Was Jesus really born on December 25th?

A Newt One ^ | 12/18/08 | SonlitKnight

[SonlitKnight]

For years now, I have been convinced of the accuracy of December 25th, 1BC, as the birthdate of Jesus Christ, if not actually, then very close.

Although I fully admit I cannot prove it, I believe I can make a compelling case for it, using Scripture and other sources.

First, the Scriptures tell us that Jesus ministry began when He was about 30 years old, in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar- about AD 30. Give or take 3 years for ''about 30'', and Jesus age in 30 AD was between 27 and 33. His ministry lasted about 3-3 1/2 years, we could conclude that His death, about Tiberius' 18th year, and during the tenure of Pontious Pilate, had to have occurred around 33-34 AD. However, the Scriptures tell us that He died on a Friday, immediately preceding the Passover. 30 AD and 33 AD are the only years possible. Since His ministry lasted at least three years after 30 AD, April 3rd, 33 AD is the only possible date for the Crucifixion of Jesus.

Interestingly enough, many learned Scripture scholars insist that a prophecy from the 9th chapter of the Book of Daniel, affixes the date of the death of the Christ on exactly that date.

Going back to our approximate age of Jesus in AD 30 as between 27 and 33, His approximate age at death would be 30-36. This places His birth between 3 BC to 3 AD.

For Jesus to have been born after 1 AD would make it impossible for Him to have been born during the reign of Herod the Great as the Scriptures tell us He was. So we now have about a 4 year span of when He could have been born.

This entire range would have allowed him to be born under Herod the Great, be about 30 in AD 30 (Tiberius' 15th year) and to have died under Tiberius Caesar, Herod Antipas and Pontious Pilate.

The clincher is the Bible's proclamations that Caesar Augustus had ordered a Census while Quirinius was acting as Governor. The only possible date that places Jesus birth under Herod the Great, Augustus, Quirinius and a census is between the years 3BC to 1AD.

This likely places the year of His birth at 3BC-1AD, his age at Tiberius 15th year at 30-33 and the age of His death at 33-36, in 33 AD...... pretty much as the Church calendar prescribes.

Now that we have established an approximate year of Christ's birth, what would establish a date?

We start with Luke Chapter 1;

5THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, 9According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. The Course of Abia would have served twice in the temple, in June and then again in October. If it were the June service, Elizabeth would have been in her sixth month in December when the angel Gabriel visited Mary and She conceived. This means that in cold December, Mary would have traveled-alone- in to the hill country to visit her cousin. This is highly unlikely, even more unlikely than the much objected to sheep in the fields.

This would have meant John the Baptist would have been born in March, with Jesus birth coming in September. Plausible, but I feel unlikely.

There are two reasons.

1) The large crowds suggested surrounding the service of Zechariah suggest the October service which would have coincided with the feast of Tabernacles. Large crowds would have been unlikely in June.

2) Climate. Using the assumption that December is too cold for the sheep to have been in the field, watched by Shepherds, actually serves to highlight a very compelling argument that that is exactly where they would have been.

As this chart indicates, September in southern Israel is still hot and very dry, while December is very comfortable and the hills are lush with grass and vegetation, beyond the city of Bethlehem after 3 solid months of rain. The grass in the hills in September is parched and barren after 4 dry months.

Smith's Bible Dictionary, under the heading 'Palestine: the Climate', explained the rarity of snow in southern Palestine, while it conceded its more frequent occurrence in the northern parts of the land. The mean temperature at Jerusalem during December is said to run around 47 to 60 degrees F. It certainly would not hurt sheep to be out at night in that sort of temperature. The Dictionary further states:

"As in the time of our Saviour (Luke 12: 54), the rains come chiefly from the S. or S.W. They commence at the end of October or beginning of November, and continue with greater or less constancy till the end of February or middle of March, and occasionally, though rarely, to the end of April. It is not a heavy continuous rain, so much as a succession of severe showers or storms with intervening periods of fine bright weather, permitting the grain crops to grow and ripen. And although the season is not divided by any entire cessation of rain for a lengthened interval, as some represent, yet there appears to be a diminution in the fall for a few weeks in December and January, after which it begins again, and continues during February and till the conclusion of the season."

