April 3, AD 33

First Things ^ | April 3, 2014 | by Andreas J. Köstenberger and Justin Taylor

[Rashputin]

April 3, AD 33

In our new book, The Final Days of Jesus: The Most Important Week of the Most Important Person Who Ever Lived , we assume but do not argue for a precise date of Jesus’s crucifixion. Virtually all scholars believe, for various reasons, that Jesus was crucified in the spring of either a.d. 30 or a.d. 33, with the majority opting for the former. ( The evidence from astronomy narrows the possibilities to a.d. 27, 30, 33, or 34). However, we want to set forth our case for the date of Friday, April 3, a.d. 33 as the exact day that Christ died for our sins.

To be clear, the Bible does not explicitly specify the precise date of Jesus’s crucifixion and it is not an essential salvation truth. But that does not make it unknowable or unimportant. Because Christianity is a historical religion and the events of Christ’s life did take place in human history alongside other known events, it is helpful to locate Jesus’s death—as precisely as the available evidence allows—within the larger context of human history.

Among the Gospel writers, no one makes this point more strongly than Luke, the Gentile physician turned historian and inspired chronicler of early Christianity.

The Year John the Baptist’s Ministry Began

Luke implies that John the Baptist began his public ministry shortly before Jesus did, and he gives us a historical reference point for when the Baptist’s ministry began: “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar . . .” (Luke 3:1).

We know from Roman historians that Tiberius succeeded Augustus as emperor and was confirmed by the Roman Senate on August 19, a.d. 14. He ruled until a.d. 37. “The fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar” sounds like a straightforward date, but there are some ambiguities, beginning with when one starts the calculation. Most likely, Tiberius’s reign was counted either from the day he took office in a.d. 14 or from January 1 of the following year, a.d. 15. The earliest possible date at which Tiberius’s “fifteenth year” began is August 19, a.d. 28, and the latest possible date at which his “fifteenth year” ended is December 31, a.d. 29. So John the Baptist’s ministry began anywhere from mid-a.d. 28 until sometime in a.d. 29.

The Year Jesus’s Ministry Began

If Jesus, as the Gospels seem to indicate, began his ministry not long after John, then based on the calculations above, the earliest date for Jesus’s baptism would be in late a.d. 28 at the very earliest. However, it is more probable to place it sometime in the first half of the year a.d. 29, because a few months probably elapsed between the beginning of John’s ministry and that of Jesus (and the year a.d. 30 is the latest possible date). So Jesus’s ministry must have begun between the end of a.d. 28 at the earliest and a.d. 30 at the latest.

This coheres with Luke’s mention that “Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23). If he was born in 6 or 5 b.c., as is most likely, Jesus would have been approximately thirty-two to thirty-four years old in late a.d. 28 until a.d. 30, which falls well within the range of him being “about thirty years of age.”

The Length of Jesus’s Ministry

Now we need to know how long Jesus’s public ministry lasted, because if it went on for two or more years, this would seem to rule out spring of a.d. 30 as a possible date for the crucifixion.

John’s Gospel mentions that Jesus attended at least three Passovers (possibly four), which took place once a year in the spring:

• There was a Passover in Jerusalem at the start of his public ministry (John 2:13, 23).
• There was a Passover in Galilee midway through his public ministry (John 6:4).
• There was a final Passover in Jerusalem at the end of his public ministry, that is, the time of his crucifixion (John 11:55; 12:1).
• And Jesus may have attended one more Passover not recorded in John but perhaps in one or several of the Synoptic Gospels (i.e., Matthew, Mark, and Luke).

Even if there were only three Passovers, this would still make a date of a.d. 30 all but impossible for the date of the crucifixion. As noted above, the earliest likely date for the beginning of Jesus’s ministry from Luke 3:1 is late a.d. 28. So the first of these Passovers (at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry; John 2:13) would fall on Nisan 14 in a.d. 29 (because Nisan is in March/April, near the beginning of a year). The second would fall in a.d. 30 at the earliest, and the third would fall in 31 at the earliest. This means that if Jesus’s ministry coincided with at least three Passovers, and if the first Passover was in a.d. 29, he could not have been crucified in a.d. 30.

