Jesus of Nazareth, also known as Jesus Christ, is one of the most influential figures in human history. His life and teachings form the basis of Christianity, the world’s largest religion. But when exactly did Jesus live?
When Was Jesus Born?
Based on the Gospels and other historical sources, most scholars agree that Jesus was born between 6 and 4 BC. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke describe Jesus being born during the reign of King Herod the Great. Herod died in 4 BC, so Jesus had to have been born before then.
Some scholars cite 6 or 7 BC as a more precise estimate for Jesus’ birth year based on additional historical clues. For example, the Gospel of Luke states that Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. Jesus appears to have started preaching around 28-30 AD. Counting backward 30 years from that date leads us to 6 or 7 BC as the approximate year of his birth.
When Did Jesus’ Ministry Begin?
As mentioned above, most historians believe Jesus began his public ministry around 28-30 AD. The Gospel accounts report that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and then traveled through Galilee and Judea preaching and performing miracles for approximately 3 years.
Several historical references help us date the beginning of Jesus’ ministry to around 28-30 AD. One important detail is the reign of Pontius Pilate as Roman governor of Judea from 26-36 AD. The Gospels portray Pilate ordering the crucifixion of Jesus. Therefore, Jesus’ death and the preceding years of his ministry had to fall within Pilate’s governance.
Supporting Details on the Start of Jesus’ Ministry
| Reference | Significance |
| Reign of Pontius Pilate as Roman governor of Judea | Provides earliest possible date of 26 AD for Jesus’ ministry |
| Reference to John the Baptist starting his ministry “in the 15th year of Tiberius” (Luke 3:1-3) | 15th year of Tiberius was circa 28-29 AD, just before Jesus began preaching |
| Jesus “about 30 years old” when baptized and began preaching (Luke 3:23) | 30 years prior to 28-30 AD points to 2-4 BC birth year range for Jesus |
Based on these historical details, most scholars agree Jesus’ public ministry began around 28-30 AD and lasted approximately 3 years until his crucifixion.
When Did Jesus Die?
All four Gospels record Jesus being crucified during the time of the Passover feast in Jerusalem. Historical records confirm Pontius Pilate ordered the crucifixion. Given the date ranges we have calculated for Jesus’ birth and the start of his ministry, the year of Jesus’ death and resurrection can be dated to approximately 30-33 AD.
Supporting Details on Jesus’ Death Year
| Reference | Significance |
| Reign of Pontius Pilate as Roman governor of Judea from 26-36 AD | Crucifixion ordered by Pilate, so must have occurred within his governance |
| Jesus approximately 30-33 years old at time of death | Having started ministry around 28-30 AD puts death in 30-33 AD range |
| Gospel accounts depict Jesus crucified at Passover feast in Jerusalem | Passover feast sets general time frame for the year |
| Darkness & earthquake reported at Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:45,51) | Some scholars link to earthquake recorded in 33 AD |
Most historical estimates place the year of Jesus’ crucifixion between 30 and 33 AD, with many scholars favoring 30 or 33 AD as the exact year.
Conclusion
In summary:
– Jesus was born sometime between 6 and 4 BC, based on historical records about King Herod’s reign.
– He began his public ministry around 28-30 AD at approximately 30 years old, according to Gospel accounts.
– Jesus’ ministry lasted roughly 3 years before he was crucified in Jerusalem by order of Pontius Pilate, likely between 30-33 AD.
– Most scholars estimate Jesus died between 30 and 33 AD. The precise year is uncertain, but a date between 30-33 AD fits the available evidence.
– This means Jesus lived approximately 2000 years ago, assuming the current year of 2023 AD. He walked the earth about 1985-1990 years prior to the present day.
So in answer to the initial question, Jesus lived about two thousand years ago, dying between 30-33 AD after a 3 year public ministry that began when he was around 30 years old. Dating Jesus’ lifetime has been challenging for scholars, but there is broad agreement that he was born sometime between 6 and 4 BC and died between 30-33 AD. The precise dates continue to be studied and debated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year was Jesus actually born in?