It may be noted that the traditional date for the birth of Christ falls in this period of the diminution of rainfall toward the end of December.

The former rains would have produced grass on the hills, and the fine bright weather intervening between the rains, with temperatures averaging 55 degrees F. would be excellent for sheep grazing on the hills east of David's royal city.

SOURCE

In fact, the very argument used to impugn the December birth argues against the June birth!

If we are to believe a fall/winter trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem (about 90 miles) by Joseph and Mary by donkey is implausible, how then can we believe that Mary traveled 85 miles to see her cousin Elizabeth, on foot, by herself? Is it reasonable to conclude that Joseph would have allowed such a trip?

Logic seems to dictate that the Course of Abia in question was in fact, in October. This would, like the climatological data, place Christ's birth near the end of December.

To me, the weight of scriptural evidence and logic leans toward the end December, rather than September birth. Yet, is there more evidence? I would argue that there is.

The mysterious scriptures concerning the star that led the Magi to Jesus are a great point of conjecture. The scriptures are elsewhere, silent on this star so we can only guess based on what we know.

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. The Escape to Egypt 13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. There are many astronomical events that some have tried to make fit the mold. For me, the most tantalizing is the fact that The planet Jupiter stood directly over Bethlehem on exactly December 25th, 2 BC

As tempting as it is, I don't want to use known astronomical evidence to buttress the case because, for all we know, maybe only the Magi saw the star.

The early church is the best indicator. Though Christmas detractors insist that the celebration of the Nativity did not exist until chosen by the church to supplant a pagan feast in the 4th or 5th century, this argument is simply untenable.

Celebration of December 25th as the Nativity is known to have dated back at least as far as 127 AD under Bishop Telesphorus in Rome. This would have likely been the very first fully post-Jesus generation in the history of the Church so second-hand knowledge of the Savior's birth would have been quite strong.

There are at least two early records of massacres that are recorded as having occurred on the ''day of the Nativity''. The first was reported to have occurred in the catacombs circa 161-180 AD and the second in 300 AD under the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian.

During the time of Clement of Alexandria (220 AD), it was widely accepted as knowledge that Jesus was born on the 25th day of the month, although December was only 1 of 5 different months suggested.

Throughout the third century, it was commonly believed that Jesus birth coincided with the Winter Solstice. John Seldon would write, years later that when the Church was in it's infancy, the Winter Solstice fell on the 8th of the Kalends of January or, what we know as December 25th.

The Apostolic Constitution declared, still in the 3rd century, that the 25th day of the -then- 9th month was to be officially recognized as the birth date celebration of Christ.

Though none of these things alone (or together) prove the December 25th case, they do prove widespread existence of it's observance hundreds of years prior to the dates given by the conspiratorialists and unbroken, nearly all the way back to the time of Christ Himself.

Here are the facts.

1) The Biblical, logical and historical case argues much stronger, by far, for December 25th than for any other calendar date.

2) The argument that the date was invented out of whole cloth, solely to counter paganism (or adopt it) is patently absurd.

3) It makes for fun conversation but it will not decide your salvation.

~Sonlit

[NoDRodee]

Nice read but point about Magi off, They saw the star after Jesus Birth, would have taking them a lot of time to get to Bethlehem after Jesus birth.

[Just mythoughts]

Sounds like you are going to believe whatever you choose to believe. I will stick with what Luke had to say and accept that what ever day on the calender marked the shortest day of ‘sunlight’ was the day wherein Emanuel - God With us was conceived. John six months in the womb certainly recognized His presence. Now how did Luke know this?

