WHEN WAS JESUS

BORN?
JESUS WASN’T BORN IN
YEAR 0
THERE WASN’T A YEAR 0
๏ Most NT scholars say 4-6 B.C.
๏ King Herod the Great died in 4 B.C. 
๏ Jesus had to be born before Herod
died.
๏ December 25th?
๏ Exact date is unknown.
๏ The supposed date of Mary’s
conception is March 25—the same
day Jesus was thought to be
crucified.
๏ Common idea is that Christians took
over the pagan holiday of Sol
Invictus (winter solstice), which was
December 17-25—little evidence to
support this.
๏ December 25th was established by
Sextus Julius Africanus in 221 AD.
๏ Based this date on calculations,
starting with the “world’s creation in
5499 BC.”
๏ christianity.com  says that shepherds
would not have been tending their
flocks in December, the weather was
cold; they would have continued
shepherding no later than October.
๏ Bible scholars also try to time Christ’s
birth by timing the birth of his cousin John
according to the sparse information about
Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary outlined in
Luke. Elizabeth was six months pregnant
when Mary arrived, and Mary left three
months later. According to BibleInfo.com:
๏ According to BibleInfo.com: “We can
approximate the month of Jesus’
birth to be around the time of Tishri
(mid to late September). To arrive at
this date, start at the conception of
John the Baptist, Sivan (June), count
forward…
๏ Other accounts take details about
Zechariah’s temple duties to arrive at
a spring birth for Christ.
๏ There is no definitive answer.
THEMAGI
๏ We don’t know how many!
๏ 3 comes from the number of gifts.
๏ Matthew calls them magi, not wise
men or kings.
๏ Magos—Persian word for a priest,
or interpreters of signs or dreams.
๏ Xref: Daniel 2, Acts 13:6–8
๏ From “…the East” Matt. 2:1.
๏ Persia, Arabia, or Babylonia.
๏ When did they visit Jesus?
๏ Weeks/months after the birth.
๏ King Herod had to gather advisers.
๏ Travel would have taken days,
weeks, or months.
๏ When did they visit Jesus?
๏ Weeks/months after the birth.
๏ King Herod had to gather advisers.
๏ Travel would have taken days,
weeks, or months.
๏ When they arrive (Matt. 2:9–11), Jesus
is described as a “child”—not a baby
๏ Herod decrees the death of boys 2
years old or younger (2:16).
 King Herod
questioned by the
Three Wise Men,
James Tissot
HEROD THE GREAT
๏ An insecure leader—a madman!
๏ Successful politician and builder.
๏ Clever and ruthless.
๏ Trusted by Romans hated by Jews.
๏ 10 wives—all had sons—put to death
three sons on suspicion of treason.
๏ Put to death his favorite wife
Mariamne—then killed her mother.
๏ He invited the high priest to Jericho
to swim and had him drowned.
The killing of babies:
๏ Bethlehem had approx. 1,500 people
๏ Matt. 2:16, all male children in
Bethlehem … two years old or under.
๏ The village had 10-30 boys that age.
1.2 JOSEPH & MARY
FLEE TO EGYPT
 Nazareth

Bethlehem

Egypt
Bethlehem
๏ Egypt was 146 km from Bethlehem—
outside the rule of Herod.
๏ An angel told Joseph to flee, Mt 2:13ff
๏ Stayed until the death of Herod [4BC]
—safe to return to Israel.
 1.3 JESUS, AGED 12,
GOES TO THE TEMPLE
 Nazareth

Jerusalem
๏ Luke 2:41ff
๏ The only recorded story in the youth
of Jesus.
๏ The first recorded words of Jesus.
๏ The last time Joseph is mentioned in
the life of Jesus.
๏ The law required every Jewish man
to make three annual pilgrimages to
the Temple (Exod. 23:17; Deut 16:6).
๏ By the first century, this is reduced to
one at Passover.
๏ Luke 2:42—Jewish tradition said that
a boy became “a son of the
Torah,” (observing the law) aged 13.
๏ Usually the year before, he went to
the Temple for the first time as
preparation.
๏ Jerusalem to Nazareth = 130Km, 4
days.
๏ Travel with relatives and friends for
protection—watch the children
together—Jesus would have been
with friends.
๏ Usually the women started out
earlier as they travelled more slowly.
๏ Men started later, travelled faster—
met at the camp in the evening.
๏ Mary and Joseph probably also had
younger children. 
๏ Why did Jesus stay in Jerusalem?
๏ Why did Jesus stay in Jerusalem?