A. Jesus Christ and His Divinity
1. Who is Jesus Christ?
2. How do we know that Jesus Christ is perfect man?
From His human acts. For the very same reasons that when we see a person, we know he is a man. Jesus Christ was born, worked, prayed, suffered, had friends, and wept for them...
3. How do we know that Jesus Christ is God?
From His divine acts. He worked numerous miracles and spoke with divine authority. For instance, when commenting on the commandments God had given to Moses, He perfected them by declaring: "But I say to you."
4. Have other saints not performed miracles?
Yes, many—yet in a very different way. When saints perform miracles, they take great care to attribute those deeds to God, knowing they act solely through the power the Lord grants them. Jesus Christ, by contrast, acted by His own power: "I say to you, arise."
5. Some consequences of the divinity of Christ
- His words are of supreme importance because they are the voice of God. Hence the great interest in knowing His doctrine and putting it into practice.
- His clear love for mankind is wondrous, for it is the love of God. Knowing that God loves us is a reason for gratitude and a powerful impetus to serve Him generously.
- The means of sanctification He left us (the 7 sacraments) are essential, as they are divine aids. Naturally, we seek to receive them frequently.
- The Church He founded is indispensable because God Himself founded it. She preserves and transmits what Christ entrusted to us.
6. What do we retain from Christ's time on earth?
The presence of God among us is the most magnificent event in human history. Apart from archaeological remains, we retain four great realities from Christ's time on earth:
- His doctrine, His teachings, and His example.
- The 7 sacraments He instituted.
- Holy Mary as our Mother.
- The Pope, the successor of Peter, who ensures that these teachings are preserved and spread throughout the whole world.
7. How do we know which sacraments and teachings of Christ are genuine?
Because the Pope endorses certain doctrines and rejects others. For this he has divine assistance, since obviously the Lord desires that His teachings be handed down without error.
B. Historical Data about Jesus Christ
1. What historical sources do we have concerning Jesus?
We have three types of information sources: Christian, Jewish, and pagan. Christian documents are the most abundant, prominent among them being the four Gospels. We also have the other books of the New Testament and the extensive writings of the Church Fathers, such as Saint Augustine, Saint Jerome, etc.
2. What do Jewish authors attest?
Let us cite two important examples:
- Flavius Josephus in "Jewish Antiquities", written at the end of the first century, states: "About this time appeared Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he performed wonderful works, and was a teacher of men (...). Denounced by the leaders of our nation, Pilate condemned him to the punishment of the cross."
- The Babylonian Talmud of the fifth century records: "On the eve of Passover, Jesus of Nazareth was hanged on a scaffold."
3. What do Roman authors state?
Tacitus, in his Annals written around AD 116, mentions Christians thus: "This name comes from Christ, who, under the reign of Tiberius, was executed by the procurator Pontius Pilate." Jesus is also mentioned in other writings by Pliny the Younger, Suetonius, etc.
4. Did Jesus ever marry?
No, absolutely not. No history book, no serious document supports that assertion. To say that Jesus married or had a child is as false as claiming that he traveled from town to town on a motorcycle. It simply never happened. A few Gnostic writings mention it, but they also speak of 8, 12, or 30 divine aeon pairs, and other notions brimming with fantasy; they were fond of divine male-female pairings, and it is natural that they would assign Jesus his corresponding partner to fit him into their elaborate speculations.
For Christian sources, see gospels. A summary of the life of Christ can also be consulted.