But if John the Baptist began his ministry in a.d. 29, then Jesus probably began his ministry in late a.d. 29 or early a.d. 30. Then the Passovers in John would occur on the following dates:

Nisan 14	a.d. 30	John 2:13
Nisan 14	a.d. 31	either the unnamed feast in John 5:1 or else a Passover that John does not mention (but that may be implied in the Synoptics)
Nisan 14	a.d. 32	John 6:4
Nisan 14	a.d. 33	John 11:55, the Passover at which Jesus was crucified

Jesus Was Crucified on the Day of Preparation for the Passover

John also mentions that Jesus was crucified on “the day of Preparation” (John 19:31), that is, the Friday before the Sabbath of Passover week (Mark 15:42). The night before, on Thursday evening, Jesus ate a Passover meal with the Twelve (Mark 14:12), his “Last Supper.”

In the Pharisaic-rabbinic calendar commonly used in Jesus’s day, Passover always falls on the fourteenth day of Nisan (Exodus 12:6), which begins Thursday after sundown and ends Friday at sundown. In the year a.d. 33, the most likely year of Jesus’s crucifixion, Nisan 14 fell on April 3, yielding April 3, a.d. 33, as the most likely date for the crucifixion. In The Final Days of Jesus, we therefore constructed the following chart to show the dates for Jesus’s final week in a.d. 33:

April 2	Nissan 14	Thursday (Wednesday nightfall to Thursday nightfall)	Day of Passover preparation	Last Supper
April 3	Nissan 15	Friday (Thursday nightfall to Friday nightfall)	Passover; Feast of Unleavened Bread, begins	Crucifixion
April 4	Nissan 16	Saturday (Friday nightfall to Saturday nightfall)	Sabbath
April 5	Nissan 17	Sunday (Saturday nightfall to Sunday nightfall)	First day of the week	Resurrection

Conclusion

The above calculations may appear complicated, but in a nutshell the argument runs like this:

HISTORICAL INFORMATION	YEAR
Beginning of Tiberius’s reign	a.d. 14
Fifteenth year of Tiberius’s reign: Beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry	a.d. 28
A few months later: Beginning of Jesus’s ministry	a.d. 29
Minimum three-year duration of Jesus’ ministry: Most likely date of Jesus’s crucifixion	a.d. 33 (April 3)

While this is in our judgment the most likely scenario, it should be acknowledged that many believe Jesus was crucified in the year a.d. 30, not 33. However, if the beginning of Tiberius’s reign is placed in the year a.d. 14, it is virtually impossible to accommodate fifteen years of Tiberius’s reign and three years of Jesus’ ministry between a.d. 14 and 30. For this reason, some have postulated a co-regency (joint rule) of Tiberius and Augustus during the last few years of Augustus’s reign. However, there is no reliable ancient historical evidence for such co-regency.

[Errant]

Where would you get the idea that it is "Gods will" that we not be observant of his commandments today?

How do you get any plainer than this:

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

And this:

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>Yeshua died to confirm and RENEW his covenant.<<<

I don't know about Yeshua; but Jesus died for the Church, as follows:

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;" (Eph 5:25 KJV)

>>>His chief commandment is to obey all of his commandments.<<<

I agree. And these are his commandments:

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Mat 22:36-40 KJV)

>>>Paul and James stated in the clearest of terms that only doers of his law will be justified. Do you not believe them?<<<

Did you take Romans and James out of context? I believe you did. Maybe you can explain the context you used in making that general accusation.

>>>John stated the direct opposite of what you say in 1John 3<<<

I doubt it. Jesus said all the law hangs on the two Great Commandments. He summarized them into one commandment here:

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." (John 15:12 KJV)

Are you assuming John didn’t know what Jesus said, and was, instead, relying on the 600+ laws and ordinances of Moses?

Jesus simplified the "law" even further in Matthew 7:12:

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Mat 7:12 KJV)

Paul confirmed:

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Gal 5:14 KJV)

"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." (Rom 13:10 KJV)

John explained Jesus's commandment this way:

"And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." (1 Jn 3:23 KJV)

That blows a few holes in your understanding of 1st and 2nd John, doesn't it?

>>>You think that saying the "sinner's prayer" can save you? Can you find it anywhere in God's word?<<<

I have no idea what the sinner's prayer is.

BTW, do you follow the Torah? Do you follow all the laws and ordinances of Moses?

Philip

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

Where would you get the idea that it is “Gods will” that we not be observant of his commandments today?

so can someone answer my yes or no question about circumcision?

[Errant]

I don't know about Yeshua...

Ahhh, now I think we're getting to the root of the matter - so to speak.

ES - I'm getting a glimpse of some dark underlying theme here in that some seem to embrace a false idea they are no longer capable of sin? Needs more study...

