2006-12-15 03:12:26 · 15 answers · asked by JM 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In the Bible it says that Jesus was born while Herod the Great was still the king of Judah. (See LuKe chapter 1) Herod died in the year 4BC, so Jesus had to have been born sometime before that. Most scholars place the birth of Jesus in either the year 4BC or 6BC because the Bible also says that Cyrenius was governor of Syria at the time. Records found about 20 years ago state that he was in Syria in 6BC, returned to Rome for a time in 5BC, and was back in Syria in 4BC. He then returned to Roman and became a senator in 2BC, returning to Syria for a final time from 10-14AD. So to match the Bible, Jesus had to have been born in either 6 or 4AD.
If you go with the 4AD date, then it is also possible to explain the Christmas "star". As knowledge of astronomy was limited at the time, the word translated "star" in Matthew was applied to more than just stars. It was used for comets, meteors (falling stars), planets, etc. It was also used for what we call constellations today.
In 4BC there was what is called a triple conjunction. That is, three of the planets (Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars) all lined up with each other. In the course of a year, they would enter and leave this formation three times: in March, June and December.
It appears that the magi (or wise men) would have seen this conjunction in March, and consulted their books. There they would have found the prophecy given by one of the members (Balaam the son of Beor) in Numbers 22-24. (A column that includes this prophecy inscripts sometime before 900BC was found recently in Persia). He stated that when the "star" appears, a king would be born in Judah. When the star reappeared in June, they began to travel to Judah.
They arrived in Jerusalem (with the 3,000 soliders who normally traveled with them - which is what panic the city in Matthew 2) and were redirected by Herod to Bethlehem. At the point (late December) the conjuction would have reappeared. Note that Matthew 2 says that after they had talked to Herod, the star reappeared. It all fits with a late December, 4BC date. (That type of conjuction would not occur agains for another 496 years).
So the birth of Jesus appears to have happened in December of 4 AD according to details in the scriptures.
2006-12-15 03:18:37 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I have just been studying this and from what I have found is that John the baptist was born at the time of Passover. Jesus was born 6 months after John, which puts him born at the time of Sukkot. Sukkot is the festival of the tabernacle. Which explains why Jerusalem was over crowded everyone went to Jerusalem at Sukkot. It was also the only time of the year that the Jewish people would have been staring at the stars while sitting in their Sukkah. It is also a beautiful picture of Jesus (yeshua) coming and dwelling among us. The Jewish people did not celebrate birthdays, but I believe that God put his birth at this time so we could get a better appreciation for his birth and life. Sukkot varies on our calendars in September to October.
2006-12-15 11:36:24 · answer #2 · answered by beautyoftorahlife 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We do not really know JM. There are several different theories but alas no proof. But, we have chosen a day to celebrate his birth and that is Christmas, even though its not popular with all Christians or all Pagans due to how the date was selected.
Ideals and should bes are fine in the intellectual field, but in the world, we deal with realities and that is the Jesus birthday is celebrated on December 25. MOM
2006-12-15 11:17:01 · answer #3 · answered by Susan 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If you look at the planets and their orbits; Jupiter and Saturn appear to be in the same place of the sky (appearing as one very big bright star) and are conjunct for several months to two years.
this conjunction happens every 808 years if memory serves.
There was a conjunction in 7 BCE; and it is believed that was when Jesus was born..
2006-12-15 11:16:36 · answer #4 · answered by Rev. Two Bears 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
january 20. 1992
2006-12-15 11:27:03 · answer #5 · answered by Arnar 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In the Bible, the shepherds (sp?) were bringing the sheep down from the mountains. Therefore, it could be no later than August.
In reality, I don't believe in the Christian myth of Jesus, so he wasn't born.
2006-12-15 11:16:03 · answer #6 · answered by Dennis_Yates 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
On Grandparents Day.
2006-12-15 11:15:42 · answer #7 · answered by Fallon 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am not sure the exact date, but it would have been during the Reign of King Herod, and during the time of the Bethelem census. :)
2006-12-15 11:14:52 · answer #8 · answered by mariedockins 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes.
2006-12-15 11:14:39 · answer #9 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
June 9, 0001 and that the god honest truth
2006-12-15 11:14:49 · answer #10 · answered by man of ape 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