The exact year of Jesus’ birth is uncertain, but most scholars estimate 6-4 BC based on historical records about King Herod’s reign. Some propose precise dates like 6/7 BC or 5/4 BC, but there is no consensus on one exact birth year.
Don’t the Gospel accounts contradict each other about Jesus’ birth?
The Gospels of Matthew and Luke contain some different details about Jesus’ birth, but they do not necessarily contradict each other. Matthew focuses on events from Joseph’s perspective while Luke focuses on Mary’s experience. The two accounts can be reasonably harmonized, with the points of contention largely stemming from incomplete information.
How accurate are dates BC and AD in reflecting Jesus’ life?
Our current calendar system centers around Jesus’ birth year, dividing history into BC (before Christ) and AD (anno domini, Latin for “in the year of the Lord”). However, when this calendar system was devised centuries ago there were some inaccuracies in calculations. Today, historians agree Jesus was born a few years earlier than year 1 AD. So while BC and AD are close approximations, the estimated dates for Jesus’ birth and death are a few years off.
What evidence supports the date ranges for Jesus’ life?
The main evidence comes from the Gospel accounts combined with other historical sources about people and events recorded in the Bible. Details like rulers and officials named, astronomical phenomena described, and the timing of Jewish feast days help corroborate the Gospel chronology and approximate date ranges for Jesus’ birth, ministry, and death.
Are there any other theories about when Jesus lived?
The majority timeframe is well-established, but some alternative theories do exist proposing different dates. However, most scholars consider these fringe theories to be inaccurate based on the preponderance of evidence supporting the traditional 6/4 BC to 30/33 AD date range for Jesus’ life.
Historical Background
To better understand the dating of Jesus’ life, it helps to consider the historical context in which he lived. Some key details:
– Jesus was born when Judea was under Roman control – The Romans took over the region in 63 BC after conquering the Seleucid Empire. Rome appointed client kings like Herod to rule Judea.
– The Roman Emperor during Jesus’ adulthood was Tiberius – He reigned from 14-37 AD, overlapping with Jesus’ public ministry.
– Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea – He directly ruled over Judea from 26-36 AD and ordered Jesus’ crucifixion.
– Jewish religious leaders were the Sadducees & Pharisees – These rival groups feature prominently in the Gospels, along with Jewish high priests like Caiaphas.
– The Temple in Jerusalem was an important center of Jewish faith – Jesus taught here and prophesied its coming destruction, fulfilled in 70 AD.
So Jesus lived in an era of Roman occupation and regional instability. Viewing his life in its historical setting helps explain references to rulers like Caesar and Herod in the Gospel accounts.
Timeline of Jesus’ Life and Surrounding Events
| 63 BC | Roman Empire conquers Judea |
| 6-4 BC | Jesus is born in Bethlehem |
| 4 BC | King Herod dies |
| 28-30 AD | Jesus begins public ministry around age 30 |
| 30-33 AD | Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem around age 33 |
| 70 AD | The Romans destroy the Temple in Jerusalem |
Understanding this historical context provides helpful background when examining the evidence for when Jesus would have lived in first century Judea.
Key Takeaways
– Jesus was born between approximately 6 and 4 BC.
– He began ministering around 28-30 AD when he was about 30 years old.
– Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem sometime around 30-33 AD under Pontius Pilate.
– This places Jesus’ life approximately 1985-1990 years ago as of the present day.
– Dating Jesus’ birth and death has been challenging, but there is broad scholarly agreement on the timeframe.
– Examining Jesus’ life in its historical context provides useful insight when evaluating date estimates.
– While the precise year is uncertain, Jesus unquestionably lived and died in first century Judea under Roman rule.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the exact dates are difficult to determine with certainty, the historical and biblical evidence strongly points to Jesus having been born between 6 and 4 BC and dying between 30 and 33 AD. Most scholars place his birth between 6-4 BC and his death around 30-33 AD, meaning Jesus lived on earth some 1985-1990 years ago. Understanding the timeline of Jesus’ remarkable life, ministry, and sacrifice is important for properly appreciating the origins of Christianity that stands today as the faith of billions around the world.