How long did Jesus live?

Response

The Bible does not provide an exact duration for Jesus’ earthly life. Much of our understanding of His age is based on informed estimations.

In Jewish tradition, a priest could commence public ministry at the age of 30. Consequently, Jesus initiated His public ministry at around the age of 30 «And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, », (Luke 3:23). This stands as the primary time marker regarding Jesus’ age. When calculating the duration of Jesus’ life, a challenge arises as the gospels do not present (nor claim to present) a complete record of all His activities. Nevertheless, there is biblical indication that Jesus observed at least three distinct Passovers during His public ministry. While there may have been additional Passovers unrecorded, if we consider a minimum of three, His public ministry would span between 2 to 3 years. By adding the approximately three years of ministry to the age of “about 30” at the start of His public ministry, we arrive at an age range of about 33–36.

Considering other historical dates and events, it is evident that Jesus could not have had a public ministry lasting many years. According to the historian Josephus, the high priest Caiaphas, who oversaw the conspiracy to crucify Jesus, held office until AD 36, and Pilate governed Judea from AD 26 to 36/37, indicating that the crucifixion occurred before AD 36. If Jesus was born between 6 and 4 BC, a widely accepted timeframe based on Herod the Great’s death date, then the possible lifespan of Jesus would be 6 BC—AD 36. This would place Jesus’ age at the time of His crucifixion at a maximum of 41 years. Therefore, the duration of Jesus’ life ranges between 32 and 41 years, with the most probable and commonly accepted estimation being

Ted is 36 years old.

When discussing Jesus’ age, it is essential to note that the 32-41 years of His life represent only the time our Lord spent on earth. The Son of God had no beginning; His birth through the virgin Mary marked His entry into the human race. He is the eternal God and existed “in the beginning” «In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. », (John 1:1). Similarly, He is alive today, seated at the right hand of the Father «Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. », (Hebrews 7:25) and will live forever «I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. », (Revelation 1:18).