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September 13, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Everyday Life • Religion

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the name most Christians use for Jesus of Nazareth, a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader in Roman Judaea.

Updated September 13, 20261 min readCited sources

Jesus Christ is the name most Christians use for Jesus of Nazareth, a 1st-century Jewish preacher. He is the central figure of Christianity.

Historical background

Jesus was a Jewish preacher active in the early 1st century in Roman Judaea. Scholarly and religious sources commonly place his birth around 6–4 BC and his death around AD 30 or 33, though exact dates are uncertain.

Name and title

“Jesus” is the Greek form of a Hebrew name related to Joshua. “Christ” is a title meaning “the Messiah” or “anointed one,” not a surname, and became attached to Jesus in early Christian usage.

Role in Christianity

In Christianity, Jesus is the central religious figure. Most Christian traditions teach that he is the Son of God, the Messiah promised in scripture, and the saviour of humanity.

In short

  • Jesus is the central figure of Christianity.
  • The title 'Christ' means 'Messiah', not a surname.
  • Historical sources place Jesus in 1st-century Judaea.
  • Christianity teaches Jesus is the Son of God and saviour.
Canadian angle

Jesus Christ is highly relevant in Canada because Christianity has historically been one of the country’s major religions, and many Canadian churches and holidays are rooted in beliefs about Jesus.

Quick questions

Who is Jesus Christ?
Jesus Christ is the name Christians use for Jesus of Nazareth, a 1st-century Jewish preacher regarded as the central figure of Christianity.
Is “Christ” Jesus’ last name?
No. “Christ” is a title meaning “the Messiah” or “anointed one,” not a family name.
When did Jesus live?
Most sources place Jesus in the early 1st century, with a birth around 6–4 BC and a death around AD 30 or 33.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus
    Supports: General identification of Jesus as Jesus Christ, 1st-century Jewish preacher, and central figure of Christianity.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jesus
    Supports: Birth and death estimates, religious significance, and Jesus as a religious leader revered in Christianity.
  3. Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/christ-jesus
    Supports: Meaning of Christ, Jesus as historical figure, and Christian doctrine concerning the Trinity.
  4. World History Encyclopedia — https://www.worldhistory.org/Jesus_Christ/
    Supports: Meaning of the names Jesus and Christ and early Christian usage of the title.
  5. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/Jesus-Christ
    Supports: Concise definition of Jesus Christ as the man Christians believe is the Son of God and basis of the Christian religion.