What Was the Birth Date of Jesus?

jimmythesaint · 06-14-2008, 01:09 AM

Christians worldwide celebrate the 25th of December auomatically, but is that the true birth date of Jesus? The Qur'an seems to indicate that the birth took place in fierce heat which would seem to indicate a hot season.

Any clues why the 25th became the official date?

Dawud · 06-14-2008, 01:15 AM

From what I read somewhere, December 25th was the birthday of Mithra... Mithraism, I think, was Persian, or at least from somewhere east of the Roman Empire. Many Romans were Mithraists.

My guess for the birthday of Jesus? Sometime in the autumn... that's my guess.

Dawud · 06-14-2008, 01:16 AM

It can be hot almost all year in the Levant.

path_of_one · 06-14-2008, 01:22 AM

Biblically, it seems likely that his birth was in summer. I believe 12/25 was chosen because it was close to winter solstice. In Paganism, the winter solstice is the time that the light is reborn. So it kind of makes sense to put Christ's birth near the winter solstice in that mythology. More sense, I think, than putting it closer to what would probably have been his actual birthday- say, Lughnasadh (Aug. 1), which is a celebration of harvest.

Celebrating Christ's birth at the same time as the Winter Solstice makes perfect sense to me, but I'm both Druid and Christian, so all the symbolism works together.

greymare · 06-14-2008, 01:53 AM

maybe jesus was really an aussie,? its awfully hot here in december.
lol

Alex P · 06-14-2008, 01:54 AM

*hint try october-ish*

greymare · 06-14-2008, 02:21 AM

honey, you arelovely, but you aint Jesus. K?

Alex P · 06-14-2008, 03:43 AM

lol me? No I am far from jesus... lol November-ish would of been my answer if I was trying to imitate him... That and some sandals

But yeah it was brought to december for christmas! So the catholics could keep control on the pagans and the christians in an attempt to make one happy family... And happy families pay their taxes

You see when you are attempting to combine two religions together there has to be a middle ground as we don't want to lose this! and they dont want to lose that, so lets keep the pagan festival and celebrate it as the brith of christ and everyone is a winner.

Oh and where are my manners?! Weclome to boards Jim! Dog fan eh? Good stuff.

juantoo3 · 06-14-2008, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dawud

It can be hot almost all year in the Levant.

While I am sure this may be true, it also snows in and around Jerusalem / Bethlehem in late December and early January. According to the Gospels, the shepherds were in the fields tending their flocks. Sheep don't do well in cold, shepherds traditionally bring their sheep in long before the snows.

The most realistic sounding date I have heard put forth is late September, into the first week of October. It coincides nicely with the Jewish Holy Days called the Feast of Tabernacles. John Baptist was born 6 months earlier.

And oh yes, welcome to CR Jim!

path_of_one · 06-14-2008, 03:58 AM

Yes, sorry- welcome to CR!!!

And yeah, I'm in agreement with you, Alex. Another case in point-- Halloween (Samhuin) became All Souls Day. Convenient.

juantoo3 · 06-14-2008, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by path_of_one

Yes, sorry- welcome to CR!!!

And yeah, I'm in agreement with you, Alex. Another case in point-- Halloween (Samhuin) became All Souls Day. Convenient.

Quite a bit of convenience, actually, if one looks at the various Catholic *saints'* days, etc. and contrasts with traditional Pagan holy days. Years ago I had a calendar that marked various holidays from quite a few major and minor religions, and the thing that struck me was the considerable overlap, not just on the solstice and equinox, but on other key calendar dates as well. There were shared holidays across many faiths, even unrelated faiths.

path_of_one · 06-14-2008, 04:57 AM

Well, I think it's a natural consequence of all of us experiencing the same agricultural and seasonal cycles, and the obvious importance to people the world over of the solstices and equinoxes. They're salient naturally and regularly occuring events, so naturally people think they have some inherent meaning and ought to be celebrated.

mee · 06-14-2008, 03:40 PM

‘What does God’s Word, the Bible, say about Jesus’ being born on December 25?’

Actually, the Bible specifies no date for Jesus’ birth, and there is no record that Jesus himself spoke of it, much less directed that it be celebrated. However, the Bible does help us to determine the time of year when Jesus was born.

According to Matthew’s Gospel, chapters 26 and 27, Jesus was executed on Nisan 14, late in the day of the Jewish Passover that had begun on March 31, 33 C.E.

We learn from Luke’s Gospel that Jesus was about 30 years old when he was baptized and began his ministry. (Luke 3:21-23)

That ministry lasted three and a half years.

Therefore, Jesus was about 33 1/2 years old when he died.

He would have turned 34 about October 1, 33 C.E.

Luke reports that at the time of Jesus’ birth, shepherds were "living out of doors and keeping watches in the night over their flocks." (Luke 2:8)

Shepherds would not have been out with their flocks in the cold of December, when it may even snow in the vicinity of Bethlehem.

But they could have been there with their flocks about October 1, which according to the evidence is when Jesus was born.

Dawud · 06-14-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mee

But they could have been there with their flocks about October 1, which according to the evidence is when Jesus was born.

I guessed autumn, woohoo!

Alex P · 06-14-2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by path_of_one

Yes, sorry- welcome to CR!!!

And yeah, I'm in agreement with you, Alex. Another case in point-- Halloween (Samhuin) became All Souls Day. Convenient.

Yup... Christmas, Halloween, Easter, The cross, Marriage(wedding rings), birthdays, days of the week, mothers day, fathers day.... There is more... But yeah.

Is it me, or have we been in agreement on quite a bit latley? Spooky.