When was Christ born?

American Presbyterian Church ^

[meandog]

In holiday season many Christians have been merrily, joyously, and some perhaps even seriously, solemnly, and reverently, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. However, one wonders how many gave any significant thought to the issue of when was Christ born. If they had they would quickly have discovered that despite all thy mythology and legend that surrounds this holiday season, we really do not know when Christ was born. We know neither the year, nor the month, nor the day. For that matter we don’t know the time of day either. God in his wisdom has chosen not to reveal to us anything concerning the exact date of this momentous event so long foretold by the prophets and awaited by the faithful. That should teach us something about the wisdom of even having such a holiday season when God in his wisdom has denied us the information that is absolutely necessary as a foundation for it. The purpose of this article is not to develop that thought, but to establish what the Scriptures do teach about the timing of Christ’s birth, about the date of the incarnation.

Let us begin by examining the sacred record of Christ’s birth as recorded in the Scriptures. While the Scriptures give us no definitive dates, there are a number of clues that point as to the time of year that Christ must have been born. Luke’s account of the nativity of our Lord is the most detailed and almost all these clues are found in his gospel. We will develop a number of these clues and see where they lead us…

[Cvengr]

Interesting how some many key facets of his life work on key Jewish calendar holidays. Must be coincidences? hmmm

I concur with you that the interpretation of those holidays, feasts, and holy days are to be interpreted by His Word, not interpreting Him by the tradition.

[Buggman]

I can't see where the Father ever told us to celebrate the winter solstice. Granted that its a part of the natural cycle, but the calendar that God gave to Israel is lunar, not solar, and does not track either solstices or equinoxes.

Shalom.

[Just mythoughts]

I can't see where the Father ever told us to celebrate the winter solstice. Granted that its a part of the natural cycle, but the calendar that God gave to Israel is lunar, not solar, and does not track either solstices or equinoxes. Shalom.

I too read NO command for celebration of winter solstice. However, acknowledgment that the winter solstice is the date of conception is plenty identifiable by Luke. In Genesis 1:14 God did say that he put the lights in the firmament of heaven for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

I also do not find where the moon was used to establish when the 'first' month would begin. The sun or solar establishes when the seasons change.