Was Jesus born on December 25?
How did December 25 get chosen as the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus?
Speculation as to the time of Jesus’ birth dates back to the 3rd century, when Hyppolytus (ca. 170-236) claimed that Jesus was born on December 25. The earliest mention of some sort of observance on that date is in the Philoclian Calendar, representing Roman practice, of the year 336. Later, John Chrysostom favored the same date of birth. Cyril of Jerusalem (348-386) had access to the original Roman birth census, which also documented that Jesus was born on the 25th of December. The date eventually became the officially recognized date for Christmas in part because it coincided with the pagan festivals celebrating Saturnalia and the winter solstice. The church thereby offered people a Christian alternative to the pagan festivities and eventually reinterpreted many of their symbols and actions in ways acceptable to Christian faith and practice.
December 25 has become more and more acceptable as the birth date of Jesus. However, some argue that the birth occurred in some other season, such as in the fall. Followers of this theory claim that the Judean winters were too cold for shepherds to be watching their flocks by night. History proves otherwise, however, and we have historical evidence that unblemished lambs for the Temple sacrifice were in fact kept in the fields near Bethlehem during the winter months.
The truth is we simply don’t know the exact date of our Savior’s birth. In fact, we don’t even know for sure the year in which He was born. Scholars believe it was somewhere between 6 B.C. and 4 B.C. One thing is clear: if God felt it was important for us to know the exact date of the Savior’s birth, He certainly would have told us in His Word. The Gospel of Luke gives very specific details about the event, even down to what the baby was wearing – “swaddling clothes”—and where he slept—“in a manger” (Luke 2:12). These details are important because they speak of His nature and character, meek and lowly. But the exact date of His birth has no significance whatsoever, which may be why God chose not to mention it.
The fact is that He was born, that He came into the world to atone for our sins, that He was resurrected to eternal life, and that He’s alive today. This is what we should celebrate, as we are told in the Old Testament in such passages as Zechariah 2:10: “’Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,’ declares the LORD.” Further, the angel that announced the birth to the shepherds brought “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). Surely here is the cause for celebration every day, not just once a year.
January 12th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
no jesus was not born on december 25th
the leaders of the church chose one day to celebrate the birth of jesus
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January 12th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
It was already a pagan holiday in several cultures. The oldest of these was the celebration of the Babylonian king/god Tammuz (known in Hebrew as Nimrod, which means "in rebellion."). Tammuz was born on Dec. 25th. The Christmas tree also originated with Tammuz, but was not used in celebration of his birth, but rather of his supposed immortality as a god. The custom is described in Jeremiah 10:3-4.
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January 12th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
the inseption is closer to this date then the actual birth. Do a indepth study of Luke 1 this is where you’ll find your answers.
Christ was with us on or about December 25.
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read study , understand the bible
January 12th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
i don’t even know. i like candy canes and egg nog though. god is good all year and i thank him for his son everyday. thank you Lord!
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January 12th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
When you celebrate a friend’s birthday-do you celebrate the day, or who the day REMINDS you of?
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January 12th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Look in the real world.
Decode this lyrics " You’ll see ‘
"Wonderful world"
"Jesus to a child"
"I understand"
"Auld Lang Syne"
December 25th was chosen.
Since it’s winter time.
There’s nothing much to do during the cold weather in Cold countries in Europe and the West.
But to stay at home with family reunion in time.
Celebration of Christmas in December?
Is to remind the little one on the Liberation of Freedom from world war two back in the past.
As day of "Thanks giving" to God for that Freedom in bringing them up in time.
And that day is fun and games with " Holiday" for the little ones in time
How do we explain to the little one on what the Liberation of Freedom from world war two was all about when they don’t even know a thing about it in time?
So Christmas is the gifts of life to remind them in worshiping God with "Thanks giving" to God with the Nativity for raising them up in time.
And the celebration will continue right up to the New Year in time.
That is also a time in the East for all living things including plants, marine and wild-life to regenerate themselves instead of running them down to extinction with non-stop harvesting of all living things on earth vital for the survival of Mankind in time.
The misery and mystery of Sabbath day?
How after world war two Christmas was celebrated world wide on the same day back in the past before it was lost in time.
