Linking facts with common sense
By: Amin George Forji
When was Jesus actually born? Was it on December 25th or Christmas day as the day has now been universally baptized? For some reason, theologians and biblical scholars prefer to leave the question unanswered; for fear that any such attempt in questioning the exact date of Christ will end up destroying the faith of many faithful. At the time of Christ’s birth, there were no birth certificates, birth acts, social security numbers and similar instruments that various nations use today to keep an accurate account of every living person.
The law at the time was mostly the law of nature, and survival of the fittest. There were no passports or travel documents. Jesus also had none of these documents, from which it could have been very easy to consult the archives. Since every people or nation was generally always homogenous in a way, physical look remained the best available means to distinguish races and nations. Jesus and the Lunar Calendar.
In some way, everyone in the world consciously or unconsciously believes in Jesus Christ, in one way or the other, because the calendar as we have it today is primarily based on the live of Christ as decreed by Julius Caesar of Rome on January 1, 45 BC, with the 1st century BC being the date of the founding of Rome. According to the Ceasar’s decree, BC or BCE was used to denote the era Before Christ, while AD (Anno Domini, in the year of the Lord) was used to refer to the Christian Era, or CE. In other words, every date now centered on the live of Christ. But despite this sequence, the exact date of Jesus’ birth was still not evident.
The one thing that Biblical scholars generally agree on is that Christ was not born in 1AD. Even at the time of Julius Ceasar’s decree, Jesus’ birthday remained a prediction. In 525 AD, Pope John I commissioned the sholar Monk, Dionysius Exiguus to draw up an unquestionable religious calendar for the church. Dionysius having failed to lay hands on any clear-cut historical records, reached the decision that the best calendar will have to follow that already in used by the Roman Empire.
It was discovered at the time the church was bound to live with a nuance in the calendar, being that there is no AD 0 in the calendar. It skipped from BC1 to AD 1 without any intervening year of AD 0. By Dionysius’ calendar, one remarkable date became December 25th, set aside as the birth day of Christ. It should be noted here that prior to Dionysius’ innovation, the day was already celebrated as the anniversary of the sun. One way of trying to deduce the exact birthday of Christ will be to examine the lives of rulers who lived in Christ times. Jesus was born when Augustus Ceasar was Emperor of Rome. Augustus himself lived between 44BCE to 14CE. But Christ birth happened in a “relatively low profile†manner that no account was taken about how old Ceasar was, or how many years he may have governed already.
Another very important personality whose life could be of useful clue is Herod the Great, the Roman-client King who reigned over Jerusalem at the time that Jesus was born. There are conflicting records showing that Herod the Great died in 1BC, 4BC and 5 BC. With this uncertainty, it is also very unlikely to trace the exact date of birth of Christ. Jesus Birthday according to Biblical allusions The Bible remains the principal source of information about the live of Jesus Christ.
As aforesaid, his birth happened in a very low-profile manner that it was almost impossible to keep any record. In Luke 2:1-7, we are told that Emperor Augustus Caesar at the time of Christ’s birth decreed that a census be carried out throughout the Roman Empire, at the consequence of which Joseph and Mary went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Bethlehem. It is not clear whether they ever undertook the census, because Mary is said to have given birth as soon as they got there, and they were preoccupied about the baby. Moreover, there is said to be no official account of such a census.
If we were to go by common sense, we would only agree that such a census which required all people to travel to their natal cities, could by no means be called in winter, when it would have been so cold for people to walk hundreds of miles to different cities for the count.(Just as Joseph and his family did).The most salutary thing to do will have been to call for it at the earliest time by April, at the dawn of Spring. If this argument stands true, the December 25th cannot be the true birthday of Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 2:1-14, we are told that Herod the Great upon hearing of Christ’s birth from the three wise men who followed the star to Jesus’ manger, decided to go on a killing spree, eliminating all children under the age of two, which age Christ was forecasted to fall within from the explanation of the wise men. Luckily, an Angel had appeared to Joseph in a dream prior to the killings and directed them to flee to Egypt with Jesus. Since the killings by Herod were kept secret, there is no record to tract down the year when the atrocities happened, in which case it will have been so easy to know for sure which year Christ was born. If we go by the conflicting records that show that Herod the Great died in 1BC, 4BC and 5 BC, it will go without saying however that Christ was at least three years at the time of Herod’s death. Born on Christmas day?
