Plantation SDA Church

Deeper Theme: Can we know Jesus' birthday from the Bible?

What is the year of Christ’s birth?

• B.C. →←AD – is there a year 0?

• Was he born in the year AD 1?

• Dionysius Exiguus –inventor of AD era (AD 1=754a.u.c)

• Issue: Josephus Flavius: before Herod’s death – riot – 2
rabbis executed → moon eclipse → Astronomers: March
12/13, 750a.u.c.

• Herod died 2 weeks before Passover - April 12 → in 750a.u.c.
= 4 BC.

Why is Herod’s death important?

• Jesus was born before Herod’s death

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem… (Matt. 2:1)

• Jesus took refuge in Egypt

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod (!), he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.


• ➔ Jesus was born in year 4 or 5 BC ← Daniel 9.

• Luke 3:23 – He was about 30 years when He started His
public activity around AD 27 (baptism)

Do we know anything about the day of his birth?


• Isn’t December 25 Jesus’ Birthday?

• No! Why? (census, trip, lodging, shepherds)???

• Persian god Mithras → Sol Invictus → Sol Salutis


2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness
arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow
up as calves of the stall. (Malachi 4:2)

Is there any information in the Bible that can help us approximate His birthday?


• Zacharias (Luke 1:5.8-11) – division of Abijah –the 8th of
the 24 divisions

• Each division served 2 weeks/year (one in the 1st half, one in the
2nd half + the three main festivals (Passover, Pentecost,
Tabernacles).

• 2x24=48+3=51 –lunar year - See 1 Chron. 9:25; 2 Chron. 23:8

When did the division of Abijah serve?


• Nisan (March/April) +8 (8th division) +2 (Passover and Pentecost) = 10th week

• →Nisan (March/April), Iyar, Sivan (May/June), Tammuz, Av, Elul,
Tishri, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, Adar.

• Zacharias went home + 9 months ➔ Nissan (John the Baptist was born around Passover time)

• Jewish tradition: door open for Elijah

• Jesus called John the B. Elijah (Matt. 11:14)

How does John the Baptist’s birthday help us with regard to Jesus’ birthday?

• Jesus was conceived 6 months after the conception of his
cousin John the Baptist. (Luke 1:26)→Sivan+6=Kislev (November/December)

• Kislev 25 – Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah=Consecration)

• Luke 1:35: that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God…

• + 9 months ➔ Tishri (Sept./Oct.) – Feast of Tabernacles

• John 1:14 – Word became flesh and tabernacled…

Your Take-Away


• Minute details are important in the Bible!

• Gal.4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law…

• Second coming!!!