One of the most controversial figures in history, Jesus of Nazareth is also one of the most influential. His short life and ministry sparked the beginning of a new religion that today has become one of the largest in the world and has been the subject of intense debate among scholars and the general population for centuries . Some groups, such as the Jesus Seminar, assert that the historical Jesus did not say or do most of the things attested to him in the New Testament, while more conservative scholars believe that most, if not all, statements and actions of the New Testament. The wills were factual. Still others, like Rudolf Bultmann, believe that it does not matter whether Jesus is historical or not: one can still have faith outside of history. Some people believe that Jesus was a real person, but that he was not the Messiah that the Jewish people expected. Rather, He was simply a good person and a good teacher who was killed unjustly. Many others have based their faith and even their lives on Jesus' teachings and call Him Lord, among them CS Lewis, who later suggested that one cannot call Jesus a good teacher and be done with it. According to Lewis' trilemma, because Jesus claimed to be God, then he must either be God, be crazy, or be a liar (Lewis 51). However, before forming an opinion about the person of Jesus, it is essential to examine the documents related to his life and what they say about him, as well as his teachings and his mission. There is too much debate surrounding the person of Jesus to find a consensus among scholars with which one can agree – that is an opinion that must be formed for oneself. Our primary source of information about the person of Jesus is the Bible, which includes both the Ancient...... middle of paper...... gh The divinity of Jesus is widely debated, one cannot deny the fact that Jesus of Nazareth existed. Numerous sources, biblical and extra-biblical, mention this historical character and evoke his life and his teaching. Everyone who hears about Jesus must ultimately make a decision about who He really was, and that decision could change their life. Regardless of what one thinks of Jesus, he was certainly a very influential individual who changed the course of history, and his ideas are still relevant today. Carver, Stephen. “Sources for Studying Jesus.” BI 250. Warner Pacific College, Portland. October 7, 2010. Conference.—. “The historical context of the life of Jesus.” BI 250. Warner Pacific College, Portland. September 16, 2010. Conference. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008. Print. Lewis, CS Mere Christianity. New York: Macmillan, 1952. Print.