Here
we are again celebrating the time Jesus was born, and it seems to me
that even though we are pretty much all aware that Jesus was not born on
December 25, 1BC, we pretty much have no idea when Jesus was born. A
lot of scholars have thought Jesus was born in 4BC without much thought
to the evidence. What better way to determine when Jesus was born,
then to look at the evidence ourselves.
Let’s start by dating Jesus’s approximate age from scripture with a known fixed date.
Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cćsar,
Pontius Pilate being governor of Judća, and Herod being tetrarch of
Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of
Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
Luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was [the son] of Heli,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius
According to Wikipedia, Tiberius Caesar’s reign was from September 18, 14 AD – March 16, 37 AD.
This gives us a window of September 18, 28 AD to September 17, 29 AD for Jesus to “begin to be about thirty”. As long as we are closer to the September 17, 29 AD, it works out better for Jesus’s ministry to be 3 ˝ years ending with a crucifixion of Friday, April 3, 33 AD (Julian).
The date of the crucifixion is established with a lot of collaborating
evidence, both biblical and historical, and it is with personal
conviction that this date is correct without argument. If you feel
otherwise, you are welcome to state your case, but the evidence I have
is uncontested.
Subtracting 30 years places us between September 18, 3 BC to September 17, 1 BC.
So you might be thinking… shouldn’t we be looking at a Jewish
Calendar? At this point, it doesn’t matter since we are just trying to
get a window of time.
Now that we have a window of time, we can look at another order of Biblical evidence.
Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judća, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elisabeth.
Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Luke 1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.
Luke 1:8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
Luke 1:9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
In the time of King David, the order of the course of priests were established…
1Chr 24:7 Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah, …
1Chr 24:10 The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,H29 …
1Chr 24:18 The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
Josephus
helps clarify that each course served from Sabbath to Sabbath beginning
and ending at noon. To determine when Zecharias as serving, Josephus
tells us that Jehoiarib was serving at the destruction of the temple on the 9th of Av in 70 AD. They would have served uninterrupted since the temple was rebuilt.
Jehoiarib would have been serving from Saturday, August 4, 70 AD to the destruction of the temple on Friday, August 10, 70 AD (9th of Av).
Calculating backwards 24 weeks, the order of Jehoiarib would have been serving the previous priestly course and so forth until we are within the window of time that Zecharias would have been serving 15 months before Jesus was born. Our window of time is from June 18, 4 BC to June 17, 2 BC.
The course of Abijah would have served…
Saturday, June 7 – June 14, 2 BC.
Saturday, December 21 – December 28, 3 BC.
Saturday, July 6 – July 13, 3 BC.
Saturday, January 19 – January 26, 3 BC.
Saturday, August 4 – August 11, 4 BC.
We
know that both Zacharius and Elisabeth were well stricken in years and
Elisabeth was barren. She is well past the natural age of child
bearing. Considering that Zacharius has a promise, and that Elisabeth
is no longer bound to her natural cycle, it is in all likelihood that
she conceived immediately upon Zacharius’ return home. Because of the
promise, there would be no reason for a delay, and if Zacharius only
tried ONCE to lay with his wife, that would have been the day she would
have conceived. Let’s assume there is no delay, and she conceives on
the day of his return.
Saturday, June 14, 2 BC. (Julian)
Saturday, December 28, 3 BC. (Julian)
Saturday, July 13, 3 BC. (Julian)
Saturday, January 26, 3 BC. (Julian)
Saturday, August 11, 4 BC. (Julian)
Assuming 266 days from conception to birth, John would have been born on one of these possible dates:
Saturday, March 6, 1 BC.
Saturday, September 20, 2 BC.
Saturday, April 5, 2 BC.
Saturday, October 19, 3 BC.
Saturday, May 4, 3 BC.
Six lunar months later (177 days = 29.5 x 6), we can expect Jesus to have been born:
Monday, August 30, 1 BC. | September 2, 1 BC Full Moon | Elul 12 | Too young |
Monday, March 15, 1 BC. | March 16, 1 BC Last Quarter | Adar 19 | |
Monday, September 29, 2 BC. | September 28, 2 BC New Moon | Tishrei 1 | |
Monday, April 14, 2 BC. | April 11, 2 BC First Quarter | Nissan 10 | Too Old |
Monday, October 28, 3 BC. | October 30, 3 BC Last Quarter | Cheshvan 30 | Too Old |
Out of all of these dates, only September 29, 2 BC falls on a Feast Day… The Feast of Trumpets.
My Jewish calendar days are based on the first day of the month falling
on an evening of the first sliver of a visible new moon. It assumes
the previous day, the new moon was invisible. The 14th day of the month is always a FULL moon.
Most of us looking at these dates would gravitate toward the FEAST day alignment of the Feast of Trumpets. However, I’m not completely satisfied that the date is correct because it falls on a very dark night.
Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
I
would assume that if the shepherds were in the field, keeping watch
over their flock by night, that there was at least some visibility from
the moon. This could mean that our assumptions are incorrect of the
timing of John the Baptist’s conception, or there is some flexibility
that could place Jesus birth within a two week window. A two week
delay would place Jesus’ birth on Tishrei 15 (Feast of Tabernacles) on October 13, 2 BC. (Julian).
I’ve always gravitated toward Jesus being born on the Feast of Tabernacles because it fits very nicely in the Feasts. However, there could be reasons to look at other dates as well.
Let’s observe the age of Jesus at his baptism (approximate) and his death (fixed).
From and including: Monday, September 29, 2 BC (Julian)
To, but not including Saturday, September 17, 29 AD (Julian) Baptism
Result: 10,946 days
It is 10,946 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date
Or 29 years, 11 months, 19 days excluding the end date
Luke 3:23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was [the son] of Heli,
From and including: Monday, September 29, 2 BC (Julian)
To, but not including Friday, April 3, 33 AD (Julian) Death
Result: 12,240 days
It is 12,240 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date
Or 33 years, 6 months, 5 days excluding the end date
Alternatively, looking at a birthdate two weeks later on the Feast of Tabernacles…
From and including: Monday, October 13, 2 BC (Julian)
To, but not including Friday, April 3, 33 AD (Julian) Death
Result: 12,226 days
It is 12,226 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date
Or 33 years, 5 months, 21 days excluding the end date
The only other possibility for Jesus’ birth to fit within the boundaries of Scripture is…
From and including: Monday, March 15, 1 BC
To, but not including Saturday, September 17, 29 AD (Julian) Baptism
Result: 10,778 days
It is 10,778 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date
Or 29 years, 6 months, 2 days excluding the end date
This quite literally would me Jesus just began to be about 30 years if rounding up.
From and including: Monday, March 15, 1 BC
To, but not including Friday, April 3, 33 AD (Julian) Death
Result: 12,072 days
It is 12,072 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date
Or 33 years, 19 days excluding the end date
At
Jesus’ death, He would just over 33 years old if this date is
correct. Most people are going to favor Jesus being born on a FEAST
DAY… I get that. However, since I started writing this article, I made
some discoveries that if Jesus was born on March 15, 1 BC, there is a
structural wonder worth looking at.
First, let’s look at the date of Baptism….
From and including: Monday, March 15, 1 BC
To, but not including Saturday, September 17, 29 AD (Julian) Baptism
Result: 10,778 days
Or 29 years, 6 months, 2 days excluding the end date
When I look up this number in the Webster’s, I get this result…
Webster’s Vol 2 Word # 10778 = REBAP'TISM, n. A second baptism.
From his age, years, month and day…
Greek Strong’s # 2962 = Lord
NT Verse # 2962
John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
Verse # 29620 (2962 x 10)
1Thess 4:16 For the LordG2962
himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first:
Now, let’s look at the time of His death….
From and including: Monday, March 15, 1 BC
To, but not including Friday, April 3, 33 AD (Julian) Death
Result: 12,072 days
It is 12,072 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date
Or 33 years, 19 days excluding the end date
From his age…
Hebrew Strong’s # 3319 = Finished
Ps 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Ps 33:19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
There is ONE verse in the New Testament with the weight of 3319.
NT Verse # 4429
Acts 18:16 And he drave them from the judgment seat. Gematria = 3319
The verse before it…
NT Verse # 4428
Acts 18:15 But if it be a question of words and names, and [of] your law, look ye [to it]; for I will be no judge of such [matters].
Two things to notice…
Hebrew Strong’s # 4428 = King
Looking at the same distance from the end of the Old Testament…
4428 Verses from Malachi 4:6 (KING)
Isa 53:5 But
he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his
stripes we are healed.
The other thing to notice in Acts 18:15 is…
Greek Strong’s # 1815 = Resurrection
Result: 12,072 days
Looking at his days… 12072 days..
This one will be a little harder to see unless we close the gap… 12072 becomes 1272.
Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.G1272
Looking at the BCV…
BCV (Book, Chapter, Verse) # 1272
Gen 27:2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
NT BCV (Book, Chapter, Verse) # 1272
Matt 27:2 And when they had bound him, they led [him] away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Now…
when Jesus died, the heavens were OPENED. In Jesus
ministry, the first time the Heaven’s opened was at his Baptism.
Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
The only verse with the weight of 12072 is…
Verse # 30099
Heb 8:6 But
now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is
the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better
promises. Gematria = 12072
Webster’s Word # 30099 = Invisibility
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
We can look at a part of the number… (1) (2072)
Greek Strong’s # 2072 = Glass
2424 Verses from the End…
1Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass,G2072 darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Greek Strong’s # 2424 = Jesus
Hebrew Strong’s # 2424 = Living
Although I don’t think I can completely say for sure when Jesus was born, I would consider March 15, 1 BC
to be a compelling consideration. The only reason I didn’t do an
extensive study on the other date possibilities is that I couldn’t find
anything in the structure of the Bible that would lead me to believe the
dates had structural meaning.
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Blessings,
Wade Balzer
wbalzer@newjerusalem.org