# Would Jesus be Christian? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 1, 2009, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980 "2009-11-01T21:31:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/21 "2009-11-04T01:58:14Z")
> [@Nilesta](#): > > If Jesus came back, that would mean Revelations was correct. That’s a purely Christian concept, > **[Jesus in Islam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_in_Islam#Second_coming)** > > In Islam, Jesus (Arabic: .mw-parser-output .script-arabic{font-family:"Scheherazade New",Lateef,LateefGR,"Noto Naskh Arabic","Microsoft Uighur","Noto Sans Arabic","Arabic Typesetting",Amiri,"Sakkal Majalla","Harmattan","SF Arabic","Arabic Transparent","Times New Roman",Arial,Parastoo,Calibri,"Segoe UI","Microsoft Sans Serif","Droid Arabic Naskh",serif,sans-serif;font-weight:normal}عيسى بن مريم‎, romanized: ʿĪsā ibn Maryam, lit. 'Jesus, son of Mary'), referred to by the Arabic rendering of his n... > **[Second Coming in Mormonism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Coming_%28LDS_Church%29)** > > Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and faithful adherents to the Latter Day Saint movement, believe that there will be a Second Coming of Jesus Christ to the earth sometime in the future. The LDS Church and its leaders do not make predictions of the actual date of the Second Coming. > According to LDS Church teachings, the restored gospel will be taught in all parts of the world prior to the Second Coming. The members of the church believe that the scriptures p... ---
**Author:** ![Nilesta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Nilesta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nilesta)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/22 "2009-11-04T02:12:54Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > [Jesus in Islam - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_in_Islam#Second_coming) > > [Second Coming in Mormonism - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Coming_%28LDS_Church%29) And right under that it says: > [@](#): > > Islam regards all prophets, including Jesus, to be mortal and without any share in divinity. Meaning not the son of God. And LDS is a type of Christian. > **[Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Christ_%28Latter_Day_Saints%29)** > > The Church of Christ was the original name of the Latter Day Saint church founded by Joseph Smith. Organized informally in 1829 in upstate New York and then formally on April 6, 1830, it was the first organization to implement the principles found in Smith's newly published Book of Mormon, and thus its establishment represents the formal beginning of the Latter Day Saint movement. Later names for this organization included the Church of the Latter Day Saints (by 1834 resolution), the Church Smith... ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/23 "2009-11-04T02:17:54Z")
Jesus HIMSELF said he was a Jew. It’s a rather unambiguous point made many times in the Bible. Why would He change his mind? ---
**Author:** ![Snag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Snag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snag)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/24 "2009-11-04T02:42:25Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Thomas Aquinas was of the opposite opinion - that while they are incorporeal/spiritual beings, several angels cannot occupy the same point in space at the same time. So, one angel per pinhead, tops. > > As for me, I say : nonsense. The answer is 67. What type of pin? Flat head, round head, push pin. By what manufacturer? I see no obvious benchmarks here for your assumption. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/25 "2009-11-04T02:47:53Z")
> [@Nilesta](#): > > And right under that it says: > > Meaning not the son of God. What does that have to do with whether or not Jesus is going to come back a second time and the apocalypse (Revelations)? ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/26 "2009-11-04T03:26:02Z")
[QUOTE=Nilesta] If Jesus came back, that would mean Revelations was correct. [/QUOTE] Well, only the part that says ‘Jesus will come back’. If Jesus’ return heralds the angels carting out the Holy Barbeque, serving up some really heavenly chicken wings, and casting them in a lake of firey hot sauce, then Revelations really wasn’t correct. > [@RickJay](#): > > Jesus HIMSELF said he was a Jew. It’s a rather unambiguous point made many times in the Bible. > > Why would He change his mind? Whoa. Jesus is God. God is Jewish. God is always right isn’t he? I mean, he really wouldn’t be wrong about something like that, would he? So, does that mean that if Christianity is right, Judaism is the correct religion? ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/27 "2009-11-04T03:30:32Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Did Jesus teach he was God’s Unique Son/Word and if not fully Divine, at least the nearest being to God; did he teach he would die for humanity’s sins and rise to make eternal life available to us; and finally, did he teach that entrusting oneself to him would grant one eternal life? I believe he did indeed teach all this, as recorded in the Gospels, and thus did adhere to the essential distinctions of the Christian faith. He’d be pleased with some modern-day aspects of it, outraged at others, and YMMV on how he would react to what aspect. Of course that means accepting certain interpretations of particular passages. Others, like myself, would say that those things were taught and stressed by later followers who actually misunderstood his teachings and stressed the wrong verses while downplaying other important ones. