Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God.  The Bible states that Jesus Christ’s mother was Mary who was married to Joseph.  He was born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, and labored with Joseph as a carpenter. He began a 3-year ministry of teaching, blessing, and healing people until the age of 30 when the Romans crucified him.

Fact 1. Jesus’ resurrection is believed by Christians to have paved the way for the Atonement.

Fact 2.   From Gospel accounts, Jesus was executed by crucifixion on a Friday on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan under the administration of Pontius Pilate.

Fact 3.    Based on the date of Herod’s death in 4 BC (contra Dionysius Exiguus), many chronologists conclude that the year 6 BC is the most likely year of Jesus’ birth.

Fact 4.  Jesus is said to have died, according to chronologists, in the year 27 AD or latest 36 AD.

Fact 5.  Chinese historians have attempted to match the birth of Jesus with natural historical events.  A matching of the Comet Halley during the Han Dynasty is such an event when it appeared for 70 days in the sky in 6 BC. If this theory is accepted, it would place the birth of Jesus in summer rather than winter.

Fact 6. On resurrection, Jesus’ followers began preaching that Jesus was the Son of God, and He became known as Jesus Christos or Messiah in Greek.

Fact 7.  A new sect was formed within Judaism known as Christians.

Fact 8.  In 392 AD, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. All other religions were banned.

Fact 9. During 400 AD, all the other bishops knew the bishop of Rome as ‘œpapa’ or ‘œpope.’

Fact 10. The pope was recognized as the leader of the Latin-speaking, Western Roman Empire and became known as the Roman Catholic Church. The Greek-speaking Eastern Roman Empire became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church.