It is interesting to me that events regarding Christ can be associated to 3 of the 4 days (’sunlight’) that mark season changes...

[DouglasKC]

However, the Scriptures tell us that He died on a Friday, immediately preceding the Passover. 30 AD and 33 AD are the only years possible.

That's debatable from a scriptural standpoint. The strongest evidence against a Friday crucifixion/Sunday rising is this verse:

Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The only sign given by Jesus that he was sent by God was how long he would be buried: 3 days AND 3 nights. Some people take this to mean parts of days and nights, but even taking parts there's no way to add up to 3 days and 3 nights. The scripture Christ referred to was Jonah:

Jon 1:17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Three days and three nights. I once asked a rabbi how long of a time period this was, or how long Jewish tradition considered it to be. He said basically around 72 hours. So the sign Christ was giving to the Jews was that he, the Lord, would be in the tomb for around 72 hours.

[SonlitKnight]

Nope — My funky wagnalls says April 1, 4BC

Your Funky Wagnalls is wrong. Only more recently has the January, 1 AD Eclipse been discovered.

The date of the birth of Christ hinges on just one thing, the statement
of Josephus (Antiquities 17.6-8) that Herod died shortly after an eclipse
of the moon. Astronomers supply the dates for such eclipses around those
years: None in 7 or 6 BC. In 5 BC, March 23, 29 days to Passover. Also in 5
BC. Sept. 15,7 months to Passover. In 4 B.C. March 13, 29 days to Passover.
3 and 2 B.C. no eclipses. In 1 BC. January 10, 12 1/2 weeks to Passover.

Of all those listed ONLY the January 1 AD allows for Jesus birth under Quirinius acting as Governor.

Where do you get your math??? 5BC to 26 AD is 30 years. 26 AD is the 15th year of Tiberius reign measured from 11 BC when he returned to Rome to become co-Emperor with Augustus who was seriously ill.

Try again. The reign of Tiberius as Emperor began in 14Ad, putting his 15th year at 29/30 AD. http://www.roman-emperors.org/tiberius.htm

A December Conception would mean Jesus is born near the end of September when the fields would be bare, near end of dry season, with nothing for the sheep to graze on.

Nope — that’s winter. September is the fall harvest.

Wrong again. If Jesus was born in June, Mary conceived, and traveled into the mountains in December.

[RoseThistle]

That’s a whole new conversation! LOL Isn’t there a weekly Sabbath and the High Holy Sabbath of Passover?

[WayneS]

The same basic evidence you offered could be used to support virtually ANY particular date in “late December”, since “late December” is the most specific range you yourself were willing to use to make your primary arguments.

Further, when certain groups decided that Christ was born on the “25th of the month”, weren’t they using the Julian Calendar? The Gregorian calendar we use today (and which Europe has used since the 1500s) is +/- 14 days off from the Julian (or at any rate it was that far off at the time of the Russian revolution - it may very well be even further out now, since the two calendars differ in their approaches to leap years). You don’t seem to have taken that into accoun in any of your arguments.

[DouglasKC]

That’s a whole new conversation! LOL Isn’t there a weekly Sabbath and the High Holy Sabbath of Passover?

That conversation could take weeks.. :-)

Yes, I believe the Friday/Sunday timeline took place because of either a general lack of knowledge about yearly sabbaths OR a deliberate attempt to separate scriptural events from what are considered "Jewish" holidays.

[murron]

I say, let them move Christmas to June, July, or whenever they want. Then we can have the Christmas celebration all to ourselves. Then when December rolls around, and all these other “Holiday” celebrations unfold, and no one shows up, or no one shows up to do “Holiday shopping”, or to buy “Holiday trees”, then we Christians can enjoy watching them all go Kerplunk!

[stefanbatory]

quick question: was not Jesus and ma and pa in Egypt until herod the great died? when they were told to return, they found his son on the throne and so continued to Nazareth...or have i my schooling a bit confused?

