Christ birthdate

Negative on both counts.

 

More than likely, Jesus wasn't born on December 25. That was a date that coincided with a festival that was already around.

How do we know that he wasn't born on December 25? The sheep would have been too cold to be out on the flocks by night.

 

Christ was probably born in September. That means He was probably conceived in DECEMBER.

It is also extremely probable that Dec. 25 was the date the Magoi first saw Him and gave Him their gifts.

There is Biblical and historical evidence for all of this. My husband did a study on this some years ago and a video was made of his work. His study is very thorough and I found it extremely interesting. Before we were married and I found out about this study, my first reaction was "What kind of a nut is he, anyway?"

Then I read the material and saw the video and was very impressed with the level of scholarship and the evidence. We have it in rough form on the web here:

http://www.ldolphin.org/birth.html

Please read it. I think it will change the course and attitude of this thread. Thank you.

 

It is nearly impossible for Jesus to have been born in December. Mary and Joseph, as well as much of the population, were travelling for the census. Spring and summer months would be met with extreme heat or conditions such as flooding. In the winter months, the bitterly cold weather makes it impossible to travel by foot. The most likely time for travelling would have been late summer to mid-autumn. The likeliest time for Jesus' birth would be anywhere from late August to mid October.

12/25 was the date of the winter solstice. It was traditionally a date of renewal and hope. You see, every day prior to the date became increasingly dark, but every day following the solstice had more and more daylight. The mood that went along with the winter solstice made it the perfect day to commemorate Christ's birth for early Christians.

Later, adjustments to the calendar were made, placing the winter solstice on 12/21. But 12/25 has remained as the day commemorating Christ's birth.

No. Both Christmas and Easter are days of commemoration that arose out of secular tradition (winter solstice and spring equinox). It is not forbidden from commemorating those days, but it is also not commanded.

 

John, please read the study. You are right in some areas and wrong in others. Please, folks, don't just argue off the top of your heads.

 

Yes everyone please. Helen's husband did a study therefore has all the answers. No need to discuss.

 

Leviticus 12:3 (KJV1769):
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

My decades long research excludes the various historical models.


As prescribed by the Levitical Law, Jesus was circumcised
the 8th day and became an official human being.
If Jesus was born on 25 Dec 1BC, here are the eight days:

First-- day - 25 Dec 1BC
Second- day - 26 Dec 1BC
Third-- day - 27 Dec 1BC
Forth-- day - 28 Dec 1BC
Fifth-- day - 29 Dec 1BC
Sixth-- day - 30 Dec 1BC
Seventh day - 31 Dec 1BC
Eighth- day - 01 Jan 1AD

BTW one year i checked the lo temp for Jerusalem
on Christmas Eve. It was 68°F. This could have been
any of the last 19 Christmases, for i've been on-line
mentioning this for the last 19 years.
I don't know of a web site to support my view,
i thunk of it myself.

 

Historians did not begin to date history from Christ's birth until the sixth century, when a learned monk of Rome, Dionysius Exiguus, introduced the method. We know now that Dionysius, erred in his computations and dated Christ's birth some four or five years too late in history. Rather than adjusting the dates for all historical events books today simply list Christ's birth at about 4 B.C. Regardless of the year, we can be reasonably sure that Jesus was not born during the month of December. In the Middle East, December is not a month when shepherds or sheep remain in the open fields at night. Winters in the mountain regions of Judea are not a time for flocks to be long exposed to the elements of nature. Because of the cold weather and the chilling rains, it is most unlikely that they would be outdoors. More likely, Jesus was born sometime after the rains of April and before those of November--the season sheep would be found in the open fields at night. December was also not a likely month for governing authorities to send people to register at their home of record (Luke 2:1-3). Winter travel would have been more difficult.
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Mary and Joseph would have sought out relatives to stay with..Jewish custom...But as the birth pains commenced, they check the "kataloma" the guest room and found it fully occupied, so off they went to the stable in the back garden, customary to houses at that time. The word translated can't be inn cos most likely they didn't have inns at the time...guest rooms, but not inns..Holiday Inns came along later...

Does it really matter? I opt for either September or May as possible birth months.

Cheers,

Jim

 

What difference does it make? I celebrate the birth of Jesus EVERY day.

Christmas just makes unbelievers get a glimpse of Him.......what's the problem?

My calendar says December 25th is Christmas and since I have no intention of throwing my calendar away...I will be celebrating Christ's birth on that day with a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

 

Because it doesn't matter as long as we remember the REAL reason we celebrate!

Diane

 

Well the problem is, that the governments are saying in some places that you can't display Christian symbols or nativity scenes in schools. Then, as time goes on, I am sure, it will be in governmental buildings and so on.

So that is why I asked the question. When is Christ's birthday and are we commanded to observe His birth? Is or will the government, by asking the removal of these symbols, contrary to the word of God? </font>[/QUOTE]We are never told when Christ was born or commanded to celebrate His birth. It is a custom which has developed through the years. IMHO it is really no big deal, compared to His resurrection.

 

You know, Walls. You bring up a good point.

We now have a Holiday Tree in our State Capitol Building instead of a Christmas Tree.

We are going to be celebrating the holidays beginning with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's.

Some people celebrate and some people don't. Some Christians celebrate and some don't.

We, as Christians need to always set the example that we are celebrating the birth of our Savior!

I wish that we had not let it get so commercialized with all the gift giving, decorations, food, etc. When a person can't afford to do very much for their family, then it becomes a sad time for them instead of the joyous celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus.

I'm afraid I am off the subject. Please excuse me and carry on.

 

We do celebrate His Birth and Resurrection every Sunday, don't we, when we gather together to Worship.

 

Walls, people should be seeing Christ in our characters, not in our decorations. Every religion has decorations. We are supposed to be the peculiar people -- the ones with changed characters.

People can celebrate or not celebrate or partially celebrate Christmas as they wish. But Christ should be showing through us every day of the year.

 

Originally posted by Helen:
Christ was probably born in September.
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Excellent post Helen. I do take another approach here, however. That is, we know that His ministry lasted three and a half years. A half year is, of course, six months.
A Rabbi cannot start his ministry until he reaches the age of thirty years old.
Since there is no reason that He delayed beginning His minitry after His birthday, backing up from the known time of His death, we arrive at the first, or second, week of September.

 

I remember a study comparing the life/ministry of Christ to the Jewish feasts. Hannakuh the festival of lights, the conception within Mary, the initial manifestation of light in the darkness.

The birth of Christ during the feast of tabernacles, where the Word was made flesh and tabernacled among us.

I believe that they also compared the birth of John to Pentecost, and of course Christ as our Passover.

Drew