When Was Jesus Really Born?
Have a scriptural question? Write to Ben Witherington III at witheringtonb@beliefnetstaff.com. In this column, Ben Witherington responds to your questions about: Christmas and Jehovah’s Witnesses Revising the Bible The Trinity The Afterlife for Jews I have been studying with the Witnesses, who state that December 25th probably wasn’t when Jesus was born. They reason that it would have been too cold for shepherds to be out with their sheep in December. They point to the fact that the 25th was in fact already celebrated as winter solstice and is just used now to make things simple. I would appreciate any information you may be able to give me. –Nholm There is partial truth to this view. The winter solstice, however, was December 21st, not 25th. In the Greco-Roman calendar December 25th was the festival of Saturnalia, a holiday during which masters became slaves and slaves became masters for a day. It was the day of reversals. While it is possible that Jesus was born in the winter, this
Luke 3:1,2 says John the Baptizer began his career as a prophet in the 15th year of Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar. Tiberius was named emperor on September 15, 14 C.E. so his 15th year would run from the latter part of 28 C.E. to the latter part of 29 C.E. John began his ministry during that time and Jesus started his about 6 months later according to Luke 1:24-31. This places the beginning of Jesus ministry in the fall of 29 C.E. Jesus was about thirty years old at this time (Luke 3:23). So if he was 30 years old in the fall of 29 C.E., he would have been born in the fall of 2 B.C.E. As to a specific date, none is recorded in the bible. Most likely because the later Jews regarded birthday celebrations as parts of idolatrous worship.
too eassy, other date I think the church picked the date to coincide with the pagan father christmas holiday They didnt keep very good records in israel when christ was born, in fact they had to travel to the hometown they were from in oreder to do the census, that was where Mary & Joseph were headed when Jesus was born.
