While we know the exact year and sometimes the month and even the day of birth of personages in antiquity, the Jesus’ (Yahshua) birth and even the place are shrouded in darkness by the Church’s fathers. Trying to figure out when he was born, they assumed several “possible” dates.
For example, Matthew says, “In the days of Herod” (MT 2:1), namely at least two years (ii, 1–16) before his reign. But we know that Herod died on September 2, B. C. 4. According to Matthew, Christ was born at least five years before the beginning of the Christian era and according to Luke he was born at least six years after the beginning of the Christian era. This is 1907: but according to Matthew Christ was born not later than 1912 years ago; while according to Luke he was born not earlier than 1901 years ago.
Luke says “When Cyrenius was governor of Syria” (2 Luke, 1–7). Cyrenius was governor of Syria, and this not until 7 A. D he also states that Augustus Caesar issued a decree that the world should be taxed, and that “this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria,” and that Jesus was born at the time of this taxing”. But Cyrenius did not become governor of Syria until 7 A. D. However, the last years of Herod’s reign, and during all the years of Archelaus’s reign, Sentius Saturninus and Quintilius Varus held this office. Even if Cyrenius had previously held the office the events related by Luke could not have occurred then because Judea prior to 7 A. D. was not a part of Syria.
However, not even Christian scholars managed to figure out the date of Jesus’ birth. Namely, Dodwell places it in 6 B. C., Chrysostom 5 B. C., Usher, 4 B. C., Irenaeus 3 B. C., Jerome 2 B. C., Tertullian 1 B. C. Some modern authorities place it in 1 A. D., others in 2 A. D., and still others in 3 A. D.; while those who accept Luke as infallible authority must place it as late as 7 A. D.
As far as the month of Jesus’ birth is concerned, not even one of the early Christians knew to tell us. There is a mish-mash of different opinions that have been expressed by Christian scholars. Namely, Wagenseil places it in February, Paulius in March, Greswell in April, Lichtenstein in June, Strong in August, Lightfoot in September, and Newcome in October. Clinton says that he was born in the Spring; Larchur says that he was born in the Fall. Some early Christians believed that it occurred on the 5th of January; others the 19th of April; others still on the 20th of May. The Eastern church believed that he was born on the 7th of January. The church of Rome, in the fourth century, selected the 25th of December and this has been accepted by the greater portion of the Christian world, however, it was a pagan holiday dedicated to “the Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun”. It wasn’t actually a bad idea, since in the Gospels, Yahshua was called “the light of the world”.
Apparently, the Holy Spirit ignored also the date of Jesus’ birth and failed to “inspire” the authors of the Gospels.
As for the accounts describing his birth, please read the related ancient mythologies to find exactly the same descriptions. Funny that the Gospels’ authors described word by word all the events, but failed to mention when and where he was born!
What do you say?
P.S. If you wonder what has Hercules to do with Jesus’ birth, please, read the Greek mythology. You will find the exact Jesus’ description of birth in the Greek texts.
Δεσμώτης
Article URL : https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46986/46986-h/46986-h.htm