Most Christians may not be aware that the traditional date of Christmas, celebrated on December 25, marked the winter solstice. It was originally the Saturnalia, a celebration that commemorated the birth of Saturn, a pagan god, from the “seed of a woman.” The festivities last four days. In that period nobody worked, gifts were offered and friends were visited. In 273 the emperor Aureliano established the day of the birth of the Sun on December 25: Natalis Solis Invicti (from the birth of the invincible sun).
With the Christianization of the Roman Empire, many pagan celebrations were “resignified” and associated with Christian themes. Only during the fourth century is that the birth of Christ began to be celebrated by Christians (until then its main festival was Easter). This tradition continues to this day.
However, according to theologian Ron Allen, a careful study of Scripture, history, and astronomy proves that Jesus could not have been born on December 25. Although the Bible does not clearly state when Jesus was born, there is Biblical evidence for the year of his birth.
Allen, founder of the Star Bible Society ministry reminds us that God has left many signs in the heavens and that Christians often overlook by confusing astronomy (study of the stars) with astrology (study of the zodiac), completely different things. . He also points out that many dates were determined by archaeological finds long after the establishment of the calendar we use, the Gregorian, adopted by the Western countries in 1582, after a bull from Pope Gregory XIII.
We know from Luke 3:23 that Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. The prophet Daniel tells us in his Book (chapter 9, verse 25) that in the year of the revelation of the Christ would occur “7 plus 62 prophetic weeks” – 69 X 7 or 483 years – after the decree that sent Ezra to Jerusalem in 458 BC,” he argues.
A mathematical calculation must take into account that there is no “year 0”, so Daniel’s prophecy points out that Jesus will begin his ministry in the year 26 AD According to the scholar, “this year is supported by two dates from the Scriptures.
Historically, John the Baptist began his ministry in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius (Lk 3:1), that is, in the year 25 AD.
Furthermore, Jesus cleansed the Temple (John 2:20) 46 years after Herod began to reform it in 20 BC – as recorded by Roman-Jewish historian Flávio Josefo, which brings us to AD 27 Many Bible scholars they believe that Jesus began his ministry in the year 26 AD If he was 30 years old, remembering again that there is no year 0, the truth was that he was born 5 years before the date established by the Gregory calendar». Ron Allen also points to other evidence.
“Jesus would have been born in the spring or fall of the year, according to the details of the Scripture about the birth of John the Baptist. John’s father, Zacharias, was a member of Abijah’s priestly group (Lk 1:5) who, according to rabbinical sources, ministered in the temple in May and November. As the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias in the temple, sending him home, when his son would probably be conceived. Then, that would be in June or December, therefore Juan was born nine months later, the possibilities being March or September of the following year. We know from the Scriptures that John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus (Luke 1:26), so Jesus would have been born in September or March of the year 5 B.C. c.”
The argument of the theologian, who wrote the book The Stars of His Coming on the subject, uses records from astronomy and history that collaborate to establish what time of year the Messiah was born. «We know that a special star appeared when Jesus was born and that the Magi from the East, who possibly followed the prophetic teachings of Daniel (Dan 2:48), came looking for it (Mt 2: 1,2).
There are records of Chinese astronomers seeing that star, identifying it as a new one, which would have been visible for a long period in the spring of 5 BC. C. », Allen points out in his study. «Taking as a basis the appearance of this star of Bethlehem, recorded in secular sources, in the year 5 BC, and that John the Baptist was conceived in December 7 BC, then Jesus would have been conceived in June 6 BC Assuming that John the Baptist was born in September 6 BC then Jesus was born in March of the year 5 BC”, he concludes.
According to Allen’s study, signs occurred in the sun, moon, and stars that pointed to the birth of Jesus, beginning with the announcement to Zechariah in 7 B.C. C. «Josephus tells us that there was a lunar eclipse at Easter and that Herod died later that same year. This lunar eclipse, or blood moon, occurred on March 23, 5 BC. This would have occurred at the same time as the appearance of the star of Belém during the spring », he reveals.
Although he admits that there is criticism about the attempt to establish a precise date by this method, the scholar says that an astronomical investigation shows records that “signs in the sky” point to the March 23, 5 BC as the day of Jesus’ birth. He also doesn’t expect people to start celebrating that date, he just thinks it’s important for Christians to know that it’s possible to know when the Savior was actually born. “We know that the whole world will continue the tradition, commemorating the ‘birthday’ of Jesus on December 25. But that’s just the ancient Roman winter solstice.”
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