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/28 "2009-11-04T05:51:52Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > Whoa. Jesus is God. God is Jewish. God is always right isn’t he? I mean, he really wouldn’t be wrong about something like that, would he? So, does that mean that if Christianity is right, Judaism is the correct religion? Theoretically, Christianity is just an interpretation of Judaism. The New Testament isn’t a rewrite of the old book, it’s just added perspective on it. Within Judaism there is, similarly, the Talmud (though I gather that it’s significantly longer, and of course isn’t purported to come from the Son of God). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/29 "2009-11-04T06:38:44Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > Christians believe that Jesus is the son of god, died on the cross, rose from the dead, etc. If Jesus is real and did all those things, he wouldn’t have to believe it, he would know it. OTOH, it’s far from certain Jesus believed he was the son of God. That **ain’t** the Jewish Messiah. The Messiah is not divine, he is a mortal man favored of God, the “son of God” only in a metaphorical sense. I don’t think he’s supposed to be executed or rise from the dead, either, but you could interpret some OT passages that way if you strain. If Jesus were the resurrected Jewish Messiah, he (definitely “he” with a lower-case “h”) would be utterly horrified by a religion that worships **him!** ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SmartAlx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlx)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/30 "2009-11-04T15:41:46Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I’d say he was _indirectly_ responsible for Christianity rather than directly. Christianity was far more the creation of Paul. Actually, it was Peter, who Jesus made into the head of His new church. Paul’s books were written to Christian churches. Even if Saul wasn’t converted into Paul, we would still have Jesus’ church. In that case Jesus was DIRECTLY responsible for Christianity. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/31 "2009-11-04T16:51:59Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Jesus taught loving commitment to God and radical caring for one’s fellow man. There is much more to His teaching than that, but it stands as a good first-cut summary. Jesus would not “be a Christian” in the modern doctrinal/pietistic sense any more than Henry VIII would be “a good subject of the Crown” in his day. But the behavior He exhibited should be exemplary for those who follow Him; in that sense, He is the ideal Christian. I bet he would have some choice words for televangelists, dominionists, and what passes for “christian” in some circles. Oh wait, he already has had some very choice words. Dens of inequity, vipers, rotting tombs, thieves, wolves in sheeps clothing, judge not, etc. No, he wouold certainly NOT be a christian, as SOME people define that. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SmartAlx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlx)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/32 "2009-11-04T18:14:25Z")
I’m pretty sure that when Jesus gets here He is going to redefine Christianity. You know, this question sort of makes me want to ask a similar question of Buddha. Was Buddha a Buddhist? ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/33 "2009-11-04T21:13:46Z")
I was reading about this earlier this week, supposedly he was baptized by John or Peter or Paul. There is even a map of his possible baptism spot in my bible. Therefore, I would conclude that Jesus was Jewish, but converted to Christianity. But, I’ll believe it when I see a baptismal certificate. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/34 "2009-11-04T23:10:12Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > I was reading about this earlier this week, supposedly he was baptized by John or Peter or Paul. There is even a map of his possible baptism spot in my bible. > > Therefore, I would conclude that Jesus was Jewish, but converted to Christianity. > > But, I’ll believe it when I see a baptismal certificate. > **[Mikveh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikvah)** > > A mikveh (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}pronounced \[/ˈmik.ve/\]; Hebrew: מִקְוֶא, romanized: miqveʾ, lit. 'a gathering \[of water\]'; pl. mikve'ot or mikvot\[a\]) or mikvah (IPA: \[/miqˈwaː/\]) is a bath used during ritual immersion in Judaism to achieve ritual purity. > In Orthodox Judaism, these regulations are steadfastly adhered to; co... ---