[Uri’el-2012]

Interesting article and thread.

People look everywhere except
in the Word of G-d for the answer

A thorough reading of Luke 1, John 1 and Chronicles
disregarding man made traditions will yield only one answer.

Yah'shua was born on the YHvH commanded
Feast of Tabernacles in early October.

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai

[RoseThistle]

I love all these comments. I love God’s Word and believe it is true and documents itself over and over. It’s up to us to search it out and come to the truth at our own pace, with God’s guidance and fully digesting. There is a lot of passion here for searching and a lot of interesting facts to ruminate over. Thank you to everyone who has shared.

The main thing for Christians, it is true, is John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That is A LOT of love from our heavenly Father.

[SonlitKnight]

I’d like to see you support that argument, please.

[SonlitKnight]

where is your evidence?

[dangus]

“Tabernacled among us” could also refer to the Feast of the Dedication of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem, wherein the Spirit of God tabernacled among men at the time of Jesus. The date of that Feast is the 25th of the Kislev (which approximates December.)

[briarbey b]

Doesn’t matter. A mere tradition of men. No where did Christ instruct anyone to celebrate a Christ Mass. No where do I see where putting up a tree had anything to do with anything other than Jeremiah 10 where it says DON’T cut a tree from the forest and bring it in and decorate it with silver and gold. But what does that matter...people do what they want. God said if you love me you’ll obey me.
Who does that anymore? Oh the “vain imaginations of men.”

[thatjoeguy]

You are correct, my mistake there. They were in Egypt until Herod the Great died which was in 4BC when they came back shortly thereafter.

JB

[stefanbatory]

ahhh...so I did learn something in religion class!

[thatjoeguy]

LOL, They are good for something.

JB

[RoseThistle]

God calls Himself a green fir tree which represents everlasting life. I don’t know anyone who worships the Christmas tree and think that tree gave them life. If someone were to find themselves worshipping the tree, instead of God and Jesus’ dwelling with man, then I would say Jeremiah 10 pertains.

[Uri’el-2012]

The question is whether you believe and trust
the Holy Word of Elohim in Luke 1
or you trust the traditions of man

Yah'shua's birth on Sukkot
(Sukkot is the Feast of Tabernacles or booths,
where we live in temporary shelters.
Sukkot is when YHvH took on a temporary
garment to be with His People
and to die as the Lamb of G-d on Pesach
in order to bring salvation to all
who would call on His Name: Yah'shua
( YHvH is become my salvation)).

Sukkot as the date is supported by Elizabeth's
pregnancy of John the Immerser.
The time sequence is outlined by the
Holy Word of Elohim in Luke 1 with Zacharias.

Zacharias served as a high priest and
based on his tribe, we know when he served
(1 Chronicles 24:7-18) and when he was
struck dumb and when John was conceived.

John would have been born on Pesach.
Most Jews believed that Elijah
would come at Pesach to announce
the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5).

Factor in when Miriam visited her cousin Elizabeth,
Elizabeth was six months pregnant (Luke 1:26)
Thus the timing of Yah'shua's birth can be ascertained.

John (1:14) tells us that Yah'shua was made flesh
and tabernacled among us.

The word "dwelt" in the Koine Greek is:

σκηνόω Strong's G4637 - skēnoō
1) to fix one's tabernacle,
have one's tabernacle,
abide (or live) in a tabernacle (or tent),
tabernacle
2) to dwell

Eight days after the beginning of Sukkot is
another Holy Feast Day called Shemini Atzeret.

Eight days after a Jewish male is born he is circumcised.

After the Eighth day comes the the most Joyous day:
Simchat Torah or
the rejoicing in the Torah (The Word of Elohim).

Nine months back from Sukkot is Chanukah
where the light entered the temple.

Biblical Dates for the Birth of Yochanan the Immerser
and for the Conception and Birth of Yeshua HaMashiach

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai