~ Jesus Christ Was Not Born In December! ~

 

Before reading this page it is very important that you read Quest #2 titled, 'January As We Know It Is Not The First Month Of The Year'. It explains how the calendar months were designed during the centuries when the scriptures were written.

When was Jesus Christ born? The Bible has enough information contained in the New & Old Testament to figure out what month Jesus Christ was born, and the information shows that Jesus Christ was not born in December.

The book of Luke tells of Zacharias the father of John the Baptist, receiving a prophecy from an angel about his wife Elisabeth becoming pregnant. (Luk 1:5 -13) The most important piece of information in these scriptures (verse five), speaks of Zacharias executing the Priest's Office before God in the order of his course. A course today can be considered a 'term of duty' for a Priest. (I Chr 23:27 - 32, I Chr 24:1 -  10) The courses were set up for two weeks each.

2 Weeks * 2 Priests = 2 courses assigned for 1 month

24 courses / 2 courses = 12 months assigned

In the King James Version of the Bible some of the names in the Greek scriptures (New Testament), were not translated into their Hebrew names from the Old Testament. For example:

  • Elias = Elijah (Mat 11:14, Mat 16:14,...)
  • Esaias = Isaiah (Mat 3:3, Mat 4:14,...)
  • Jonas = Jonah (Mat 12:39 - 41, Mat 16:4, ...)
  • Jeremias = Jeremiah (Mat 16:14)
  • Abia = Abijah (Mat 1:7, Luk 1:5)

According to the Nave's Compact Topical Bible, Abia is a variant for the name Abijah which means Jehovah is Father. There were twenty-four courses that were assigned and Zacharias' course was Abia. (Luk 1:5)

David set up the priest's offices in the first book of Chronicles and Abijah (in the New Testament Abia), was assigned to the eight course. (I Chr 24:10)

 

~ Priest's Office ~
Course Name Month
1 Jehoiarib * 2nd half of Mar - 1st part of Apr
2 * Jedaiah 1st part of Apr - 2nd half of Apr
3 Harim 2nd half of Apr - 1st part of May
4 Seorim 1st part of May - 2nd half of May
5 Malchijah 2nd half of May - 1st part of Jun
6 Mijamin 1st part of Jun - 2nd part of Jun
7 Hakkoz 2nd part of Jun - 1st part of Jul
8 Abijah 1st part of Jul - 2nd part of Jul
9 Jeshua 2nd part of Jul - 1st part of Aug
10 Shecaniah 1st part of Aug - 2nd part of Aug
11 Eliashib 2nd part of Aug - 1st part of Sep
12 Jakim 1st part of Sep - 2nd part of Sep
13 Huppah 2nd part of Sep - 1st part of Oct
14 * Jeshebeab 1st part of Oct - 2nd part of Oct
15 Bilgah 2nd part of Oct - 1st part of Nov
16 Immer 1st part of Nov - 2nd part of Nov
17 Hezir 2nd part of Nov - 1st part of Dec
18 Happizzez 1st part of Dec - 2nd part of Dec
19 Pethahiah 2nd part of Dec - 1st part of Jan
20 Jehezkel 1st part of Jan - 2nd part of Jan
21 Jachin 2nd part of Jan - 1st part of Feb
22 Gamul 1st part of Feb - 2nd part of Feb
23 Delaiah 2nd part of Feb - 1st part of Mar
24 Maaziah 1st part of Mar - 2nd part of Mar
~ Table Information ~
Courses pertaining to Mary Courses pertaining to Elisabeth
* During the time of Zacharias, the first month of the year was not January as we know it, but the middle of March. (See Quest #2)

* John the Baptist was worn.

* Jesus was born.

 

Summary:

Knowing that Zacharias was told about his wife Elisabeth in the first part of July helps us calculate the birth of John the Baptist. There is other information given in this chapter about Mary and her term of pregnancy. 

Since we know that Elisabeth became pregnant during the 1st part of Jul - 2nd part of Jul then she had John the Baptist during the course of Jedaiah which is in the 1st part of Apr - 2nd half of Apr.

During the sixth month of Elisabeth's pregnancy (Luk 1:26, 36), the angel Gabriel was sent to the virgin named Mary to tell her that she would become pregnant by the Holy Ghost and bear Jesus Christ. (Luk 1:26 - 36)

Mary became pregnant during the course of Jehezkel which was during the 1st part of Jan - 2nd part of Jan which means she had Jesus during the course of Jeshebeab which was in the1st part of Oct - 2nd part of Oct.

So why is the memorial of the birth of Jesus Christ in December? Jesus never said, "Pick a date on the calendar and celebrate my birth." Actually he never said celebrate his birthday at all! Ecc 7:1 states that the day of death is better than  the day of one's birth. Jesus requested that the disciples eat and drink in remembrance of him. (Luk 22:19, 1 Cor 11:24-25) More on that subject at another time. You can visit: Is Christmas Christian? or The Plain Truth About Christmas! to read up on the Christmas traditions.

 

Visit the Religion Quest Message Forum and discuss this topic!

 

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