Actually, scholars have known for years that Jesus was born in the spring. Not even the Roman emperor would have had people ankling up and down Judea in dead winter, and to avoid a general uprising, he would have had to wait until after Passover. There were no real calendars; they started over with each new ruler. The early missionaries simply tied an already existing pagan holiday celbrating the return of the sun to the “Return of the Son”. You have to meet people where they are, (Sorry, I’m a preacher’s kid, and sermons are an occupational hazard!)
Luke 1:5 – THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
Scholars now know that priests from the course of Abia usually served during temple worship during the month of June. If Zacharias served during the first of the month – and walked from his home to Jerusalem – then walked home again, following his service, Zacharias would most likely have arrived home around June 20. If Elisabeth became pregnant shortly afterward, then it would have been six months later – about December 20 – when the angel Gabriel visited Mary. Mary immediately set out to visit her cousin Elisabeth. So the meeting between Elisabeth and Mary probably took place some time during the last couple of weeks of December. Mary remained with Elisabeth for three months – or until about March. March would also have been about the time that Elisabeth gave birth to John the Baptist. Nine months from the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary in December and six months from the birth of John the Baptist in March would bring us to the month of September. So, just by going by what scholars now know about the course of Abia, the best guess is that Jesus was most likely born somewhere toward the end of September – which is also a time period when it would be more likely that shepherds would still be grazing their flocks overnight in the fields. HOWEVER, even today, in Oriental cultures, a child is usually counted as being ALREADY one year old when the child is born, with the child’s actual birthdate being counted as the date of conception – rather than the date when the actual birth takes place. Ancient Palestine, as a general rule, appears to have subscribed to that Oriental system for determining age.
We also were told Jesus actually birthday is in the spring not known is the month. He tied his sermon with Jesus birth to his crucification as written in the book.
Nabu, I’m resisting the temptation to get into the Mary-Cybele connection you posit, but you might be interested in this about the dating of Christmas: http://touchstonemag.com/archives/print.php?id=16-10-012-v
I dont think it matters what day he was born on if God had wanted us to know he would have had it written down. What matters if people accept this as a fact and commit to learn the truth from the bible.
Yochanan204 almost 13 years ago
Might start by figuring out the correct date.
Ooops! Premium Member almost 13 years ago
Where is the section on what to do for teething pain?
Dani Rice almost 13 years ago
Actually, scholars have known for years that Jesus was born in the spring. Not even the Roman emperor would have had people ankling up and down Judea in dead winter, and to avoid a general uprising, he would have had to wait until after Passover. There were no real calendars; they started over with each new ruler. The early missionaries simply tied an already existing pagan holiday celbrating the return of the sun to the “Return of the Son”. You have to meet people where they are, (Sorry, I’m a preacher’s kid, and sermons are an occupational hazard!)
jppjr almost 13 years ago
I’m thankful that this kind of strip can still be published in t he paper.
Robert Stroud almost 13 years ago
For Christians, the brief “Christmas Season” actually begins with Christmas day.
EstrelitaH almost 13 years ago
Luke 1:5 – THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
Scholars now know that priests from the course of Abia usually served during temple worship during the month of June. If Zacharias served during the first of the month – and walked from his home to Jerusalem – then walked home again, following his service, Zacharias would most likely have arrived home around June 20. If Elisabeth became pregnant shortly afterward, then it would have been six months later – about December 20 – when the angel Gabriel visited Mary. Mary immediately set out to visit her cousin Elisabeth. So the meeting between Elisabeth and Mary probably took place some time during the last couple of weeks of December. Mary remained with Elisabeth for three months – or until about March. March would also have been about the time that Elisabeth gave birth to John the Baptist. Nine months from the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary in December and six months from the birth of John the Baptist in March would bring us to the month of September. So, just by going by what scholars now know about the course of Abia, the best guess is that Jesus was most likely born somewhere toward the end of September – which is also a time period when it would be more likely that shepherds would still be grazing their flocks overnight in the fields. HOWEVER, even today, in Oriental cultures, a child is usually counted as being ALREADY one year old when the child is born, with the child’s actual birthdate being counted as the date of conception – rather than the date when the actual birth takes place. Ancient Palestine, as a general rule, appears to have subscribed to that Oriental system for determining age.
kab2rb almost 13 years ago
We also were told Jesus actually birthday is in the spring not known is the month. He tied his sermon with Jesus birth to his crucification as written in the book.
LordOfTheExacto almost 13 years ago
Nabu, I’m resisting the temptation to get into the Mary-Cybele connection you posit, but you might be interested in this about the dating of Christmas: http://touchstonemag.com/archives/print.php?id=16-10-012-v
por_cel2009 almost 13 years ago
I dont think it matters what day he was born on if God had wanted us to know he would have had it written down. What matters if people accept this as a fact and commit to learn the truth from the bible.