Replies

Partisan, I think your argument, while evidence-based and certainly interesting, can be faulted for being too on-the-nose on a matter we cannot be exact about.

For one thing ---as I understand it: I am open to correction--- the periods of priestly service ("courses") covered 24 weeks and then started over again, so the "course of Abia" came up twice in a year, in the 10th week of the year and in the 34th week. So we can't definitely say when Zechariah received the angelic visitation.

Secondly, it says that Zechariah's wife Elizabeth conceived "after those days" (Luke 1:24), which doesn't require it to be 20 minutes after Zechariah returned home and got his clothes off! It could have been days, weeks, who knows? Nothing in the text compels us to say it was according to the hypothetical expedited bus schedule you propose.

My comment here is not meant to sweep away your evidence, but to say there are several different, legitimate ways to look at the evidence. There are even people who calculate from the second "course of Abia" to place Jesus' conception in late March, and his birth in late December.

I don't know that it's a dogma of the Faith, either way.

One more question, a simple one: where in the Bible does it say Our Lord is like a fir tree? (I'm just interested. I think it's an attractive idea, so I'd like to know more about it.)

Partisan, I think your argument, while evidence-based and certainly interesting, can be faulted for being too on-the-nose on a matter we cannot be exact about. For one thing ---as I understand it: I am open to correction--- the periods of priestly service ("courses") covered 24 weeks and then started over again, so the "course of Abia" came up twice in a year, in the 10th week of the year and in the 34th week. So we can't definitely say when Zechariah received the angelic visitation. Secondly, it says that Zechariah's wife Elizabeth conceived "after those days" (Luke 1:24), which doesn't require it to be 20 minutes after Zechariah returned home and got his clothes off! It could have been days, weeks, who knows? Nothing in the text compels us to say it was according to the hypothetical expedited bus schedule you propose. My comment here is not meant to sweep away your evidence, but to say there are several different, legitimate ways to look at the evidence. There are even people who calculate from the second "course of Abia" to place Jesus' conception in late March, and his birth in late December. I don't know that it's a dogma of the Faith, either way.

Caesar would not have had people travel in March to pay their taxes. Late September would be perfect for this, not too hot, not too cold, not too wet, the bountiful time of year when people have money from their harvests. Luke is very specific concerning times when he tells the story of Elizabeth and Mary. I believe that's because God wanted us to know when these things happened. If you don't want to believe that, that's fine. I will continue to celebrate the conception on Christmas and the birth on the Feast of Tabernacles, it doesn't matter if anyone joins me, I'm practically alone in this anyway. lol

One more question, a simple one: where in the Bible does it say Our Lord is like a fir tree? (I'm just interested. I think it's an attractive idea, so I'd like to know more about it.)

Hosea 14.8

Nothing in the text compels us to say it was according to the hypothetical expedited bus schedule you propose.

John 7 is an interesting side study on this. This chapter concerns Jesus and the disciples celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles is a seven day event that corresponds to the Exodus, for one thing. I think it also corresponds to the 70 weeks of Daniel, with the arrival of the Second Advent on the last day of that 70th week, which corresponds to the Israelites marching around Jericho also. A lot of things come together on that "great" day:

Jhn 7:37 ¶ In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

It makes sense to me for God to have Jesus be born on this great day of the year. People will drink of the living waters at that second advent.