From the above, can it be said that Christ was born on December 25th, which is Christmas day? Very unlikely! Luke in his account of Christ’s birth wrote that “There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.†(Luke 2:8) December is normally winter in Israel and Palestine. Israeli meteologists having tracked her weather patterns for several years have come to the conclusion that by and large, the Israeli climate has remained constant during the last 2,000 years or so. (See: R.B.Y. Scott, Vol. 3, Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1962, p. 625).If shepherds were keeping watch over the flocks throughout the night, then it goes without saying that Christ’s birth must have happened around Spring or Summer.
The common practice at the time in Israel was that shepherds cater for the flocks in the fields between April to October, when it was quite warm, and return with them at home by November at the dawn of winter, to give them home shelter. An appropriate month of birth of Our Lord by this reasoning could therefore be around April.
Last Remarks
So, how must we construe the said day of Christmas? Well, personally, I think it is a good thing to set one day aside to remember the birth of Christ. If that is the reasoning behind Christmas, then I think it is time we revisit the traditions of Christmas and make adjustment so that it resembles a truly religious feast. It will be important that the Christ be made to dominate the feats, and not Santa Claus for example. Whatever the case, and however we go, I will say that it is not actually the day that matter so much at the end of the day, but rather our faith. How much are we going to learn more about Christ at this Christmas?
A toast for everyone feasting!
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[Edited by Simon – Format]
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3 users commented in " Was Christ Born On Christmas Day? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI do not believe Jesus was born in December assording to the Catholics made us to believe. Jesus was born some time in either march or October.
Some people today dismiss as sheer doctrinal hair splitting the stand of the God’s Kingdom Society (GKS) – the Church of the Living God – that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was not born on December 25 but in October.
If dates are not important, why were Nigerians calling for the resignation and eventual prosecution of some political leaders for allegedly falsifying their ages? If deliberate falsification of the ages of mere mortals could attract so much uproar how much more announcing from the pulpit – which ought to be the platform for the dissemination of the truth – the wrong date for the birth of the Saviour of the world, who is truth personified? (John 14:16; Malachi 2:7) Indeed, nobody approves of deliberate falsehood and when this occurs, it calls for profuse apologies, as was the case of war in Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) saga. It is in this perspective Christians should see the issue of the date of Christ’s birth. The truth does matter, contrary to the opinions of some people. Jesus Christ says: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”. (John 8:32) What then is the truth of this matter? Please let the words of the Prophet Solomon guide us to patiently get the facts. As is it written: “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. – Proverbs 18:13.
In The Explanatory Catechism of Christian Doctrine, it is stated in answer to Questions 50 and 51, that our Saviour Jesus Christ was born at Bethlehem on Christmas Day, (which is) the 25th of December.
But how the churches came about this date, no one cares to ask. The erroneous belief that the priests and catechists cannot lie makes the churchgoers accept this teaching with quiet contentment.
The people therefore go all out to celebrate Christmas NOT out of a Scripturally grounded faith but because they so were bred.
A true Christian does not do a thing simply because the whole world or majority esteem it highly and do it. Before he does anything, he must first of all satisfy himself that it is in accord with the will of God as revealed in the holy Scripture.
Christ himself said: “For that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” – Luke 16: 15.
After a diligent research into both sacred and profane history, we have no doubt in our minds that Jesus Christ was born in the month of October, and NOT in December!
We must at this stage point out that the day, month or year in which Christ was born is not positively stated chapter and verse in the Bible for the unlearned or those who do not search the Scriptures to understand.
But there are scriptural records including the Bible Chronology from which we can show to those with open minds that his birth took place in October.
Bible Account
In those days there were appointed 24 Jewish priests, the sons of Aaron, to serve in the temple in a year. Everyone officiated according to the order of his course or turn – two every month. The first priest served from the beginning of the first month called Nisan or Abib and retired at the middle of the month; and the second took over from the middle to the end of the month.
The priest Abijah served in the eighth course according to I Chronicles 24: 1-10. The eighth course started from the middle to the end of the fourth month known as Tammuz, which, according to the Jewish Calendar, corresponds with the latter part of our June to early July. (Vide The Oxford Encyclopedic Concordance, page 197, and The Universal Bible Dictionary by Buckland & Williams, page 475.)
Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was a successor of Abijah. It was when he was officiating in the temple in the order of his turn – “the course of Abijah” – that an angel of God appeared to him saying that his wife, Elizabeth, would bear him a son to be named John. (Luke 1: 5-13)
After the completion of Zacharias’ period of duty in early July (Tammuz), his wife became pregnant, and she hid herself for five months. – Luke 1: 23, 24.
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s conception – Chisleu, which is our December – the angel Gabriel was sent by God to the virgin Mary and he announced to her that she would conceive and bear a son to be called JESUS. The angel added: “And behold, thy cousin, Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.” – Luke 1: 26-31, 36, 37.
Consequent upon the annunciation Mary, no doubt, was in high spirits. With haste she went straight to a city in the uplands of Judah to meet Elizabeth. She stayed with her cousin about three months (i.e. from January to March) and then returned home. (Luke 1:39-40,56) Something dramatic occurred when Mary visited Elizabeth. As soon as she entered Zacharias’ house and greeted Elizabeth, the babe (John) stirred in her womb. The words of Elizabeth to Mary at that instance, which were motivated by the Holy Spirit, show clearly that Mary herself was already pregnant.
Not only did Elizabeth bless the fruit of her womb but she went on to address her outright as “the mother of my Lord”. – Luke 1:41-44. According to medical authorities the span of foetal life under normal conditions is 280 days, which is nine months; any time in the tenth month the child, by God’s grace, can be born. This was the case with John the Baptist. The angel appeared to Mary in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s conception and Mary went to her and stayed three months: six plus three equal nine. It was then “Elizabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son” – obviously, in the tenth month, April.- Luke 1: 36, 56-57.
Having been equipped with this knowledge, let us now count Mary’s conception from that January as was manifest in Elizabeth’s declaration, we will arrive at September as the ninth month; then in the tenth month OCTOBER, Jesus Christ was born. But on which day in October his birth took place no one can tell because there is no record. We of the GKS say only what we can prove. With regard to the year of Christ’s birth, historians disagree with one another. Some hold to B.C. 2 or B.C.4, and others suggest B.C. 6. We are no historians, and so we do not wish to be entangled in their disagreements.
Physical Facts
The physical features of Palestine in regard to the climate lend support to the view that Christ was not born in December. According to the Gospels story, there were shepherds attending their flocks in the open fields by night when Christ was born. This could not have been possible in December, because all accredited authorities agree that December, which corresponds with the Jewish ninth month, Chisleu, (Zechariah 7:1) was usually a time of winter in Palestine when the people could not stay outside in the night owing to the intense cold. The Oxford Encyclopedic Concordance states that there was “snow on the mountains”. But October is the Jewish seventh month called Tisri or Ethanim. (I Kings 8: 2)
It was a time of normal weather that permitted of outdoor or outside activities. Again, the fact that the churches of Christendom observe the death of Jesus Christ (“Good Friday”) in April confirms that his birth could not have taken place in December. Of a truth, he was killed in April, which is Nisan or Abib, the first month of the Jewish year, when the Feast of Passover or Unleavened Bread was celebrated.
