegan favors ''c.'' 3/2 BC.<ref name=Finegan />}}
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The Quran describes the annunciation to Mary ([[Mary in Islam|{{transliteration|ar|ISO|Maryam}}]]) by the Holy Spirit that she is to give birth to Jesus while remaining a virgin. It calls the virgin birth a miracle that occurred by the will of God.<ref name="RobB32" /><ref name="Peters23" /> The Quran ({{qref|21|91}} and {{qref|66|12}}) states that God breathed [[Holy Spirit (Islam)|his spirit]] into Mary while she was chaste.<ref name="RobB32" /><ref name="Peters23">{{cite book|title=Islam: A Guide for Jews and Christians |first=F. E. |last=Peters |year=2003 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-11553-5 |page=[https://archive.org/details/islamguideforjew00fepe/page/23 23] |url=https://archive.org/details/islamguideforjew00fepe/page/23 }}</ref> Jesus is called a "spirit from God" because he was born through the action of the Spirit,<ref name="RobB32">{{cite book|title= Christianity, Islam, and the West|first= Robert A.|last= Burns|year= 2011|isbn= 978-0-7618-5560-6|page= 32|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=akWUGyN7fwEC&pg=PA32|publisher= University Press of America|access-date= 14 August 2015|archive-date= 10 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910174421/https://books.google.com/books?id=akWUGyN7fwEC&pg=PA32|url-status= live}}</ref> but that belief does not imply [[Pre-existence of Christ|his pre-existence]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cooper|first1=Anne|first2=Elsie A.|last2=Maxwell|title=Ishmael My Brother: A Christian Introduction To Islam|year=2003|publisher=Monarch Books|isbn=978-0-8254-6223-8|page=59|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X4J-p1E1OkwC&pg=PA59|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=7 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907085409/https://books.google.com/books?id=X4J-p1E1OkwC&pg=PA59|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
To aid in his ministry to the Jewish people, Jesus was given the ability to perform [[miracle]]s, by permission of God rather than by his own power.<ref name="Morgan">{{cite book|last=Morgan|first=Diane|title=Essential Islam: A Comprehensive Guide to Belief and Practice|year=2010|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-36025-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/essentialislamco0000morg/page/45 45]–46|url=https://archive.org/details/essentialislamco0000morg|url-access=registration}}</ref><!--{{sfn|Ankerberg|Caner |2009|p=19}}--> Through his ministry, Jesus is seen as a [[precursor (religion)|precursor]] to Muhammad.<ref name="comparative">{{cite book|title=Comparative Religious Ethics: A Narrative Approach|first1=Darrell J.|last1=Fasching|first2=Dell|last2=deChant|year=2001|pages=[https://archive.org/details/comparativerelig0000fasc/page/241 241, 274–75]|isbn=978-0-631-20125-0|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|url=https://archive.org/details/comparativerelig0000fasc/page/241}}</ref> In the Quran ({{qref|4|157–159}}) it is said that Jesus was not killed but was merely made to appear that way to unbelievers,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=3&verse=54 |title=The Quranic Arabic Corpus – Translation |publisher=Corpus.quran.com |access-date=20 May 2016 |archive-date=18 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418170132/http://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=3&verse=54 |url-status=live }}</ref> and that he was raised into the heavens while still alive by God.<ref>{{qref|4|157|b=y}}: "''and for boasting, “We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” But they neither killed nor crucified him—it was only made to appear so. Even those who argue for this ˹crucifixion˺ are in doubt. They have no knowledge whatsoever—only making assumptions. They certainly did not kill him.''"</ref> According to most classic [[Sunni]] and [[Twelver Shi'ite]] interpretations of these verses, the likeness of Jesus was cast upon a [[Substitution hypothesis|substitute]] (most often one of the apostles), who was crucified in Jesus' stead.