Smoky Mountain Bible Institute
(Est. 2009) Lesson #77
Last
month we covered the time between the testaments and while we touched on some
things on the AD side of history let’s start this month with the birth of
Christ. The exact date of Jesus birth is not known for a number of reasons so
let’s address that question. When was Jesus born? Chapter 11 of Andrew
Steinmann’s book “From Abraham to Paul” gives the question a very thorough
treatment, what I will try to do here is give a summary overview of the many
historical elements that affect how we understand the date of Jesus birth.
First
the traditional view based on a biblical chronology has Jesus birth falling
somewhere between 3 and 1 BC, while the modern consensus view dates the birth
before 4 BC. The consensus view is primarily based on the estimate of Herod the
Grate’s death in 4 BC. There are a number of dating contradictions and
inconsistencies between ancient sources when trying to nail down a reliable
chronology of Herod the Great. Without getting into any great detail I will
give a summary of datable events in Herod’s reign based on Steinmann’s
well-argued chronology.
Late 39 BC Herod is appointed King.
38 BC Herod begins his first full
regnal year.
36 BC Herod conquers Jerusalem.
35 BC Herod begins his first full
regnal year in Jerusalem.
31 BC The battle of Actium takes
place on September the 2nd .
20 BC Caesar is in Syria and Herod
begins work on the Temple.
Late 19 Early 18 BC Work on the
Temple complete.
12 BC Work on the temple precincts
completed.
11 or 10 BC work completed on
Caesarea Sebaste also known as Caesarea Marittima.
5 BC Magi observe the star.
4 BC Pheroras murdered, Antipater
deposed, Archelaus named Herod’s heir.
3 or 2 BC Tax Revolt of Judas.
Mid 3 BC John the Baptist is born.
Late
3 Early 2 BC Jesus Born.
40 to 50 days later Jesus family
escapes to Egypt.
First quarter of 1 BC Herod dies.
Later in 1 BC Jesus family returns
to Nazareth.
Because of the fragmented and
conflicting nature of the ancient evidence associated with the life and times
of Herod the Great. No chronology can assert with absolute certainty the
accuracy of their time line. However, we can affirm the sound scholarship that
lays behind such a chronology. We can also say the with all the evidence in
consideration that Jesus was born Somewhere between 6 and 2 BC. In my mind it
is quite amazing that we can have such a small window of time for an event two
millennia in the past.
Next month we will examine the
Chronology of the life of Christ
Till Then
Pastor Portier
