Posted on 12/13/2006 9:55:02 AM PST by NYer
CLEVELAND, Ohio (CNS) – The gospel accounts of the Nativity (Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2) do not say what day Jesus was born. There were attempts to calculate the day, but by the third century Christians realized this was impossible.
So they tried other ways to determine a date for Jesus' birth:
- Many people believed the world was re-created on the first day of spring (March 25 of the Julian calendar followed in ancient Rome). How appropriate, then, for the world's redeemer to become incarnate that day!
- Other scholars argued that Jesus became incarnate not at his birth but at his conception. If Jesus was conceived March 25, he would be born nine months later, Dec. 25.
This date didn't catch on immediately, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean region where people believed Jesus was born Jan. 6. But in the West Dec. 25 had much appeal. Why?
Many Romans venerated the sun, whose birthday was Dec. 25, or a virility god named Mithra with the same birthday. Also, the Romans observed a raucous celebration called Saturnalia Dec. 17-23. Thus, Dec. 25 offered a date with a good theological basis that also would counter several pagan holidays.
Although we don't know the final steps, in 336 the church at Rome officially observed the "birth day of Christ" Dec. 25. This tradition spread. But what about Jan. 6? The church decided to use that day for Jesus' manifestation to the whole world, symbolized by the Magi.
The Magi were three kings, Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar, right? Not really. Matthew's Gospel speaks only of Magi; it doesn't call them kings, or say they rode camels or give their names.
The early Christians looked to the Old Testament for prophecies relating to Jesus. One prophecy in Isaiah said that foreigners traveling on camels would bring gold and frankincense to the Messiah, while a psalm spoke of kings coming.
Naturally the Christians interpreted the Messiah as Jesus, and the only foreigners who brought him gifts were the Magi. So by the third century we find Christians speaking of the Magi as kings riding camels.
How many Magi were there?
A great Egyptian scholar, Origen, found a Genesis passage in which three pagans honored the Hebrew patriarch Isaac. Origen said the three symbolized the Magi, but didn't say why.
Names for the Magi do not appear until the sixth century; all are fictional. "Balthasar" may be a corruption of Belteshazzar, a Babylonian king in the Book of Daniel. "Melchior" may be a combination of two Hebrew words for "king" and "light." And "Caspar" may derive from the name of an Indian king converted by early Christians.
These names first appear in the West in a sixth-century mosaic in the church of St. Apollinaris Nuovo in Ravenna, Italy.
The date for Christmas may have been settled by the fourth century, but legends of the Magi grew throughout the Middle Ages.
Yes,I am. - Christmas dishonors my Lord.
You've read the link that Buggman provided, how can you honestly challenge such a scolarly investigation? The Lord has given us a time to celebrate his birth, and it definately is not Christmas; it's Tabernacles.
Read post #39
Any Orthodox Christians out there? I thought the difference between our Christmas and theirs was that they were still using the Julian Calendar...which is now Jan 7th....
http://5ko.free.fr/en/jul.php
yes, and that's the day of the Orthodox Christmas....
http://www.ehow.com/how_12558_orthodox-christmas-cards.html
Not since the 1800's has Orthodox Christmas been on January 6th....
Just curious. Since the Biblical record doesn't match up very well with the date of December 25, it makes sense that the date comes from secular sources.
Thanks, Diego.
Buggs & Xenia, would you review #23 and see if you'd add anything to it? Thanks.
I just saw this link that you sent. Wonderful information.
25 Dec is the conception date. Makes a powerful lesson about the beginning of life, doesn't it?
Tabernacles, food-tray, bread of life.
Thanks
Today's weather in Jerusalem, Israel, from the Weather Channel: Fair. 63 degrees Fahrenheit. Winds from the north at 8 mph. Dewpoint 45 degrees
Tonight: partly cloudy. Low 44 degrees F.
Tomorrow: sunny. High, 57 degrees F.
Forecast for next week: Sunny through Wednesday. Highs in the upper 50's/low 60s. Showers beginning Thursday through the weekend.
You know....you and I have both been working too hard. Why don't I meet you in Chicago tomorrow and we can fly to Israel for a week. While we're there we can document and film the rare, historic rains that will be due.
You know.....see the sights....enjoy the weather....relax....bring in the livestock....
Average rainfall for the month of December in Jerusalem is 4.3 inches. (Avg. monthly rainfall peaks in Jan. at 5.6 inches.) Even in the "rainy season," it's still a desert.
b'shem Yah'shua
Hanukah this year starts on the evening of December 15thb'shem Yah'shua
and continues until the evening of December 23th.
You know....I been sitting here, at O'hare, all afternoon waiting.....for my falafel! Didn't you get my private messaging about the tickets? Two first class....one "round tripper" and(I figured you may have wanted to stay over for the holidays???) one "one way".
El Al has a good refund policy though....so not too worry. I probably won't be able to get a refund on your raincoat because I had the "Star of David" inscribed on it for you. Good rain coat...."Jerusalem Fog"!
I'm going back to L.A.
P.S.--the last two numbers of your debit card were not clear....but I figured them out. Check your statement. Let me know.
"If I said I was emperor, because some moistioned bink lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!"
Hmmm...I have looked at a program called SkyMap -- yes, I see the triple conjunction of Jupiter and Regulus on
Sep 14, 3 BC then Feb 17, 2 BC, then May 9, 2 BC
There had been a triple in 15/14 BC, then a double in 27/26 BC, and a single in 38 BC.
-- then the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter on Jun 17, 2 BC -- according to the program the angular separation was only 22 seconds of arc. That is extremely rare.....the next closest was 67 seconds of arc back in 83 BC.
then I've tried to look at the other tools of the program to see about the Dec 25 event....
Dec 24, 2 BC -- an extreme of declination
Dec 27, 2 BC -- a stationary point in longitude
Dec 28, 2 BC -- a stationary point in RA (right ascension)
These 3 events seem to occur together...
In looking at the program's output, I can't seem to focus on the stars to see that they're not moving with respect to Jupiter.
I wonder if an astronomer could really tie an event like this to a particular town though.
I probably won't be able to get a refund on your raincoat because I had the "Star of David" inscribed on it for you. Good rain coat...."Jerusalem Fog"!
Comes with a water bottle just in case you get the "December dries" ...
You would be bored with me in Israel anyway. I would want to visit all of the churches, light a candle at the Holy Sepulchre, light another one at the church of the nativity in Bethlehem, light some more in Nazareth ... and there's the Masses. Oh, the Roman rite ones are easy; in and out in 45 minutes, an hour on Sundays. But what about when I get in the mood for Russian or Greek ... no, not Russian or Greek food, Russian or Greek liturgy. Two hours? No pews? In a foreign language? Prostrations? Kissing icons? Candles everywhere? Clouds of incense?
You see how lucky you've been! Now give me my debit card back! ;-)
And I would go with you....respectfully....if nothing more than the curiosity and history of it all. I've never been to the Holy Land and I'm sure there is much to see.
Yeah....you're right. O'hare is in the Democratic Den of Iniquity. Let's plan to meet next time in Boston...LOL!
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