Date of the birth of Jesus (English Wikipedia)

Josephus 1854, Book 18, Chapters 1–2 indicates that the census under Cyrenius (another form of the name "Quirinius") occurred in the 37th year after Octavian's (i.e., Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus') victory over Marcus Antonius at the Battle of Actium, which secular historical records date to 2 September 31 BC. Therefore 31 BC + 37 years which is AD 6–7. Most scholars therefore believe Luke made an error when referring to the census.(Archer 1982, p. 366) Josephus (1854). W. Whiston (ed.). The Works of Flavius Josephus: Comprising the Antiquities of the Jews, a History of the Jewish Wars, and Life of Flavius Josephus, Written by Himself. Jas. B. Smith & Company. Archer, Gleason Leonard (April 1982). Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House. ISBN 978-0-310-43570-9.
Brown 1978, p. 17 notes that "most critical scholars acknowledge a confusion and misdating on Luke's part". See for example, Dunn 2003, p. 344 Similarly, Gruen 1996, p. 157, Vermes 2006, p. 96, Davies & Sanders 1984, Brown 1977, p. 554, Harvey 2004, p. 221, Meier 1991, p. 213, Millar 1990, pp. 355–381 and A. N. Sherwin-White, pp. 166, 167.^{[full citation needed]} Brown, R.E. (1978). An Adult Christ at Christmas: Essays on the Three Biblical Christmas Stories. Liturgical Press. ISBN 9780814609972. Dunn, James D.G. (2003). Jesus Remembered. Christianity in the Making. Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans. ISBN 9780802839312. Gruen, Erich S. (1996). "The Expansion of the Empire Under Augustus". In Bowman, Alan K.; Champlin, Edward; Lintott, Andrew (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History. Vol. 10. Cambridge University Press. p. 157. ISBN 9780521264303. Vermes, Géza (2 November 2006). The Nativity: History and Legend. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-0-14-191261-5. Davies, W. D.; Sanders, E. P. (1984). "Jesus from the Jewish point of view". In William Horbury (ed.). The Cambridge History of Judaism. Vol. 3: the Early Roman Period. Brown, R.E. (1977). The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke. Doubleday & Company. ISBN 9780385059077. Harvey, Anthony (2004). A Companion to the New Testament. Cambridge University Press. Meier, John P. (1991). A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus. Vol. 1. Doubleday. Millar, Fergus (1990). "Reflections on the trials of Jesus". In P.R. Davies; R.T. White (eds.). A Tribute to Geza Vermes: Essays on Jewish and Christian Literature and History (JSOT Suppl. 100). Sheffield: JSOT Press. pp. 355–381. repr. in Millar, Fergus (2006), "The Greek World, the Jews, and the East", Rome, the Greek World and the East, vol. 3, pp. 139–163
Dunn 2003, p. 344. Dunn, James D.G. (2003). Jesus Remembered. Christianity in the Making. Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans. ISBN 9780802839312.
Archer 1982, p. 366. Archer, Gleason Leonard (April 1982). Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House. ISBN 978-0-310-43570-9.
Blackburn & Holford-Strevens 2003, p. 767. Blackburn, Bonnie; Holford-Strevens, Leofranc (2003). The Oxford Companion to the Year: an exploration of calendar customs and time-reckoning. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-214231-3. Corrected reprinting of original 1999 edition.
Blackburn & Holford-Strevens 2003, p. 778. Blackburn, Bonnie; Holford-Strevens, Leofranc (2003). The Oxford Companion to the Year: an exploration of calendar customs and time-reckoning. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-214231-3. Corrected reprinting of original 1999 edition.
Blackburn & Holford-Strevens 2003, pp. 778–79. Blackburn, Bonnie; Holford-Strevens, Leofranc (2003). The Oxford Companion to the Year: an exploration of calendar customs and time-reckoning. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-214231-3. Corrected reprinting of original 1999 edition.
Mead, George R.S., Did Jesus Live 100 BC? (1903, London, Theosophical Publ'g Society) 440 pages, the Toledoth text (primarily from Strassburg ms) on pages 258-280; https://archive.org/details/didjesuslive100b00meaduoft.

baylor.edu

Kelly, Joseph F. (2004). The Origins of Christmas. Liturgical Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-8146-2984-0. Online here [1] Archived 19 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine.

bibleinfo.com

"When was Jesus born?". Bibleinfo.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.

biblicalarchaeology.org

McGowan, Andrew, How December 25 Became Christmas Archived 14 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Bible History Daily, 12 February 2016.
Andrew McGowan. "How December 25 Became Christmas". Bible Review & Bible History Daily. Biblical Archaeology Society. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2011.

bliis.org

Muhammad, Bilal (16 January 2020). "A Green Christmas: Jesus' Birthdate in the Islamic Tradition". Berkeley Institute for Islamic Studies. Retrieved 28 December 2022.

books.google.com

Rahner 1975, p. 731 states that the gospels do not, in general, provide enough details of dates to satisfy the demands of modern historians. Most mainline scholars do not see the Luke and Matthew nativity stories as historically factual; Marcus Borg in Borg & Wright 2009, p. 179 states "I (and most mainline scholars) do not see these stories as historically factual." Funk & Jesus Seminar 1998, p. 499 state, "There is very little in the two infancy narratives that reflects historical reminiscence." For this reason, they do not consider them a reliable method for determining Jesus' date of birth. See also Sanders 1993, pp. 85–88 Rahner, K. (1975). Encyclopedia of Theology: A Concise Sacramentum Mundi. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0-86012-006-3. Borg, M.J.; Wright, N.T. (2009). "The Meaning of the Birth Stories". The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-193482-7. Funk, R.W.; Jesus Seminar (1998). The Acts of Jesus: The Search for the Authentic Deeds of Jesus. A Polebridge press book. HarperSanFrancisco. ISBN 978-0-06-062979-3. Sanders, E. P. (1993). The historical figure of Jesus. Penguin.
Josephus 1854, Book 18, Chapters 1–2 indicates that the census under Cyrenius (another form of the name "Quirinius") occurred in the 37th year after Octavian's (i.e., Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus') victory over Marcus Antonius at the Battle of Actium, which secular historical records date to 2 September 31 BC. Therefore 31 BC + 37 years which is AD 6–7. Most scholars therefore believe Luke made an error when referring to the census.(Archer 1982, p. 366) Josephus (1854). W. Whiston (ed.). The Works of Flavius Josephus: Comprising the Antiquities of the Jews, a History of the Jewish Wars, and Life of Flavius Josephus, Written by Himself. Jas. B. Smith & Company. Archer, Gleason Leonard (April 1982). Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House. ISBN 978-0-310-43570-9.
Brown 1978, p. 17 notes that "most critical scholars acknowledge a confusion and misdating on Luke's part". See for example, Dunn 2003, p. 344 Similarly, Gruen 1996, p. 157, Vermes 2006, p. 96, Davies & Sanders 1984, Brown 1977, p. 554, Harvey 2004, p. 221, Meier 1991, p. 213, Millar 1990, pp. 355–381 and A. N. Sherwin-White, pp. 166, 167.^{[full citation needed]} Brown, R.E. (1978). An Adult Christ at Christmas: Essays on the Three Biblical Christmas Stories. Liturgical Press. ISBN 9780814609972. Dunn, James D.G. (2003). Jesus Remembered. Christianity in the Making. Grand Rapids: Wm B. Eerdmans. ISBN 9780802839312. Gruen, Erich S. (1996). "The Expansion of the Empire Under Augustus". In Bowman, Alan K.; Champlin, Edward; Lintott, Andrew (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History. Vol. 10. Cambridge University Press. p. 157. ISBN 9780521264303. Vermes, Géza (2 November 2006). The Nativity: History and Legend. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-0-14-191261-5. Davies, W. D.; Sanders, E. P. (1984). "Jesus from the Jewish point of view". In William Horbury (ed.). The Cambridge History of Judaism. Vol. 3: the Early Roman Period. Brown, R.E. (1977). The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke. Doubleday & Company. ISBN 9780385059077. Harvey, Anthony (2004). A Companion to the New Testament. Cambridge University Press. Meier, John P. (1991). A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus. Vol. 1. Doubleday. Millar, Fergus (1990). "Reflections on the trials of Jesus". In P.R. Davies; R.T. White (eds.). A Tribute to Geza Vermes: Essays on Jewish and Christian Literature and History (JSOT Suppl. 100). Sheffield: JSOT Press. pp. 355–381. repr. in Millar, Fergus (2006), "The Greek World, the Jews, and the East", Rome, the Greek World and the East, vol. 3, pp. 139–163
In the words of Vermes 2006, pp. 28–30 these arguments have been rejected by the mainstream as "exegetical acrobatics", springing from the assumption that the Bible is inerrant,(Novak 2001, pp. 296–297) and most scholars have concluded that Luke's account is an error.(Brown 1978, p. 17) Vermes, Géza (2 November 2006). The Nativity: History and Legend. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-0-14-191261-5. Novak, R.M. (2001). Christianity and the Roman Empire: Background Texts. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-1-56338-347-2. Brown, R.E. (1978). An Adult Christ at Christmas: Essays on the Three Biblical Christmas Stories. Liturgical Press. ISBN 9780814609972.
