Biblical Evidence Shows Jesus Wasn't Born on December 25
If Jesus Christ was not born on December 25, does the Bible indicate when He was born?
History convincingly shows that December 25 was popularized as the date for Christmas, not because Christ was born on that day, but because it was already popular in pagan religious celebrations as the birthday of the sun. But is it possible that December 25 could be the day of Christ's birth?
"Lacking any scriptural pointers to Jesus's birthday, early Christian teachers suggested dates all over the calendar. Clement … picked November 18. Hippolytus … figured Christ must have been born on a Wednesday … An anonymous document[,] believed to have been written in North Africa around A.D. 243, placed Jesus's birth on March 28" (Jeffery Sheler, "In Search of Christmas," U.S. News and World Report, Dec. 23, 1996, p. 58).
A careful analysis of Scripture, however, clearly indicates that December 25 is an unlikely date for Christ's birth. Here are two primary reasons:
First, we know that shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at the time of Jesus' birth (Luke:2:7-8[7]And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.[8]And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.). Shepherds were not in the fields during December. According to Celebrations: The Complete Book of American Holidays, Luke's account "suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night" (Robert Myers, 1972, p. 309).
Similarly, The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary (1980) says this passage "would argue against the birth's occurring on Dec. 25 since the weather would not have permitted" shepherds watching over their flocks in the fields at night.
Second, Jesus' parents came to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census (Luke:2:1-4[1]And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.[2](And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)[3]And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.[4]And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)). Such censuses were not taken in winter, when temperatures often dropped below freezing and roads were in poor condition. Taking a census under such conditions would have been self-defeating.
Given the difficulties and the desire to bring pagans into Christianity, William Walsh says, "The important fact then which I have asked you to get clearly into your head is that the fixing of the date as December 25th was a compromise with paganism" (The Story of Santa Klaus, 1970, p. 62).
If Jesus Christ was not born on December 25, does the Bible indicate when He was born? The biblical accounts point to the fall of the year as the most likely time of Jesus' birth, based on the conception and birth of John the Baptist.
Since Elizabeth (John's mother) was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Jesus was conceived (Luke:1:24-36[24]And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,[25]Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.[26]And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,[27]To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.[28]And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.[29]And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.[30]And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.[31]And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.[32]He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:[33]And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.[34]Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?[35]And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.[36]And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.), we can determine the approximate time of year Jesus was born if we know when John was born. John's father, Zacharias, was a priest serving in the Jerusalem temple during the course of Abijah (Luke:1:5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.). Historical calculations indicate this course of service corresponded to June 13-19 in that year (E.W. Bullinger, The Companion Bible, 1974, Appendix 179, p. 200).
It was during this time of temple service that Zacharias learned that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a child (Luke:1:8-13[8]And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,[9]According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.[10]And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.[11]And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.[12]And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.[13]But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.). After he completed his service and traveled home, Elizabeth conceived (verses 23-24). Assuming John's conception took place near the end of June, adding nine months brings us to the end of March as the most likely time for John's birth. Adding another six months (the difference in ages between John and Jesus) brings us to the end of September as the likely time of Jesus' birth.
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