This simple summary of the teachings of Jesus is written for anyone and assumes no prior knowledge of history or of Christianity. Jesus was a Jew, and the terminology of Jewish beliefs pervade the record of his life and teachings. Words and phrases for aspects of Jewish religious life are briefly explained in the page on Judaism at the Time of Jesus.

Jesus is referred to here -- for instance, in "Who Was Jesus?" -- in the past tense. Christians believe in the continuing life and spiritual presence of Jesus now. But learning from Jesus must include what he said during a brief period of time long ago, and the subsequent establishment of the Christian faith was intended not to replace but to mediate Jesus' call for people to become his followers.

Jesus' teachings are, so to speak, available to the public. No institution owns him or can effectively claim sole right to explain what he is about. What he claimed for himself is absolute and uncompromising and what he asked of his followers is devastating to any attempt to moderate his teachings or divide them so as to use some parts and discard others.

next