How do we know when Jesus was born?

Question

if they didn't start counting years till the first of january after jesus' birth, how did they know it was the 25th of december? it could've been anywhere in december??

Answer 1

Well we really dont know when, and well, just think of December 25th as the Observed day of his birth. And other than that you just have to have faith that Jesus knows we are celeberating his birth.

Answer 2

There isn't an exact date known for his birth, though it has been proven that he was most likely born in spring based on historical and physiological data (that is: when shepherds were most likely to be out tending flocks, etc).

So why do we celebrate his birth at or near to the winter solstice instead? Not because "any time is a good time so long as we're celebrating his birth", but rather because a young religion didn't want the competition of the older, more established pagan religions causing confusion.

People were already celebrating, in a rare few weeks of "leisure" time, giving thanks for all they'd had through the year and preparing for the coming year. Winter was the only time when people had "free time" with which to enjoy themselves a bit and engage in "more earthly delights", something the church knew and disapproved of. The church also knew that it was highly unlikely that they could manage to quash that celebration -- when a tradition is already well established it's difficult to untrench it from even a small region.

In what was a rather intelligent strategic move, rather than trying to prevent the wintertime celebrations the church simply tried to redefine what the cause was to gain more strength, power and followers. Let's be honest folks - were the common, working people likely to spend time listening to someone yammering on about God, Gods, Goddesses, the afterlife or anything else like that when they were busy working all spring, summer and fall from sun-up to sun-down? No, they simply didn't have the time to spare... but they did in winter. By redefining the celebrations that were already taking place the young church was securing it's own future... what came afterwards, the commercialization of the season, is merely a byproduct of living lives that have substantially more leisure time and wealth. (By the standards of when these changes began the majority of people now, particularly in the US and Europe, are wealthy, not having to work every minute of sunlight three quarters of the year simply to survive.)

Answer 3

Astronomers and historians believe that Jesus was born about 2 to 4 BCE (beginning of Christian era) based upon dates Herod & Pontius Pilate ruled plus the time when two planets were so close together they appeared as one to the naked eye. It was this event (which happens about every 700 yrs) which astronomers believe the 3 kings (they were astrologers) followed to Bethlehem thinking it was a star.

No one knows the actual date of Jesus' birth but for some reason which I've forgotten historians believe it was sometime in the spring.

Dec 25th was chosen as the date in which to celebrate based upon a pagan ritual which they were reluctant to give up. However, they became Christians when the Church made that date the day we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Answer 4

December 25 is just the day we observe Christs birth. Even according to the Bible it was probably some time in the spring since the shepherds were in the fields.

Answer 5

Was Jesus Born in December?
The Bible does not tell us when Jesus was born. However, it does give us sound reason to conclude that his birth did not take place in December.
Consider the weather conditions at that time of the year in Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. The Jewish month of Chislev (corresponding to November/December) was a month with cold and rainy weather. The month after that was Tebeth (December/January). It saw the lowest temperatures of the year, with occasional snows in the highlands. Let us see what the Bible tells us about the climate of that region.
The Bible writer Ezra shows that Chislev was indeed a month known for cold and rainy weather. After stating that a crowd had gathered in Jerusalem "in the ninth month [Chislev] on the twentieth day of the month," Ezra reports that people were "shivering...on account of the showers of rain." Concerning weather conditions at that time of the year, the congregated people themselves said: "It is the season of showers of rain,and it is not possible to stand outside." (Ezra 10:9, 13; Jeremiah 36:22) No wonder shepherds living in that part of the world made sure that they and their flocks were no longer out of doors at night when December came around!
The Bible reports, however, that shepherds were in the fields tending their flocks on the night of Jesus' birth. In fact, the Bible writer Luke shows that at the time, shepherds were "living out of doors and keeping watches in the night over their flocks" near Bethlehem. (Luke 2:8-12) Notice that the shepherds were actually living out doors, not just strolling outside during the day. They had their fields at night. Does that description of outdoor living fit the chilly and rainy weather conditions of Bethlehem in December? No, it does not. So the circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth indicate that he was not born in December.*
*For more information, see pages 176-9 of Reasoning From the Scriptures, published by Jehovah's Witnesses.
God's word tells us precisely when Jesus died, but it gives little direct indication as to when he was born. This brings to mind King Solomon's words: "A name is better than good oil, and the day of death than the day of one's being born." (Ecclesiastes 7:1) It is not surprising, then, that the Bible provides many details about Jesus' ministry and death but few details about the time of his Birth.

Answer 6

In fact, it was not in December at all – and could not have been.

The bible clearly states that the shepherds were with their flocks in the hills. Therefore, Jesus WAS NOT born in winter, unless the little critters were being fed snowballs. Shepherds take their animals to the hills in spring and early summer, when the grasses are most lush. In winter, they are in the low-lying areas.

Jesus was most likely born in the spring – closer to Easter than Christmas.

Answer 7

We know when Jesus was born because of the information about what stage the shepards were in with their flocks. AND that info tells us that Jesus was actually born in March, which is interesting! But any day of the year is as good as another.

Answer 8

Nobody knows for sure when He was born. The 25th is simply a day that we celebrate the birth.

Christmas has a long history and does not actually have a Christian beginning.

Read this article for more information on it and it's very interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

Answer 9

We really don't know the exact date when Jesus was born. As a friend of mine says: we're celebrating His birth, not His birthday. So, it really doesn't matter what day He was actually born. The important thing is that He was born and that's what we're celebrating.

Answer 10

The answer is: Nobody knows when Jesus was born.
The reason we celebrate His birthday on December
25 is that the early Church set it on that date to
have it coincide with a pagan festival which
commemorated the winter solstice.
Most scholars think He was born between
6 BC and 4 BC in late spring or early summer.