Controversy Over Date of Jesus's Birth

                Picture of an ancient calendar 

                     When was Jesus Born? 

The Bible books of Matthew and Luke do not say what month, day, or year the Savior's birth occurred. Bible scholars tried to determine the facts but could only theorize about possibilities. Individual births were not recorded during this time period, only major events.

Christians started celebrating Christ's birth about 400 years after His birth. Some people thought it was March 28, November 18, or January 6. Some churches use January 6, which is also the day they celebrate the visit by the Wise Men.

Early church scholars thought December 25 should be the day of celebration to influence the people who were enjoying the Roman celebration of Saturnalia and move them away from pagan worship.

Luke records the angels telling the shepherds, "Unto you this day," but does not say the day or month. Some scholars say this indicates the month of March, as the sheep and lambs were in the field with the Spring grass. Some Bible scholars think if the sheep were used in temple sacrifices, they would be in the fields all year.

Matthew says Jesus was born when Herod the Great was king of Jerusalem. Luke says that Quirinius was the governor of Syria and Caesar Augustus was the Roman emperor. Putting all that together, Jesus would have been born between 1 and 10 B.C. 

Notice that it is B.C., before Christ, and not A.D. That may be due to the monk Dionysius Exiguus.

He invented the calendar that counts years of B.C. or A.D. from when he calculated Christ's birth, and he was off by 4 years. 

The shepherds may not have cared what the month, day, or year was, only that it was the day the angels said, "...unto you this day," Their day to meet the Savior. 

As Christians, the day, month, or year is not essential. December 25th is an excellent time to celebrate the birth of God in human form. Hallelujah, Christ is born.