From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians - Part 1

Frontline

Part one of the series From Jesus to Christ examines the influence of Judaism and the Roman Empire on the life of Jesus. Through compelling interviews with archeologists, theologians, and historians it is revealed that Jesus was an ordinary Jewish resident of his time, but new findings show that he was probably not of the assumed humble class. Nazareth, where he grew up, was about four miles from the cosmopolitan urban center of Sepphoris, one of the Roman provincial cities. And while Rome defined one dimension of Jesus' world, the other was symbolized by the great Temple in Jerusalem. The film also reveals an excavation of new theories leading to Jesus’ crucifixion—likely an act of the Romans—with little notice taken by Jewish people. Produced by Frontline. Distributed by PBS Distribution. Part of the series From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians. (60 minutes)