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Year 8

Anthropology of Jesus

I can explain the evidence for the existence of Jesus from both Christian and non-Christian perspectives and the significance of these sources.

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New
New
Year 8

Anthropology of Jesus

I can explain the evidence for the existence of Jesus from both Christian and non-Christian perspectives and the significance of these sources.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Many historians agree that there is evidence of Jesus as a historical figure.
  2. Evidence for Jesus as a historical figure includes the New Testament and writings from non-Christian scholars.
  3. Sources of authority tell us that Jesus was a Jewish man, born in Bethlehem.
  4. The writings of non-Christians on the existence of Jesus may be considered more reliable.
  5. Jesus has had significant historical as well as religious influence.

Keywords

  • Anthropology/anthropological - relating to the study of humankind

  • Figure - a person who is important or distinctive in some way

  • Historian - a person who studies and writes about events from the past

  • Theologian - a person who studies religion, religious texts and religious beliefs

Common misconception

Non-Christians reject the existence of Jesus completely.

Many non-Christians, including non-religious people, do accept that Jesus existed as a person, but reject that he existed as anything more than a historical figure.


To help you plan your year 8 religious education lesson on: Anthropology of Jesus, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You may wish to use this BBC article with students, or for your own research, to help break down misconceptions about Jesus' appearance that students may have: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35120965.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword refers to the group of monotheistic religions that Judaism, Christianity and Islam belong to?
Davidic
Correct answer: Abrahamic
Mosaic
Noahic
Q2.
The New covenant is found in the New .
Correct Answer: Testament
Q3.
Many Christians believe that Jesus' death was a ...
sacrament.
Correct answer: sacrifice.
sanctuary.
sin.
Q4.
Many Christians believe that after Jesus died, he ...
rejoiced.
was reincarnated.
Correct answer: was resurrected.
was reformed.
Q5.
The belief that God is one, in three persons, is known as the ...
Correct answer: Trinity.
Triad.
Tripod.
Trimurti.
Q6.
Which Christian denomination rejects the belief that Jesus is God?
Correct answer: Jehovah's Witnesses
Orthodox Christianity
Catholic Christianity
Anglican Christianity

5 Questions

Q1.
Which keyword refers to the study of humankind?
Correct answer: anthropology
theology
history
Q2.
Historians and theologians have been able to identify that Jesus was a __________ man.
Christian
Correct answer: Jewish
Muslim
Q3.
Who are the earliest Christian writings attributed to?
Correct answer: St Paul
St Peter
St Thomas
St Mark
Q4.
Who did not write about Jesus?
Flavius Josephus
Pliny the Younger
Correct answer: Pontius Pilate
Tacitus
Q5.
Non-Christian writings about Jesus are significant because they show that Jesus had influence, as well as a religious influence.
Correct Answer: historical

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