# Jesus Christ — The Age of Reason character guide > Jesus Christ in The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Jesus, Christ **First appearance:** 0001-the-age-of-reason ## Snapshot The Galilean preacher Paine refuses to dismiss as a fraud, even as he dismantles the miraculous machinery built around him — a moral teacher buried under two contradictory genealogies. ## Who they are Paine separates the man from the myth: he grants that a Mary, a Joseph, a Jesus likely existed, and calls philanthropy the great trait of Jesus's character, then turns his scalpel on the four gospels that claim to record him. Matthew and Luke cannot agree on a single name between David and Joseph across twenty-eight versus forty-three generations, and Paine treats that disagreement as proof of fabrication rather than mystery. The tension is sharp — he admires the teacher while rejecting the doctrine of atonement as blasphemously obscene — and this split between ethical reverence and theological demolition drives the book's central argument. ## Relationships ### [Matthew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/matthew) _professional_ Matthew is one of Jesus's apostles and gospel writer, documenting his teachings and ministry. ### [Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/eve) _family_ Eve is the first woman and ancestress of humanity, with Jesus being her distant descendant through the lineage of Israel. ### [John the Baptist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/john_the_baptist) _family_ John the Baptist is Jesus's cousin and forerunner who baptizes him and heralds his ministry. ### [Mark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/mark) _professional_ Mark is a disciple and gospel writer who records Jesus's life and teachings. ### [Moses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/moses) _psychological_ Jesus is often compared to Moses as a new lawgiver, with Moses representing the old covenant Jesus fulfills. ### [Isaiah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/isaiah) _psychological_ Isaiah's prophecies are seen as foretelling Jesus's coming and suffering, creating a prophetic link. ### [Judas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/judas) _rivalry_ Judas is one of Jesus's apostles who betrays him for thirty pieces of silver, leading to his arrest. ### [Joseph le Bon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/joseph_le_bon) _rivalry_ Joseph le Bon embodies revolutionary terror and atheism, opposing Jesus's message of peace and divine authority. ### [Matthew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/matthew) _professional_ Matthew is one of Jesus's apostles and gospel writer, documenting his teachings and ministry. ### [John the Baptist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/john_the_baptist) _family_ John the Baptist is Jesus's cousin and forerunner who baptizes him and heralds his ministry. ### [Matthew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/matthew) _professional_ Matthew is one of Jesus's apostles and gospel writer, documenting his teachings and ministry. ### [Judas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/judas) _rivalry_ Judas is one of Jesus's apostles who betrays him for thirty pieces of silver, leading to his arrest. ## In the story ### [Editor's Introduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/editor-s-introduction) Paine's tribute to Jesus included words rendered by Lanthenas as 'trop peu imité, trop oublié, trop meconnu'; Paine attempted to recover the human Jesus. ### [II: Of Missions and Revelations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-ii-of-missions-and-revelations) Mentioned as the Christian founder whose divine sonship story Paine traces to heathen mythology. ### [III: Concerning the Character of Jesus Christ, and His History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-iii-concerning-the-character-of-jesus-christ-and-his-history) Described as a virtuous and amiable man who preached excellent morality and equality, but whose supernatural history is deemed fraudulent by Paine. ### [Of the Bases of Christianity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-iv-of-the-bases-of-christianity) Portrayed as a virtuous and amiable man, but used by Christian mythologists as a sacrificial figure in their fable. ### [VIII: Of the New Testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-viii-of-the-new-testament) Portrayed as a Jewish moral teacher who did not intend to establish a new religion or be crucified. ### [IX: In What the True Revelation Consists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-ix-in-what-the-true-revelation-consists) Mentioned as a figure whose mission to publish glad tidings to all nations is inconsistent with the diversity of languages and the lack of printing. ### [X: Concerning God, and the Lights Cast on His Existence and Attributes by the Bible](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-x-concerning-god-and-the-lights-cast-on-his-existence-and-attributes-by-the-bible) Mentioned for his saying 'Behold the lilies of the field' as a modest reference to the works of God. ### [XIII: Comparison of Christianism with the Religious Ideas Inspired by Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-xiii-comparison-of-christianism-with-the-religious-ideas-inspired-by-nature) Referenced in the context of the Christian story of redemption by the death of the Son of God. ### [XVI: Application of the Preceding to the System of the Christians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-xvi-application-of-the-preceding-to-the-system-of-the-christians) Referenced as the preacher of morality whose teachings were combined with the Christian system. ### [XVII: Of the Means Employed in All Time, and Almost Universally, to Deceive the Peoples](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-i-xvii-of-the-means-employed-in-all-time-and-almost-universally-to-deceive-the-peoples) Referenced in the context of the miracle of the devil taking him to a high mountain; Paine expresses respect for his moral character. ### [II: The New Testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-ii-ii-the-new-testament) Central figure of the New Testament; Paine discusses the contradictory genealogies and the resurrection story as a fabricated legend. ### [III: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-conclusion) Referenced as one of those who did not bring scientific knowledge; also as part of Christian mythology. ### [To the Ministers and Preachers of All Denominations of Religion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-to-the-ministers-and-preachers-of-all-denominations-of-religion) Discussed as the subject of alleged Old Testament prophecies, which Paine denies exist. ### [An Essay on Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-an-essay-on-dreams) Referenced as the subject of the New Testament dream narratives and as a figure whose divinity is based on a dream. ### [An Examination of the Passages in the New Testament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-an-examination-of-the-passages-in-the-new-testament) Central figure of the New Testament, whose claimed prophecies are scrutinized. ### [The Book of Mark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-the-book-of-mark) Central figure in the gospel accounts, riding into Jerusalem and being crucified. ### [The Book of Luke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-the-book-of-luke) Central figure in the Gospel of Luke, whose life and actions are scrutinized by Paine. ### [The Book of John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-the-book-of-john) Portrayed as an imaginary or allegorical character, whose story is argued to be a human invention derogatory to God. ### [Contradictory Doctrines Between Matthew and Mark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/chapters/part-iii-contradictory-doctrines-between-matthew-and-mark) Quoted in both Mark and Matthew as preaching contradictory doctrines on salvation. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters/jesus_christ - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_age_of_reason_se/characters