You are here:
Christianity--Church History/christmas
Advertisement
Question
Hi, was jesus born on december 25th and when was he crucified?As christians when should we really celebrate the birth of jesus? i ask this due to the confusion of the gregorian calender and the julian calender.
Hi Michael,
Merry Christmas! No, Jesus was not born on December 25th. There are several reasons why the date is celebrated on that day however. The most popular theory has to do with the Christians accepting pagan Saturnalia or some other festival and Christianizing it. This idea is suspect because it ignores the Eastern Churches, who celebrate the Nativity of Jesus around the same time and who didn't have that much influence by Roman pagans.
Instead, I would argue for two reasons or ideas as to why Gregory put Christmas where it was:
1. January 1 is the circumcision of Jesus...the 8th day after His "birth" and thus, His being brought into the Old Covenant. This plays into a theology of the "8th day" where the 8th day is Sunday and is the completion and fulfillment of the old creation (7 days) in a new creation (8 days).
2. It was thought that people died around the time they were conceived. Jesus was most likely crucified around March 25. If we know the year He died we can figure this out on the basis of Jewish Passover dates. That same day in the calendar is reserved for the Annunciation, the date of His conception. Move forward 9 months and voila!
Jesus was most likely born in the late summer-time and died around March 25 depending on the year it occured.
I hope this helps!
Chris
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Christopher Heren
Expertise
I can answer many questions regarding the theology of the early church, particularly those areas pertaining to Christology and the Trinity. I can also answer many questions pertaining to the early Reformation period, particularly those questions which relate to Lutheran theology and practice. While I can answer questions from just about any time period, my weakest area is modern church history, where my knowledge is much more limited to the theology of major academic and popular movements (though not their history). Any questions which also address the development of certain liturgical practices of the church (East and West) I can usually field, or point to where the answer might be found.
Experience
I have grown up in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and currently attend a Lutheran seminary. I have recently converted to Eastern Orthodoxy (Orthodox Church in America). My knowledge of the Reformation stems from this background. I have also intensely studied the early church for about five years now, and have learned from Lutheran, Reformed, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox sources. My interaction with many traditional denominations has also led to my integration of this history with the study of the doctrine and proclamation of the church. My interest in church history has led me to alter my M.Div education and pursue an M.A. in religion. From there I hope to further my education in historical theology.
I have also corrected one Lutheran expert here regarding the identity of the Virgin Mary in Lutheran theology by referring to both the Book of Concord (1580 AD) and the Council of Ephesus (431 AD)
My knowledge of ancient languages includes some Latin, Koine Greek, and biblical Hebrew.
Organizations
Paleontological Society of America
Education/Credentials
B.S. Geology/B.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences (Integrative Biology) - University of Illinois 2005.
M.S. Biology (degree unfinished) - Bradley University 2006-2007
A.A. Philosophy - Illinois Central College 2008
M.A. Theological Studies (History of Christianity) - Luther Seminary 2011.
MTh. Systematic Theology - Luther Seminary (projected 2012).
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.