When Was Jesus Christ Really Born? - Part I
This article is about the birth of Jesus Christ. Many of the traditions
associated with Christmas are pagan and have nothing to do with Christ's
birth.
1. When Was Jesus Christ Really Born?
Let's look at the birth of Jesus Christ. The scriptures show when Jesus
was really born. Matthew 2:1-4, 7-8 state "Now when Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise
men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of
the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship
him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all
Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and the
scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be
born. . . . Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired
of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to
Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and
when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship
him also." But we know from the scriptures that king Herod did not want to
worship Jesus but destroy him. Matthew 2:16, 19-20 state "Then Herod, when
he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent
forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the
coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which
he had diligently inquired of the wise men. . . . But when Herod was dead,
behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the
land of Israel:for they are dead which sought the young child's life."
History tells us that king Herod died March 13th, 4 B.C. (1). We can find
out the time of Jesus Christ's birth if we look at the date of the death
of Herod and look at Matthew 2:16 which tells us about his decree to kill
all children 2 years old and under. This would take us back to March 13th,
6 B.C. We know that Jesus Christ was on the earth for 33-1/2 years and
died on the week of Passover or Feast of unleavened bread which was during
the month Abib or Nisan (which is during March or April). From this we see
that Jesus Christ would be born in the October or November month in the
year 5 B.C.
NOTES:
Note 1: reference at Unger's Bible Dictionary
In future posts I will share more about this topic.
