How old was Jesus when he died? Why scholars can't agree on an exact age. (2024)

Jesus Christ (also known as Jesus of Galilee or Jesus of Nazareth) is the central figure in Christianity who is seen as the son of God. Important aspects of the Christian canon are the Virgin Birth of Jesus from his mother, Mary, and Jesus’ death, which was the crucifixion.

This brings up the question of how long he lived. Different sources havedifferent death and birth dates. Research concludes it is difficult to find the exact date of Jesus’ death because ofdifferences in the chronology of narratives surrounding his final days.

How old was Jesus when he died? Why scholars can't agree on an exact age. (1)

How old was Jesus when he died?

Jesus was born around 4 B.C. and was crucified in A.D. 30, according to the PBS FRONTLINE show "From Jesus to Christ." Britannica cites his birth year as ranging from 6 to4 B.C. and has the same death year as Frontline.

In general, Jesus’ age at death is heavily contested by scholars, according to "Dating the Death of Jesus" by Helen Bond and published online by Cambridge University Press in 2013. Some cite Jesus’ death as happening on 14th of Nisan, which would be “FridayApril 7th 30 [A.D.]or April 3rd 33,” based on a scholar'stimeline preference, but Bond does not subscribe to the specificity of those dates.

Depending on which calendars or accounts ofJesus’ final days people use, it is difficult to find one specific answer on when Jesus died and as a result, how old he was.

However, Bond makes the case Jesus died around Passover, between A.D. 29 and 34.Considering Jesus’ varying chronology, he was 33 to 40 years old at his time of death.

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How old was Mary when Jesus died?

According to Christianity.com, Mary was 46 to 49 years old when Jesus died. Britannica states that she “flourished” from 25 B.C. to A.D. 75. Assuming this is in reference to her lifespan, according toBritannica,Mary was approximately 54 to 59 years old when Jesus died.

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How old was Jesus when he died? Why scholars can't agree on an exact age. (2024)

FAQs

How old was Jesus when he died? Why scholars can't agree on an exact age.? ›

However, Bond makes the case Jesus died around Passover, between A.D. 29 and 34. Considering Jesus' varying chronology, he was 33 to 40 years old at his time of death.

Why is Jesus year 33? ›

Thirty-three, after all, is a “Jesus Year.” Jesus did his most important work in the three years before he died at 33, which is why some believe the age is important, sacred even.

When was Jesus most likely born according to scholars? ›

AD 6 in his book Antiquities of the Jews (written c. AD 93), by indicating that Cyrenius/Quirinius began to be the governor of Syria in AD 6 and a census took place during his tenure sometime between AD 6–7. Since Herod died a decade before this census, most scholars generally accept a date of birth between 6 and 4 BC.

What was the average life expectancy in Jesus' time? ›

He concluded that individuals born before 100 BC lived as long (median 72 years) as those who died in the periods 1850-1899 and 1900-1949 (median 71 and 71.5 years).

What is the missing age of Jesus? ›

The ages of 12 and 29, the approximate ages at either end of the unknown years, have some significance in Judaism of the Second Temple period: 13 is the age of the bar mitzvah, the age of secular maturity, and 30 the age of readiness for the priesthood, although Jesus was not of the tribe of Levi.

Why is 33 so important in the Bible? ›

In religion and mythology

The divine name Elohim appears 33 times in the story of creation in the opening chapters of Genesis. Jesus' traditional age when he was crucified and resurrected. According to Al-Ghazali the dwellers of Heaven will exist eternally in a state of being age 33.

What age is considered the Jesus year? ›

I know someone somewhere read the title and wondered “What is a “Jesus Year?” For those who aren't familiar with the story, Jesus of Nazareth was believed to have been crucified and resurrected during his 33rd year of life.

Who decided what year Jesus was born? ›

Two main methods have been used to estimate the year of the birth of Jesus: one based on the accounts of his birth in the gospels with reference to King Herod's reign, and another based on subtracting his stated age of "about 30 years" from the time when he began preaching (Luke 3:23) in "the fifteenth year of the ...

Why was December 25th chosen as the birthday of Jesus? ›

“The real reason for the selection of Dec. 25 seems to have been that it is exactly nine months after March 25, the traditional date of Jesus' crucifixion. … As Christians developed the theological idea that Jesus was conceived and crucified on the same date, they set the date of his birth nine months later.”

What was Jesus' actual birthday? ›

Some scholars believe that he was born between 6 B.C. and 4 B.C., based partly on the biblical story of King Herod the Great. In an attempt to kill Jesus, the king allegedly ordered the death of all male infants under the age of 2 who lived in the vicinity of Bethlehem, an event known as the Massacre of the Innocents.

How long was a year in biblical times? ›

History. In ancient times, twelve thirty-day months were used making a total of 360 days for the year. Abraham, used the 360-day year, which was known in Ur. The Genesis account of the flood in the days of Noah illustrated this 360-day year by recording the 150-day interval till the waters abated from the earth.

How old was Mary when she gave birth to Jesus? ›

Some scholars hold the view that among them it typically happened between their mid and late teen years or late teens and early twenties.

How long did humans live 5000 years ago? ›

The life expectancy of the Early Bronze Age and its contemporaries is around 35-40 years. People died at a very young age. Infant and child mortality was very high. The limited food resources and infectious diseases were also factors, too.”

How many siblings did Jesus have? ›

According to Mark 6:3 Jesus had four brothers (and two sisters): "Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?

Where did Jesus go for 17 years? ›

Ancient Buddhist manuscripts say Jesus left Palestine and traveled to India, Nepal, Ladakh and Tibet. For the first time, Prophet brings together the testimony of four eyewitnesses of these remarkable manuscripts plus three different translations of the texts.

What language did Jesus speak? ›

Aramaic is best known as the language Jesus spoke. It is a Semitic language originating in the middle Euphrates. In 800-600 BC it spread from there to Syria and Mesopotamia.

Why is the 33rd birthday important? ›

For some, turning 33 means that a burst of energy and success happens in life. For others, it is the beginning of a midlife crisis.

What is the significance of turning 33? ›

33 is pretty unique. Number 33 is a Master Number (Master Teacher) and resonates with the energies of compassion, blessings, inspiration, honesty, discipline, bravery and courage. Number 33 tells us that 'all things are possible'. 33 is also the number that symbolizes 'guidance'.

What is so special about age 33? ›

At 33, individuals are often considered to be in the prime of their adulthood. They have gained substantial life experience and are at a stage where they have a better understanding of themselves and the world around them.

What happened in the year 33? ›

The year 33 AD was marked by two disturbances throughout the Roman empire. The first was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ who was tried before Pontius Pilot and then crucified to give rise to a new world religion.

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