The following article was obtained through Christianity.com and written by Candice Lucey.
Part 1
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The birth of Jesus Christ, a pivotal moment in Christian history, has long been a subject of scholarly debate and theological reflection. The birth of Jesus Christ is traditionally celebrated on December 25th, but nobody really knows exactly when Jesus was born.
The Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide accounts of Jesus's birth, including facts such as - the location of Bethlehem, the names of Mary and Joseph, that they had fled Egypt to escape King Herod's plan to kill Jesus, and that his birth was announced by angels who appeared to shepherds - they do not offer a specific date for this momentous event.
As a result, the question of when Jesus was born has given rise to a multitude of theories and hypotheses throughout the centuries. In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of dating Jesus's birth and explore the various historical, astronomical, and theological perspectives that have emerged in an attempt to pinpoint the elusive date of the nativity. The biblical account does not give the year Jesus was born (Luke 2). So how was the date of Christmas decided, and when was Jesus really born?
Evidence of When Jesus Was Born
The exact birth date of Jesus is not known with certainty, and there is no specific date mentioned in the Bible. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide accounts of Jesus' birth, but they don't include a precise date. The celebration of Christmas on December 25th is a tradition that dates back to the 4th century, and it was chosen to coincide with the Roman festival of Sol Invictus (the "Unconquered Sun").
Biblical evidence
Matthew's Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25 provides an account of the birth of Jesus and mentions the visit of the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12. However, this Gospel doesn't specify the exact date of Jesus' birth.
Luke's Gospel: Luke 2 describes the birth of Jesus and the visit of the shepherds, but like Matthew, he doesn't give a specific date for the event.
Historical evidence
Roman Census: The Gospel of Luke mentions that the birth of Jesus occurred during the time of a census conducted by Caesar Augustus. While historical records confirm that censuses did take place, there is no direct evidence linking a census to the specific time of Jesus' birth.
Herod's Reign: The Gospel of Matthew places the birth of Jesus during the reign of King Herod the Great. Historical records indicate that Herod died in 4 BCE, so if this is accurate, Jesus must have been born before that date.
What Year Was Jesus Born?
While many scholars believe Jesus was born sometime between 4 BC and 6 BC, there is no definitive historical evidence that pinpoints the exact year of his birth. The commonly used Christian calendar, which designates Jesus' birth as the starting point, traditionally places it at 1 BC or 1 AD, although these dates are approximate and may not align precisely with historical records.
Confusion in Historical Calendars
Several factors are involved in establishing the year of Christ’s birth. There were two dating systems at the time of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. One was his new Julian calendar, and the other calendar began with the year Rome was established: 753 BC. To complicate matters, Julius Caesar also determined that a year would be calculated beginning with the start of complete authority by the reigning emperor at that time.
About 500 years later, a mathematically-minded monk, Dionysius Exiguus, invented the concept of AD. His purpose was to establish when Easter should be celebrated by working backward using a complicated system of his own. He decided that Christ was born in AD 1, and his system was adopted in Europe around 200 years later.
Date Evidence in the Bible
Bible scholars work from what Scripture tells us regarding the history of Jesus. The events took place within the living memory of the writers or their families, such as the reign of Herod, during which time Matthew tells us Christ was born.
We know there was a celestial event that alerted the Magi, and this can also be dated. John the Baptist’s preaching took place during “the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius” (Luke 3:1). Jesus’ approximate age at the start of His ministry (30) is also supplied in the book of Luke, so we can determine that Christ was likely born around 2 or 3 BC.
"In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness." (Luke 3:1-2)
What Month was Jesus Born?
One hypothesis suggests that Jesus may have been born in the month of December. This idea is largely based on the mention of shepherds in the Gospel of Luke who were tending their flocks at night when the angelic announcement of Jesus's birth occurred. Some argue that this activity would have been more likely in a warmer month, implying that Jesus might have been born in a mild Mediterranean climate during the winter. Additionally, the early Christian church established December 25th as the date to celebrate Jesus's birth, possibly to coincide with existing pagan festivals, such as the Roman celebration of Sol Invictus. This choice could have influenced the association of Jesus's birth with December.
However, it's essential to note that this evidence is circumstantial and inconclusive. Other scholars argue for alternative months or even different years for Jesus's birth based on historical and astronomical data. The uncertainty surrounding the precise month of Jesus's birth underscores the challenge of dating an event that occurred over two thousand years ago and the various factors that have influenced the development of Christmas traditions over time. Ultimately, while December 25th remains the widely accepted date for celebrating Jesus's birth, the exact month of his birth remains a mystery.
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Click here to read Part 2 of When Was Jesus Actually Born?
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