**Author:** ![SmartAlx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@SmartAlx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAlx)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/35 "2009-11-05T00:14:19Z")
You know, being Jewish is both a religion and a race. If Jesus converted to Christianity I don’t think he would stop being Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/36 "2009-11-20T13:14:01Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > If I’m not mistaken, in the Book of Revelation it says that Jesus comes back right before and/or during the End Times. Right? > > Jesus was Jewish, according to the Bible, right? But he was also directly responsible for Christianity, a religion that worships him, right? > > So, if/when Jesus comes back, will he be Jewish or Christian? Or something else? According to Matthew chapter 16 Jesus said he would return in glory with his angels before some of them standing there saw death. That would contradict Johns Revelations. He also said that generation would not pass away until all things were accomplished; many generations have passed. The RCC translates generation to mean something different, but Matthew also uses the word Generation as we do now, when he gave the generations between Jesus and David, he states there were 14 generations between them. It would seem in that case he would not come as a Christian, as Christianity would not yet be established. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/37 "2009-11-20T13:26:02Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > OTOH, it’s far from certain Jesus believed he was the son of God. That **ain’t** the Jewish Messiah. The Messiah is not divine, he is a mortal man favored of God, the “son of God” only in a metaphorical sense. I don’t think he’s supposed to be executed or rise from the dead, either, but you could interpret some OT passages that way if you strain. If Jesus were the resurrected Jewish Messiah, he (definitely “he” with a lower-case “h”) would be utterly horrified by a religion that worships **him!** The psalmist calls the Jewish people god and son’s of god,Jesus(According to the NT) reminded the pharisees of that when he was accused of Blasphmey that their fathers also called themselves gods and sons of god. In that age even the Pharohs were called gods, or thought of that way, so the meaning of the word god would not be as we think of it today. It seems each culture had it’s god, and they all wanted their god to be more powerful than the other. It is my understanding that back in that time the Jewish people believed their god was only for them. The idea evolved to mean only one god for all. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/38 "2009-11-20T14:49:51Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > And it’s also my opinion that Jesus, if he came back, would be a devout Jew and would be horrified to hear of the evils wrought on the Jewish people in his name over the centuries. I don’t think he’d want anything to do with Christians. “If Christ himself were alive, one thing he would not be would be a Christian.” - Mark Twain And I fully believe that! > [@Nilesta](#): > > If Jesus came back, that would mean Revelations was correct. That’s a purely Christian concept, as such he would have to be Christian. Jews believe Jesus was just some guy, Muslims thought he was a prophet, but not the son of god. The other non-Abrahamic religions don’t consider Jesus at all. I am not a Muslim, but I have tried to learn as much about this religion as I can. One thing I’ve learned (I may be wrong, if there’s any Muslims or those that know the Quran better than I) is that Muslims also believe that Jesus is the central figure in their escatology, and that he will return pretty much as Revelation describes (although it is the non-Muslims that will be cast into the lake of fire) - Jesus, while not being the son of God in Islam, is one of their five great prophets (the other four are Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Muhammed), and I think Muslims (or at least the Quran, a Muslim himself might have to get over a lot of political baggage to say this) would agree with most of what the Bible says about Jesus and what He said (except, of course, for him being God’s Son and that the only way to salvation is through Him.) ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/39 "2009-11-20T15:07:23Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > … I think Muslims (or at least the Quran, a Muslim himself might have to get over a lot of political baggage to say this) would agree with most of what the Bible says about Jesus and what He said (except, of course, for him being God’s Son and that the only way to salvation is through Him.) Also, except for the Crucifixion & Resurrection. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980/40 "2009-11-20T19:08:14Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Also, except for the Crucifixion & Resurrection. I’ll grant you the Resurrection, but how did they believe he died? That is something I haven’t learned yet, and I figured they believed that his cause of death was crucifixion (whether you believe that Jesus was God or not, if you believe he existed, it seems that there’s general agreement that he was at least crucified, makes sense to me, as that’s what the Romans did with their troublemakers, which Jesus more than qualified as one.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-jesus-be-christian/515980.md?page=3)