CHRISTIAN TRADITION & THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS

How Does the Christian Tradition Explain the Significance of Jesus?

How Does the Christian Tradition Explain the Significance of Jesus?

Introduction

Current Christian sources for Jesus are many, but have to be read as coming from a faith community who saw this Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ or Messiah of history. Christianity is the faith of those who recognize Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ, the Son of God, and accept him as their Lord and Savior. Christianity's beliefs and practices are the result of the experiences of those who knew Jesus during his earthly life, and of those since who know him through the grace of the Holy Spirit, given by God to those who put their trust in him. Most Christians believe in One God Creator, Jesus the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit the Sanctifier—all of which is called One God the Trinity. This paper explains the significance of Jesus in the Christian context and the Biblical & contemporary views of Jesus in a concise and comprehensive way.

Biblical & Contemporary Views of Jesus: A Comparison & Contrast

The main source for knowledge about Jesus is the Christian Scriptures, also called the New Testament, especially the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These writings were compiled between 70 and 100 C.E. All of them coming from an original faith community, first by way of eyewitness and oral tradition, and later being written down by the followers of the eyewitnesses.

The Jesus of Luke's Gospel is a picture of compassion and forgiveness. The Gospel of Luke needs to be seen as the first part of a two-volume work. The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles were written by and for the same person (ca. 85 C.E.). Luke shows Jesus as open to all believers, not ...