How did early Christians and Jews of Bible times view birthday celebrations?

Answer 1

THE celebration of birthdays is regarded by most people today as merely an innocent custom. But the Bible does not paint a positive picture of this tradition. For one thing, the Scriptures contain no indication that any of God’s faithful servants celebrated birthdays.

The only two birthdays the Bible does mention were for rulers who were enemies of God. Each celebration included an execution, so that the guests could gloat over the death of one who had displeased the king. In the first instance, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, executed his chief baker. (Genesis 40:2, 3, 20, 22) The Egyptian ruler did so during the feast because he had grown indignant with his servant. In the second instance, Herod, the immoral ruler of Galilee, beheaded John the Baptizer as a favor to a girl whose dancing at the party had pleased him. What repulsive scenes!—Matthew 14:6-11.

After Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 C.E., when 1,000,000 Jews perished and 97,000 survived to be taken prisoner. En route to Rome, Roman general Titus took his Jewish captives to the nearby seaport of Caesarea. While Titus remained at Caesarea, he celebrated his brother Domitian’s birthday with great splendor, putting over 2,500 prisoners to death in games with beasts and flames. After this he moved to Berytus [Beirut], a Roman colony in Phoenicia, where he celebrated his father’s birthday by killing many more captives at elaborate exhibitions

It is no wonder that The Imperial Bible-Dictionary comments: “The later Hebrews looked on the celebration of birth-days as a part of idolatrous worship, a view which would be abundantly confirmed by what they saw of the common observances associated with these days.”

Faithful first-century Christians would not have felt like joining in a custom so darkly presented in the Bible and so gruesomely celebrated by the Romans. Today, sincere Christians realize that the Bible accounts about birthdays were among the things written for their instruction. (Romans 15:4) They avoid celebrating birthdays because such observances bestow undue importance on the individual. More significant, Jehovah’s servants wisely take into account the unfavorable presentation of birthdays in the Bible.

Answer 2

JWs don't celebrate birthdays because the Bible doesn't say we should celebrate them. It seems you lack an understanding of our beliefs on this. The Bible does show servants of God rejoicing around the births of children. There is nothing wrong with that. The births of children is a good thing. It is the *separate* act of setting up an annual observance of a birthday that JWs do not do. This is not only not recorded in the Bible, but history tells us that the earliest Christians also did not celebrate birthdays. It was something that people of the nations did, and they didn't feel compelled to follow suit.

Answer 3

They did not apparently, as the only two birthdays mentioned in the Bible were:

1) King Herod
2) Egyptian Ruler or King

and both of these men were very ungodly, very wicked.

Did you know that Jesus never even celebrated his birthday; not ever. If we are to imitate Jesus and his Father, Jehovah God, should we be celebrating what is pagan and what goes against their teachings to us? No, we should not. Who cares anyway if it is an ungodly belief? Imitate God and his Son.

And contrary to the answerer above me, Jesus' birthday from when he was born until the time he died was NEVER celebrated. He was born of humble circumstances and never once celebrated his birthday. Makes you wonder how the pagan holiday of Christmas came from huh? Another ridiculous pagan celebration having nothing to do with Jesus at all, let lone his birth.
--------------------

True Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, do not wear sanctimonious black robes and hair shirts. Their refusal to celebrate birthdays stems from a sincere desire to please God. They cannot help but note, as Christians have noted since the time of Origen, that the only two birthday celebrations mentioned in the Bible were those of an Egyptian pharaoh and Herod Antipas, a Roman ruler, neither of whom was a servant of God. It is also significant that both celebrations were associated with an execution.

(Genesis 40:20-22; Matthew 14:6-11)

Hope this has helped.

Answer 4

Early Christians didn't celebrate their birthdays. That was handed down to us from other cultures.
Such as Egypt Genesis 40:20-22 Pharaoh's birthday
The Hebrews looked on the celebration of Birthdays as a part of idolatrous worship. Since it was engaged in by the pagan nations that had surrounded them.

None of the festival days God established included Birthdays.

Answer 5

Why christians do not celebrate birthdays: when Herod’s birthday was being celebrated the daughter of Herodias danced at it and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Then she, under her mother’s coaching, said: “Give me here upon a platter the head of John the Baptist.” Grieved though he was, the king out of regard for his oaths and for those reclining with him commanded it to be given; and he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. Paul said: Whether you are eating or drinking or doing anything else, do all things for God’s glory. Keep from becoming causes for stumbling to non-beleivers and to the congregation of God, even as I am pleasing all people in all things, not seeking my own advantage but that of the many, in order that they might get saved.

Answer 6

Not any birthdays in Bible celebrated by Christians, only pagans.

Answer 7

That was strictly something the pagan nations around them did. If God had wanted them to do that he instituted festivals and that just wasn't one of them.

Answer 8

Other than the coming of age birthday, I don't think they held very much importance. I also think the only reason the coming of age was important was because they could then become productive members of society and marry.

Answer 9

They all got together and went to the local Chuck E. GoatCheese Pizza place. Fossilized remains of cheap crappy plastic toys have been uncovered in archaeological digs throughout the Mid east.

Answer 10

Nothing. Birthdays were not at the top of the list.