Luke 21.30-36
Luke 9.25,55-56,60
1 Timothy 6.7
Luke 24.44-45,47-48
Revelation 22.13-17
Exodus 12.14, 21-27
Luke 6.39-40,41-45,46-49
Exodus 20.12
Matt 22.17-21,32
Exodus 20.1-18
Exodus 23.24,32
What do you think?
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decoded from the missing x-files.
January 12th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Jesus wasn’t born on Dec 25. Religious leaders chose that date because they copied from other religions and mythologies. Here’s a list of all the people who share the celebrated date of Dec 25:
Krishna
Mithra
Horus
Buddha
Quetzalcoatl
Hercules
Tammuz
As well as many others. Founders of christianity also copied the story of Horus for Jesus. Horus was born under a star, attended by three kings, born of a virgin, begotten by his father, crucified next to two thiefs and resurrected three days later.
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January 12th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Look at the traditional emblems of Christmas then you see how the date was chosen.
The Bible doesn’t record his date of birth so not to give the particular year and date any special importance but historical biblical evidence puts his birth year at 2 B.C.E because Caesar Augustus had recently decreed that a registration be carried out in the land, and people had to travel to their town of origin in order to comply. Joseph and pregnant Mary travelled to Bethlehem in Judea "David’s City" as Joseph was from the line of David.
The story of Jesus born on December 25th and the wise men came to pay their respects to the baby in the crib are all untrue and like literally all of Christmas the stories and origins have no biblical basis but invented up.
The only few people that were recorded who came and saw baby Jesus were humble shepherds who were out in the fields at the time keeping watch over their flocks. (Luke 2:8) when an angel appeared before them and said in Luke 9:10-14 that they were to travel to Bethlehem Judea because a savior has been born.
December would of been too cold for the shepherds to of been out and the sheep would of been in shelters than outside in the bitter winter. (Jeremiah 36:22; Ezra 10:9, 13)
Historians put the month of Jesus’s birth in March or more commonly in early to mid October.
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January 12th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
EVERYBODY in this section knows its derived from pagan roots. GET OVER IT. This isnt new or fascinating to Christians. Because you took one holiday and morphed it into another basically means…….nothing.
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January 12th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
No, the the birth of our Lord on or about 15th TISRI = September 29 in the year 4 B.C.
The Course of Abia (Luke 1:5)
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January 12th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Speculation as to the time of Jesus’ birth dates back to the 3rd century, when Hyppolytus (ca. 170-236) claimed that Jesus was born on December 25. The earliest mention of some sort of observance on that date is in the Philoclian Calendar, representing Roman practice, of the year 336. Later, John Chrysostom favored the same date of birth. Cyril of Jerusalem (348-386) had access to the original Roman birth census, which also documented that Jesus was born on the 25th of December. The date eventually became the officially recognized date for Christmas in part because it coincided with the pagan festivals celebrating Saturnalia and the winter solstice. The church thereby offered people a Christian alternative to the pagan festivities and eventually reinterpreted many of their symbols and actions in ways acceptable to Christian faith and practice.
December 25 has become more and more acceptable as the birth date of Jesus. However, some argue that the birth occurred in some other season, such as in the fall. Followers of this theory claim that the Judean winters were too cold for shepherds to be watching their flocks by night. History proves otherwise, however, and we have historical evidence that unblemished lambs for the Temple sacrifice were in fact kept in the fields near Bethlehem during the winter months.
The truth is we simply don’t know the exact date of our Savior’s birth. In fact, we don’t even know for sure the year in which He was born. Scholars believe it was somewhere between 6 B.C. and 4 B.C. One thing is clear: if God felt it was important for us to know the exact date of the Savior’s birth, He certainly would have told us in His Word. The Gospel of Luke gives very specific details about the event, even down to what the baby was wearing – “swaddling clothes”—and where he slept—“in a manger” (Luke 2:12). These details are important because they speak of His nature and character, meek and lowly. But the exact date of His birth has no significance whatsoever, which may be why God chose not to mention it.
The fact is that He was born, that He came into the world to atone for our sins, that He was resurrected to eternal life, and that He’s alive today. This is what we should celebrate, as we are told in the Old Testament in such passages as Zechariah 2:10: “’Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,’ declares the LORD.” Further, the angel that announced the birth to the shepherds brought “good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). Surely here is the cause for celebration every day, not just once a year.
References :