Jesus in Christianity

== Core teachings ==
Although Christian views of Jesus vary, it is possible to summarize the key elements of the beliefs shared by major Christian denominations by analyzing their [[catechism|catechetical]] or [[Confessionalism (religion)|confessional]] texts.<ref name=CathLuther1 >Jackson, Gregory Lee, ''Catholic, Lutheran, Protestant: a doctrinal comparison'' 1993 {{ISBN|978-0-615-16635-3}} Part One: "Areas of Agreement", pages 11-17</ref><ref>''The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Its History, Doctrine'' by John Anthony McGuckin 2010 pages 6-7</ref><ref>''Basic Christian doctrine'' by [[John H. Leith]] 1993 pages 1-2</ref> Christian views of Jesus are derived from various biblical sources, particularly from the [[canonical gospels]] and [[New Testament]] letters such as the [[Pauline epistles]]. Christians predominantly hold that these works are historically true.<ref>Second Vatican Council, [https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html ''Dei Verbum'' (V.19)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531175312/https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html |date=2014-05-31 }}; Thomas Aquinas, [http://www.newadvent.org/summa/100110.htm ''Whether in Holy Scripture a word may have several senses?''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060906114843/http://www.newadvent.org/summa/100110.htm |date=2006-09-06 }}; c.f. Catechism of the Catholic Church, [https://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a3.htm#III §116] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325191945/https://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p1s1c2a3.htm#III |date=2015-03-25 }}; R.C. Sproul, ''Knowing Scripture'' pp. 45–61; Greg Bahnsen, [http://www.cmfnow.com/articles/pt173.htm ''A Reformed Confession Regarding Hermeneutics'' (art. 6)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204091801/http://www.cmfnow.com/articles/pt173.htm |date=2014-12-04 }}; Scott Foutz, [https://web.archive.org/web/20000414063800/http://www.quodlibet.net/luther.shtml '' Martin Luther and Scripture'']</ref>

Those Christian groups or denominations which are committed to what are considered biblically [[Orthodoxy|orthodox]] Christianity nearly all agree that Jesus:<ref>"Who is Jesus? What Do Christians Believe?" Johns Hopkins University. Graduate Christian Fellowship. [http://jhu.edu/gcf/beliefs.html#J] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304063444/http://www.jhu.edu/gcf/beliefs.html#J|date=2013-03-04}} 1 May 2013</ref>
*was born of a virgin
*is a human being who is also fully God
*had never sinned during his existence
*was crucified and buried in a tomb
*rose from the dead on the third day
*ascended back to God the Father 40 days after his resurrection
*will return to earth<ref>cf. {{Bibleref2|John|14:1-3}}, {{Bibleref2|Acts|1:10-11}}, {{Bibleref2|Luke|21:27}}, {{Bibleref2|Revelation|1:7}}</ref>
Some groups which are considered to be Christian hold beliefs which are considered to be [[heterodoxy|heterodox]]. For example, believers in [[monophysitism]] reject the idea that [[Christ (title)|Christ]] has two natures, one human and one divine.<ref>{{cite book |title=An Introductory Dictionary of Theology and Religious Studies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k85JKr1OXcQC&pg=PA902|year=2007|publisher=Liturgical Press|isbn=978-0-8146-5856-7|page=902}}</ref>

The five major milestones in the gospel narrative of the life of Jesus are his [[Baptism of Jesus|baptism]], [[Transfiguration of Jesus|transfiguration]], Crucifixion, Resurrection and [[Ascension of Jesus|Ascension]].<ref name=digby >''Essays in New Testament interpretation'' by Charles Francis Digby Moule 1982 {{ISBN|0-521-23783-1}} page 63</ref><ref>''The Melody of Faith: Theology in an Orthodox Key'' by Vigen Guroian 2010 {{ISBN|0-8028-6496-1}} page 28</ref><ref name=JBreck12 /> These are usually bracketed by two other episodes: his [[Nativity of Jesus|nativity]] at the beginning and the sending of the [[Paraclete]] (Holy Spirit) at the end.<ref name=digby /><ref name=JBreck12 >''Scripture in tradition'' by John Breck 2001 {{ISBN|0-88141-226-0}} page 12</ref> The gospel accounts of the teachings of Jesus are often presented in terms of specific categories involving his "works and words", e.g., his [[Ministry of Jesus|ministry]], [[Parables of Jesus|parables]] and [[Miracles of Jesus|miracles]].<ref name=Zuck100 >''The Bible Knowledge Commentary'' by John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck 1983 {{ISBN|0-88207-812-7}} page 100</ref><ref name=WPent212 >''The words and works of Jesus Christ'' by J. Dwight Pentecost 2000 {{ISBN|978-0-310-30940-6}} page 212</ref>

Christians not only attach theological significance to the ''works'' of Jesus, but also to his ''name''. Devotions to the [[Holy Name of Jesus|name of Jesus]] go back to the [[Early Christianity|earliest days of Christianity]].<ref name=Sylvester >Hunter, Sylvester. ''Outlines of dogmatic theology'', Volume 2. 2010 {{ISBN|1-146-98633-5}} p. 443</ref><ref name=Houlden>Houlden, Leslie. ''Jesus: the Complete Guide'', 2006. {{ISBN|0-8264-8011-X}} p. 426</ref> These exist today both in [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern]] and [[Western Christianity]]—both Catholic and Protestant.<ref name="Houlden"/>

Christians predominantly profess that through Jesus' life, death, and Resurrection, he restored humanity's communion with God with the blood of the [[New Covenant]]. His death on a cross is understood as a redemptive sacrifice: the source of humanity's [[salvation]] and the [[Atonement in Christianity|atonement]] for [[sin]]<ref>''Catechism of the Catholic Church'' §606–618; Council of Trent (1547) in Denzinger-Schönmetzer, ''Enchiridion Symbolorum, definitionum et declarationum de rebus fidei et morum'' (1965) §1529; {{bibleref2|John|14:2–3}}</ref> which had entered human history through [[original sin|the sin of Adam]].<ref>''Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England,'' article 9; ''Augsburg Confession,'' article 2; ''Second Helvetic Confession,'' chapter 8; {{bibleref2|Romans|5:12–21}}; {{bibleref2|1Cor.|15:21–22}}.</ref>