We all agree that Jesus Christ lived for 33 1/2 years. Now let us admit that he was born in December, as the churches teach, it will mean, therefore, that his 33rd birthday anniversary fell on December, and six months later, which was June, he died. If it was so, why then are the churches celebrating his death in April and not in June? The plain truth is that he was born in October. His 33rd birthday then fell on October, and six, months later, that is, in April, he was slain.
Historical Facts
There is no authentic history in existence that gives support to the teaching that Jesus Christ was born in December. We challenge anyone who may argue this to cite a SINGLE authority to the contrary to prove us wrong. There was no such festival as Christmas until the fourth century, and it was the Romish Church in its characteristic tendency of “meeting Paganism half-way”, that just fixed on December 25 as Christ’s birthday. Excerpts from the book, JESUS’ BIRTH THE UNTOLD STORY published on 25/12/2005 on http://www.angelfire.com states: “Each December, articles inevitably appear in newspapers and magazines pointing out the ancient origins of today’s Christmas customs. All authorities agree that the customs surrounding Christmas, the Christmas tree, mistletoe, holly wreaths, yule logs, stockings on the hearth, exchanging gifts and so on, were practiced in connection with pagan religious celebrations centuries before the birth of Jesus. None are of Christian origin! Anciently, December 25 was the date of the pagan roman Brumalia, the final day of the popular week-long Saturnalia celebration, celebrated in honour of the god Saturn. It was the day of the “invincible sun”, a winter solstice festival. “Christmas” was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. It was not until the mid-fourth century that Pope Julius 1 decreed December 25 to be Christmas (“Christ-Mass”) Day. He sought to overshadow the popular Brumalia by imparting “Christian” connotations to the day.”
We cannot do without making reference to the evidence of the well-known ecclesiastical historian, Alexander Hislop. In his distinguished work, The Two Babylons, he wrote: “There is not a word in the Scriptures about the precise day of His (Christ’s) birth…. What is recorded there, implies that at what time so ever His birth took place, it could not have been on the 25th of December… The cold of the night, from December to February, is very piercing, and it was not the custom for the shepherds of Judea to watch their flocks in the open fields later than about the end of October. It is in the last degree incredible, then, that the birth of Christ could have taken place at the end of December.” (Pages 91-92, emphasis ours)
The vanity of Christmas has been exposed enough. History condemns it. The Holy Bible, which is the law book and guide for all true Christians, does not justify it. We shall be failing in our duties if we close our eyes to these errors.
Just as the Lord’s Witnesses in their book The True Bible Code at page 688 stated: “The issue is not a matter of indifference. Since Christmas was not instituted by God. It should not be approved or tolerated in the official practices of the Church. Ministers and Church officers are not being true to their ordination vows, if they encourage or tolerate Christmas observance in their congregations”.
What is more, St. Paul declared: “It is GOD Himself, in His mercy, who has given us this wonderful work (of telling His Good News to others), and so we never give up. We do not try to trick people into believing – we are not interested in fooling anyone. We never try to get anyone to believe that the Bible teaches what it doesn’t. All such shameful methods we forego. We stand in the presence of God as we speak and so we tell the truth, as all who know us will agree.” (2 Corinthians 4: 1,2 [Living Bible])
Jesus Christ says, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
well, good work, good research. The day or time of any event gives that event a true footing. Concerning the birthday of Christ, men have tried to guess but only God knows when. Yes, I agree with the historical and the biblical facts you had pointed out. What do you think will be in heart of Jesus in heaven about ‘Christ-Mass’? beloved I may say, ‘win more souls on Dec., 25th, populate heaven and depopulate hell.’ It’s true that if you tell those who do all kinds of sinful acts on Christmas that Jesus was not born that day, they may fight you! now, let’s talk about his mission on earth – saving the lost sheep of Israel. I like your research. Finally, let’s build powerful, colourful and inparting website to capture lost souls for God’s kingdom. This is more rewarding. Jesus is coming back soon! God bless.
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