[Errant]

so can someone answer my yes or no question about circumcision?

Sorry, I missed the question. Which # is it?

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

sorry, see post #153

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

also #179

[redleghunter]

I have not read the previous posts and this is the first I believe I was ‘pinged’ to. However, I see another opportunity for Jesus (Yeshua) followers to hurl fecal matter at each other.

The NT is clear. Trust and Obey. In that order too! When we submit to Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach)as Savior and Lord that means something. It means we submit to His ways and emulate Him. That is what a disciple will do. And frankly if we look at what the apostles taught through epistles, we ‘know’ what ways are His Ways. Meaning the apostles spend an enormous amount of time preaching the Gospel, for others to spread the Gospel; for us to live holy lives; to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and to love each other as He loved us.

Now whether or not one observes festivals, new moons, certain days etc. or not, the above is what was COMMANDED.

Paul was clear on the matter. If some followers of Jesus Christ want to observe such functions, fine but not to impose it on others and the others should not condemn those who do observe. Only cultists like the Romans, Mormon, JWs et al. impose things on others where Christ gives us freedom.

And to nip things in the bud, please I ask all to spare me the antinomian straw man. I don’t think anyone addressed advocates the moral laws were “nailed to the cross.” Followers of Jesus Christ uphold the moral laws not thumb their noses at them.

So I suggest we all pray for one another, love one another because those WERE HIS COMMANDS.

[Errant]

must a male baby born in April 2014 be circumcised on the eighth day as required by the Torah?

There are practical reasons behind many of the commandments in the Torah that had to deal with life in general of that time period. Circumcision around the 8th day was the opportune time to perform it for health of the child reasons (No antibiotics, less medical knowledge, etc. in those days). Remember, most of these laws were to the benefit man, not man made for the law (i.e., March 2:27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.).

There is that discernment/knowledge thing again:

Hosea 4:6 (NIV) my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
“Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests;
because you have ignored the law of your God,
I also will ignore your children

[Errant]

Amen Sir!

[PhilipFreneau]

>>>Ahhh, now I think we’re getting to the root of the matter - so to speak. ES - I’m getting a glimpse of some dark underlying theme here in that some seem to embrace a false idea they are no longer capable of sin? Needs more study...<<<

You make no sense. Why not bother someone else with your holier-than-thou attitude?

Philip

[Errant]

(i.e., March Mark 2:27 - doggone spell checker... :)

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

this is like nailing down jello, all i am looking for is a simple yes or no.

must Genesis 17:9-14 ( part of the Torah ), be obeyed today?

[Errant]

Why not bother someone else with your holier-than-thou attitude?

It's not a "holier-than-thou attitude". I'm trying to understand why some "seem" to feel a need that they are no longer sinners. It's pretty obvious that we all "miss the mark" of being righteousness in the example that has been set, and that "we all" need to "work" on that problem - no?

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

It’s not a “holier-than-thou attitude”. I’m trying to understand why some “seem” to feel a need that they are no longer sinners

LOL, so much effort put in about following the law, but i guess it’s doesn’t include bearing false witness against your neighbor.

NO ONE REMOTELY HINTED ON THIS THREAD THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER SINNERS.

[Errant]

If you're living in a land where there is little or no modern healthcare, yes. If you live in a land where there is and always will be great healthcare (i.e., no SHTF ever), then no.

I had to be put in the hospital for several days due to a complication from not being circumcised as an infant that developed into an emergency condition as a toddler. I would have probably died if not for modern medicine. So there is a reason for having it done - at least in some cases (i.e., mine). I still have vivid memories of that ordeal even tho I was only about a 3yo at the time.

Does that help?

[editor-surveyor]

It must be obeyed by those that are “of the circumcision.” This is an elective issue; if you believe that something is sinful, but keep doing it, you are sinning.

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

Does that help?

It’s an answer which i thank you for. Best as i can understand it, the answer appears to be “no”.

[Errant]

NO ONE REMOTELY HINTED ON THIS THREAD THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER SINNERS.

Like I said, I just caught a glimpse of it. There one moment, gone the next; but enough of a glimpse that it's causing me to wonder about it.

[one Lord one faith one baptism]

It must be obeyed by those that are “of the circumcision

oh, i see, so God has two laws -

1. for the “of the circumcision”
2. the other i guess for those “ not of circumcision”

my pagan Bible says in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek.