RR HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YESHUA (Part 1 of 2) By Dr. Raymond Finney
Shavuah Tov,
Many Believers would be interested in Yeshua’s birth date. However, the date for the most important birth in the history of the world is unknown. This date is not found in the Bible or any historical record. A few clues in the Scriptures allow us to estimate a possible range of dates.
Consider these things:
>> Birth dates were unimportant in the ancient world. Since everyone has a birth date, why celebrate it? It would be like celebrating Happy Navel Day. Everyone has a navel… so?
>> B’rit Chadashah authors were more interested in Yeshua’s theology than in personal details of His life. Even so, we would like to know many features and anecdotes of our Savior’s life, but these are not recorded. Yet, we still wonder-- when was Yeshua born ?
>> Some people may confuse calendar abbreviations. BC is “Before the Christ.” AD is not “After [the Christ’s] Death,” as commonly confused, but abbreviates the Latin Anno Domini (”Year of the Lord”). There is no Year Zero. 1 BC passes directly into AD 1. If BC and AD are employed as many think, it would mean that Yeshua was crucified as an infant. Modern scholars who wish not to recognize Yeshua may use CE (“Common Era”). BCE (“Before Common Era”) is used instead of BC; CE (“Common Era”) is used instead of AD.
CENTURIES OF CELEBRATING A DECEMBER 25 “CHRISTMAS.” Based on the work of Sextus Julius Africanus in AD 221, Yeshua’s birth has been celebrated on December 25 for nearly two millennia. And, we have been wrong for nearly two millennia. We can thank the Roman Catholic Church for this error. In AD 336 Catholic Church calendars first listed Yeshua’s birth date as December 25. Church fathers wished to pick a date for this birth that would coincide with and replace pagan festivals. They chose December 25 to coincide with festivals of two Roman (pagan) gods-- Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture (Feast of Saturnalia), and Mithra, the Persian god of light. The rationale for this decision was to make it easier for Romans to accept the newly adopted religion of Christianity (to Christianize pagan holidays).
“Christmas” is derived from the Old English Cristes maesse. Cristes refers to the Christ (the Messiah), the Anointed One of the Trinity. Maesse comes from the Latin Missa, and refers to the Eucharist (Mass). Christmas, dating to AD 1038, was established by the Roman Catholic Church as the “Christ’s Mass.”
December 25 coincided with the celebration of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun), which was a few days after the winter solstice. This date provided a cushion for astronomers to be certain the sun had “traveled” as far south as expected and would again make its way northward (bringing warmth and another agricultural season).
Thus, Sol (the Sun) appeared to “die” after retreating to his southern limit and was “reborn” by returning to the north, By changing course from south to north, Sol proved that he conquered his death and was “reborn” by December 25.
Yeshua was adopted into the Roman pantheon in AD 312 by Emperor Constantine I. Previously persecuted Christians were accepted and no longer persecuted and martyred. Church leaders could practice and develop the Christian faith openly. Such religious freedom led to the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church.
Although Roman Catholics accepted the December 25 date for Yeshua’s birth and it spread throughout the Empire, the date was not acceptable to all. Many Believers tended to ignore Christmas, feeling that Resurrection Sunday (Easter) and Epiphany (a feast day commemorating the visit of the Magi to the Holy Family, the baptism of Yeshua, and the wedding in Cana) were more important. In the New World, New England Puritans banned the observance of Christmas because they argued that gift giving and lighting of trees were pagan rituals. Following the Revolutionary War, Christmas fell out of favor in America because it was seen as an English custom.
Over the centuries, numerous dates have been proposed for Yeshua’s birth, including May 20, March 28, April 19, April 20, January 6, December 25, etc. This many views means that we simply do not know the date.
** DAY OF BIRTH? What can we glean from Scriptures about the DAY of Yeshua’s birth? Consider:
SHEPHERDS. Luke’s Gospel refutes a December birth date for Yeshua. (Luke 2:8-9: Now there were shepherds in the same region, living out in the fields and guarding their flock at night. 9 Suddenly an angel of Adonai stood before them, and the glory of Adonai shone all around them; and they were absolutely terrified.) First Century Jews grazed their sheep in pastures through early October. In later fall and winter months, the weather was too cold and unpredictable for sheep to graze outdoors. By December, the quality and quantity of pasture grass was poor. By December, shepherds brought their sheep into sheltered pens and fed them stored food. By December, the shepherds stayed in their homes to be sheltered from winds and cold temperatures.
JOHN THE BAPTIZER. John the Baptizer’s birth is pertinent to Yeshua’s birth. John’s father, Zacharias, belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. Jewish priests were assigned to and rotated in twenty-four temple service courses throughout the year. Abijah’s Course (Zacharias’ service course) was the eighth course, beginning on the second Shabbat of the month of Sivan (mid-May to mid-June). John’s mother, Elizabeth, who was barren, became pregnant with John the Baptizer on the return of Zacharias from his temple service.
Read about Zacharias, Elizabeth, and John in Luke’s Gospel. (Luke 1:26-28, 30-31: Then in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by Adonai into a town in the Galilee named Natzeret 27 and to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Miriam. 28 And coming to her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored one! Adonai is with you.” |...| 30 The angel spoke to her, “Do not be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you shall call His name Yeshua.”)
** PLACE OF BIRTH? Scriptures confirm Bethlehem as Yeshua’s birthplace. (Micah 5:1: But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah— least among the clans of Judah— from you will come out to Me One to be ruler in Israel, One whose goings forth are from of old, from days of eternity. AND Matthew 2:1: Now after Yeshua was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, magi from the east came to Jerusalem,…. AND Luke 2:4-7: Now Joseph also went up from the Galilee, out of the town of Natzeret to Judah, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David. 5 He went to register with Miriam, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 But while they were there, the time came for her to give birth— 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him in strips of cloth and set Him down in a manger, since there was no room for them in the inn.) This small village, located a few miles from Jerusalem, had a rich history. Bethlehem is “the City of David.” David was the ideal human king of the Jewish nation. Yeshua is the ideal King of all nations of the world. Jacob buried his beloved wife, Rachel, in Bethlehem. Ruth gleaned the grain fields of Boaz in Bethlehem. Prophet Samuel anointed David to be king of the Jewish nation in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a prolific agricultural (grain production) region. “Bethlehem” is of Hebraic origin, Beyth Lechem (translated, “House of Bread”). Yeshua compared Himself to bread. (John 6:35: Yeshua said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry,….”) One of the two Communion elements is broken unleavened bread, which represents Yeshua’s body broken for humankind for the sins of all.
PREGNANCIES OF ELIZABETH AND MARY. The Gospel of Luke provides important dates by comparing the pregnancies of Elizabeth and Miriam (Mary). See Luke 1:24-31. Elizabeth became pregnant and hid herself for five months. In Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, the Virgin Miriam was impregnated through the Ruach ha-Kodesh. John was born six months before Yeshua. which would place Yeshua’s birth in the month of Tishri (mid- to late-September). Today’s obstetricians compute an estimated date of confinement (EDC, “due date”) for their pregnant patients. The EDC is a rough guide for the pregnant woman to deliver her baby. The usual pregnancy lasts approximately forty weeks. The actual birth may occur slightly before or slightly after the EDC without causing much surprise. The baby decides when he/she wants to make an appearance, not mama.
FEASTS OF ISRAEL. Many scholars have correlated phases of Yeshua’s earthly life and ministry with the Feasts of Israel. Pertinent to this RR, scholars often point to Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Booths) as a logical feast for Yeshua’s birth. Sukkot commemorates the time in Israel’s history when Adonai “tabernacled with” (lived among) the Jewish people in the wilderness during the Jews’ exodus from captivity in Egypt. These scholars point out it would seem consistent with the mind of God (what we think we know about God’s mind) that Yeshua would come to earth to “tabernacle with” (live with) the Jewish nation. His birth would likely be in Sukkot. Sukkot is an early autumn holiday. In 2025, Sukkot occurs between October 6 and October 13. A Sukkot birth date for Yeshua is consistent with other possible dates.
BEST ESTIMATE. Correlating information from the Bible and available historical records, scholars place the most likely date of Yeshua’s birth in the autumn (probably in the Israeli month of Tishri). The Israeli Feast of Sukkot occurs in early autumn and would be an excellent symbolic choice. This Feast of Tabernacles commemorates the time Adonai “tabernacled” (lived) with the Jewish nation. Yeshua came centuries later to “tabernacle” once again with His people.
The second part will be concluded in two weeks. Until October 19 when we once again meet to study God’s precious Word, Shalom and Maranatha.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun5 Oct 202513th of Tishrei, 5786
Ex 33:12-16Zec 122 Ch 32Rev 18:1-13(Ac 24)
Many Believers would be interested in Yeshua’s birth date. However, the date for the most important birth in the history of the world is unknown. This date is not found in the Bible or any historical record. A few clues in the Scriptures allow us to estimate a possible range of dates.
Consider these things:
>> Birth dates were unimportant in the ancient world. Since everyone has a birth date, why celebrate it? It would be like celebrating Happy Navel Day. Everyone has a navel… so?
>> B’rit Chadashah authors were more interested in Yeshua’s theology than in personal details of His life. Even so, we would like to know many features and anecdotes of our Savior’s life, but these are not recorded. Yet, we still wonder-- when was Yeshua born ?
>> Some people may confuse calendar abbreviations. BC is “Before the Christ.” AD is not “After [the Christ’s] Death,” as commonly confused, but abbreviates the Latin Anno Domini (”Year of the Lord”). There is no Year Zero. 1 BC passes directly into AD 1. If BC and AD are employed as many think, it would mean that Yeshua was crucified as an infant. Modern scholars who wish not to recognize Yeshua may use CE (“Common Era”). BCE (“Before Common Era”) is used instead of BC; CE (“Common Era”) is used instead of AD.
CENTURIES OF CELEBRATING A DECEMBER 25 “CHRISTMAS.” Based on the work of Sextus Julius Africanus in AD 221, Yeshua’s birth has been celebrated on December 25 for nearly two millennia. And, we have been wrong for nearly two millennia. We can thank the Roman Catholic Church for this error. In AD 336 Catholic Church calendars first listed Yeshua’s birth date as December 25. Church fathers wished to pick a date for this birth that would coincide with and replace pagan festivals. They chose December 25 to coincide with festivals of two Roman (pagan) gods-- Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture (Feast of Saturnalia), and Mithra, the Persian god of light. The rationale for this decision was to make it easier for Romans to accept the newly adopted religion of Christianity (to Christianize pagan holidays).
“Christmas” is derived from the Old English Cristes maesse. Cristes refers to the Christ (the Messiah), the Anointed One of the Trinity. Maesse comes from the Latin Missa, and refers to the Eucharist (Mass). Christmas, dating to AD 1038, was established by the Roman Catholic Church as the “Christ’s Mass.”
December 25 coincided with the celebration of Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun), which was a few days after the winter solstice. This date provided a cushion for astronomers to be certain the sun had “traveled” as far south as expected and would again make its way northward (bringing warmth and another agricultural season).
Thus, Sol (the Sun) appeared to “die” after retreating to his southern limit and was “reborn” by returning to the north, By changing course from south to north, Sol proved that he conquered his death and was “reborn” by December 25.
Yeshua was adopted into the Roman pantheon in AD 312 by Emperor Constantine I. Previously persecuted Christians were accepted and no longer persecuted and martyred. Church leaders could practice and develop the Christian faith openly. Such religious freedom led to the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church.
Although Roman Catholics accepted the December 25 date for Yeshua’s birth and it spread throughout the Empire, the date was not acceptable to all. Many Believers tended to ignore Christmas, feeling that Resurrection Sunday (Easter) and Epiphany (a feast day commemorating the visit of the Magi to the Holy Family, the baptism of Yeshua, and the wedding in Cana) were more important. In the New World, New England Puritans banned the observance of Christmas because they argued that gift giving and lighting of trees were pagan rituals. Following the Revolutionary War, Christmas fell out of favor in America because it was seen as an English custom.
Over the centuries, numerous dates have been proposed for Yeshua’s birth, including May 20, March 28, April 19, April 20, January 6, December 25, etc. This many views means that we simply do not know the date.
** DAY OF BIRTH? What can we glean from Scriptures about the DAY of Yeshua’s birth? Consider:
SHEPHERDS. Luke’s Gospel refutes a December birth date for Yeshua. (Luke 2:8-9: Now there were shepherds in the same region, living out in the fields and guarding their flock at night. 9 Suddenly an angel of Adonai stood before them, and the glory of Adonai shone all around them; and they were absolutely terrified.) First Century Jews grazed their sheep in pastures through early October. In later fall and winter months, the weather was too cold and unpredictable for sheep to graze outdoors. By December, the quality and quantity of pasture grass was poor. By December, shepherds brought their sheep into sheltered pens and fed them stored food. By December, the shepherds stayed in their homes to be sheltered from winds and cold temperatures.
JOHN THE BAPTIZER. John the Baptizer’s birth is pertinent to Yeshua’s birth. John’s father, Zacharias, belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. Jewish priests were assigned to and rotated in twenty-four temple service courses throughout the year. Abijah’s Course (Zacharias’ service course) was the eighth course, beginning on the second Shabbat of the month of Sivan (mid-May to mid-June). John’s mother, Elizabeth, who was barren, became pregnant with John the Baptizer on the return of Zacharias from his temple service.
Read about Zacharias, Elizabeth, and John in Luke’s Gospel. (Luke 1:26-28, 30-31: Then in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by Adonai into a town in the Galilee named Natzeret 27 and to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Miriam. 28 And coming to her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored one! Adonai is with you.” |...| 30 The angel spoke to her, “Do not be afraid, Miriam, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you shall call His name Yeshua.”)
** PLACE OF BIRTH? Scriptures confirm Bethlehem as Yeshua’s birthplace. (Micah 5:1: But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah— least among the clans of Judah— from you will come out to Me One to be ruler in Israel, One whose goings forth are from of old, from days of eternity. AND Matthew 2:1: Now after Yeshua was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, magi from the east came to Jerusalem,…. AND Luke 2:4-7: Now Joseph also went up from the Galilee, out of the town of Natzeret to Judah, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David. 5 He went to register with Miriam, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 But while they were there, the time came for her to give birth— 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him in strips of cloth and set Him down in a manger, since there was no room for them in the inn.) This small village, located a few miles from Jerusalem, had a rich history. Bethlehem is “the City of David.” David was the ideal human king of the Jewish nation. Yeshua is the ideal King of all nations of the world. Jacob buried his beloved wife, Rachel, in Bethlehem. Ruth gleaned the grain fields of Boaz in Bethlehem. Prophet Samuel anointed David to be king of the Jewish nation in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a prolific agricultural (grain production) region. “Bethlehem” is of Hebraic origin, Beyth Lechem (translated, “House of Bread”). Yeshua compared Himself to bread. (John 6:35: Yeshua said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry,….”) One of the two Communion elements is broken unleavened bread, which represents Yeshua’s body broken for humankind for the sins of all.
PREGNANCIES OF ELIZABETH AND MARY. The Gospel of Luke provides important dates by comparing the pregnancies of Elizabeth and Miriam (Mary). See Luke 1:24-31. Elizabeth became pregnant and hid herself for five months. In Elizabeth’s sixth month of pregnancy, the Virgin Miriam was impregnated through the Ruach ha-Kodesh. John was born six months before Yeshua. which would place Yeshua’s birth in the month of Tishri (mid- to late-September). Today’s obstetricians compute an estimated date of confinement (EDC, “due date”) for their pregnant patients. The EDC is a rough guide for the pregnant woman to deliver her baby. The usual pregnancy lasts approximately forty weeks. The actual birth may occur slightly before or slightly after the EDC without causing much surprise. The baby decides when he/she wants to make an appearance, not mama.
FEASTS OF ISRAEL. Many scholars have correlated phases of Yeshua’s earthly life and ministry with the Feasts of Israel. Pertinent to this RR, scholars often point to Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Booths) as a logical feast for Yeshua’s birth. Sukkot commemorates the time in Israel’s history when Adonai “tabernacled with” (lived among) the Jewish people in the wilderness during the Jews’ exodus from captivity in Egypt. These scholars point out it would seem consistent with the mind of God (what we think we know about God’s mind) that Yeshua would come to earth to “tabernacle with” (live with) the Jewish nation. His birth would likely be in Sukkot. Sukkot is an early autumn holiday. In 2025, Sukkot occurs between October 6 and October 13. A Sukkot birth date for Yeshua is consistent with other possible dates.
BEST ESTIMATE. Correlating information from the Bible and available historical records, scholars place the most likely date of Yeshua’s birth in the autumn (probably in the Israeli month of Tishri). The Israeli Feast of Sukkot occurs in early autumn and would be an excellent symbolic choice. This Feast of Tabernacles commemorates the time Adonai “tabernacled” (lived) with the Jewish nation. Yeshua came centuries later to “tabernacle” once again with His people.
The second part will be concluded in two weeks. Until October 19 when we once again meet to study God’s precious Word, Shalom and Maranatha.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun5 Oct 202513th of Tishrei, 5786
Ex 33:12-16Zec 122 Ch 32Rev 18:1-13(Ac 24)
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