<ref>{{harvnb|Robinson|2005}}; {{harvnb|Lawson|2009}}. The substitution theory was criticized and rejected by the Sunni Quran commentator [[Fakhr al-Din al-Razi]] (1150–1210); see {{harvnb|Lawson|2009|pp=156–62}}. According to [[Abu Mansur al-Baghdadi]] (d. 1037), the substitution theory was also applied to the death of [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]] by the semi-legendary 7th-century figure [[Abdullah ibn Saba'|Abdallah ibn Saba']]; see {{harvnb|De Smet|2016|pp=98–99}}.</ref> However, some medieval Muslims (among others, the [[ghulat|{{transliteration|ar|ISO|ghulāt}}]] writing under the name of [[al-Mufaddal ibn Umar al-Ju'fi]], the [[Brethren of Purity]], various [[Isma'ili]] philosophers, and the Sunni mystic [[al-Ghazali]]) affirmed the historicity of Jesus' crucifixion. These thinkers held the [[docetic]] view that, although Jesus' human form (his body) had died on the cross, his true divine nature (his spirit) had survived and ascended into heaven, so that his death was only an appearance.<ref>On the writings attributed to al‐Mufaddal ibn Umar al‐Ju'fi, see {{harvnb|De Smet|2016|p=93}}. On the Brethren of Purity, see {{harvnb|Robinson|1991|pp=55–57}}, {{harvnb|Lawson|2009|pp=129–33}} and especially {{harvnb|De Smet|2016|pp=100–01}}. On the Isma'ili philosophers (who include [[Abu Hatim Ahmad ibn Hamdan al-Razi|Abu Hatim al-Razi]], Abu Tammam, [[Ja'far ibn Mansur al-Yaman]], [[Abu Yaqub al-Sijistani]] and [[Ibrahim ibn al-Husayn al-Hamidi|Ibrahim al-Hamidi]]), see {{harvnb|Lawson|2009|pp=123–29}} and especially {{harvnb|De Smet|2016|pp=101–07}}. On al-Ghazali, see {{harvnb|Lawson|2009|pp=117–18}}. This type of interpretation of Quran 4:157–159 was specifically rejected by the Sunni Quran commentator al-[[Qadi Baydawi|Baydawi]] (d. 1319); see {{harvnb|Lawson|2009|p=155}}.</ref> Nevertheless, to Muslims it is the ''[[Ascension of Jesus|ascension]]'' rather than the ''[[Crucifixion of Jesus|crucifixion]]'' that constitutes a major event in the life of Jesus.<ref name="Khalidi">{{Cite book| publisher = Harvard University Press| isbn = 978-0-674-00477-1| last = Khalidi| first = Tarif| title = The Muslim Jesus: Sayings and Stories in Islamic Literature| year = 2001| page = [https://archive.org/details/muslimjesussayin00/page/12 12]|url=https://archive.org/details/muslimjesussayin00/page/12}}</ref> There is no mention of his resurrection on the third day, and his death plays no special role in [[Soteriology#Islam|Islamic theories of salvation]].<ref>{{harvnb|Robinson|2005}}.</ref> However, Jesus is a central figure in [[Islamic eschatology]]: Muslims believe that [[Second Coming#Islam|he will return to Earth]] at the [[Eschatology|end of time]] and defeat the [[Antichrist]] (''[[Masih ad-Dajjal|ad-Dajjal]]'') by killing him.<ref name="CEI">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D7tu12gt4JYC&pg=PA270 | title=Concise Encyclopedia of Islam | publisher=Rowman & Littlefield | last=Glassé | first=Cyril | year=2008 | pages=270–71 | isbn=978-0-7425-6296-7 | access-date=14 August 2015 | archive-date=7 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907070905/https://books.google.com/books?id=D7tu12gt4JYC&pg=PA270 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Garrett |first=James L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WZEhBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA766 |title=Systematic Theology, Volume 2, Second Edition: Biblical, Historical, and Evangelical |publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-62564-852-5 |page=766 |access-date=5 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125164743/https://books.google.com/books?id=WZEhBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA766 |archive-date=25 January 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Grudem|1994|pp=568–603}}<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=The Nicene Creed |encyclopedia=The Catholic Encyclopedia |publisher=Robert Appleton Company |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11049a.htm |access-date=11 April 2016 |last=Wilhelm |first=Joseph |date=1911 |volume=11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160417055109/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11049a.htm |archive-date=17 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
 
According to the Quran, the coming of [[Muhammad]] was predicted by Jesus:
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