Three years is the usual thinking, although some feel it was only one.
How so?
There is few internal evidences or clues:
1 - The Gospels account a total of 3 Passover. The first being at the very beggining of the ministry (John), and the third being the Pasion. That elapse 2 years.
2- The Gospels describe the original ministry as one year ministry; but at the end of that time, Jesus requested from the Father a extra one year extention.
3 - A good hermony of the Gospels acommodate all facts in 2 years, not 1 nor 3.
4 - The reconstruction of the Jew Calendar in combination with the accounts of the Pasion, makes fit the year 30 as the perfect match.
The RCC is right. There are a lot of factors to consider that are often ignored. Jesus was about thirty when he began his ministry. His ministry lasted about three plus years. If he died in 33AD then he was born in 1AD. There was no census that year because it happened in 3BC. That makes it 30AD. Herod died in 1AD so where do you put the 2 years and under of the Magi? God gave Israel 40 years to repent beginning at the cross and he destroyed them in 70AD - 40 years. The edict was given in 457 BC which calculates out to 30AD also.
What year do you believe Jesus Christ was crucified?
Growing up in the RCC we were taught that 30 AD is the year of His crucifixion.
I still believe that is correct year based upon several sorces. I am curious as to why and when you might think or believe it is another year.
Shalom
Mark