The New Testament Period

Jesus of Nazareth, born during Herod’s reign, grows up in obscurity until around age 30, when he begins a public ministry of teaching, healing, and proclaiming the kingdom of God. He gathers twelve disciples, teaches in parables, challenges religious authorities, and claims a unique relationship with God. His ministry culminates in Jerusalem, where he is arrested, tried, crucified under Pontius Pilate, and—according to his followers—rises from the dead on the third day. This resurrection becomes the foundation of Christianity. The early church spreads rapidly, especially through Paul’s missionary journeys to the Gentile world. His letters, along with the Gospels and other writings, form the New Testament. In 70 CE, Rome destroys the Second Temple, fundamentally reshaping both Judaism (which reorganizes around rabbinic tradition) and Christianity (which increasingly separates from its Jewish roots).