Doggett 2006, p. 579. Doggett, L.E. (2006). "Ch.12 Calendars". In P. Kenneth Seidelmann (ed.). Explanatory supplement to the astronomical almanac. Sausalito, CA: University Science Books. ISBN 1891389459.
Rahner 1975, p. 731. Rahner, K. (1975). Encyclopedia of Theology: A Concise Sacramentum Mundi. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0-86012-006-3.
Maier 1989, pp. 113–129. Maier, Paul L. (1989). "The Date of the Nativity and Chronology of Jesus". In Vardaman, J.; Yamauchi, E.M. (eds.). Chronos, Kairos, Christos: Nativity and Chronological Studies Presented to Jack Finegan. Eisenbrauns. ISBN 978-0-931464-50-8.
Molnar 1999, p. 104. Molnar, M.R. (1999). The Star of Bethlehem: The Legacy of the Magi. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-0-8135-2701-7.
Niswonger 1992, p. 121–124. Niswonger, R.L. (1992). New Testament History. Zondervan. ISBN 978-0-310-31201-7.
Hijmans 2024, p. 1027. Hijmans, S. E. (2024). Sol: Image and Meaning of the Sun in Roman Art and Religion, Volume II. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-52158-2.
Freed 2001, p. 119. Freed, E.D. (2001). Stories of Jesus' Birth: A Critical Introduction. Biblical seminar. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-1-84127-132-3.
Gelb 2013, p. 140. Gelb, N. (2013). Herod the Great: Statesman, Visionary, Tyrant. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4422-1067-7.
Martin 1989, pp. 93–94. Martin, Ernest L. (1989). "The Nativity and Herod's Death". In Vardaman, J.; Yamauchi, E.M. (eds.). Chronos, Kairos, Christos: Nativity and Chronological Studies Presented to Jack Finegan. Eisenbrauns. ISBN 978-0-931464-50-8.
Schürer, Vermès & Millar 1973, p. 328. Schürer, E.; Vermès, G.; Millar, F. (1973). History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ. 175 B.C.-A.D. 135. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0-567-02242-4.
Kokkinos 1989, pp. 133–165. Kokkinos, Nikos (1989). "Crucifixion in A.D. 36: The Keystone for dating the birth of Jesus". In Vardaman, J.; Yamauchi, E.M. (eds.). Chronos, Kairos, Christos: Nativity and Chronological Studies Presented to Jack Finegan. Eisenbrauns. ISBN 978-0-931464-50-8.
Rhees 2007, Section 54. Rhees, R. (2007). The Life of Jesus of Nazareth. Echo Library. ISBN 978-1-4068-3848-0.
Bruce 1984, pp. 87–88. Bruce, Frederick Fyvie (1984). The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?. InterVarsity Press. ISBN 978-0-87784-691-8.
Köstenberger, Kellum & Quarles 2009, p. 114. Köstenberger, A.J.; Kellum, L.S.; Quarles, C.L. (2009). The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: An Introduction to the New Testament. B & H Academic. ISBN 978-0-8054-4365-3. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
Freedman & Myers 2000, p. 249. Freedman, D.N.; Myers, A.C. (2000). Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 978-90-5356-503-2.
Evans 2003, pp. 67–69. Evans, C.A. (2003). The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Matthew-Luke. Bible Knowledge Collection. Victor Books. ISBN 978-0-7814-3868-1.
Novak 2001, pp. 302–303. Novak, R.M. (2001). Christianity and the Roman Empire: Background Texts. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-1-56338-347-2.
Hoehner 1977, pp. 29–37. Hoehner, H.W. (1977). Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ. Contemporary evangelical perspectives. Zondervan Publishing House. ISBN 978-0-310-26211-4.
Scarola 1998, pp. 61–81. Scarola, Jack V. (1998). "A Chronology of the nativity Era". In Jerry Vardaman (ed.). Chronos, Kairos, Christos II: Chronological, Nativity, and Religious Studies in Memory of Ray Summers. Mercer University Press. ISBN 978-0-86554-582-3.
Beyer, David (1998). "Josephus Reexamined: Unraveling the Twenty-Second Year of Tiberius". In Vardaman, Jerry (ed.). Chronos, Kairos, Christos II: Chronological, Nativity, and Religious Studies in Memory of Ray Summers. Mercer University Press. pp. 85–96. ISBN 978-0-86554-582-3.
Mosshammer, Alden A (2009). The Easter Computus and the Origins of the Christian Era. Oxford University Press. pp. 319–56. ISBN 978-0191562365.
Finegan, Jack (2015). The Handbook of Biblical Chronology. Hendrickson Publishers. p. 345. ISBN 978-1-61970-641-5.
Pope Benedict XVI (2012). Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 61–62. ISBN 978-1-4081-9454-6. Retrieved 9 August 2023. is therefore to be placed a few years earlier
Talley 1991, pp. 88–91. Talley, T.J. (1991). The Origins of the Liturgical Year. A Pueblo book. Liturgical Press. ISBN 978-0-8146-6075-1.
Senn, Frank C. (2012). Introduction to Christian Liturgy. Fortress Press. ISBN 978-1-4514-2433-1. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
Roll, Susan K. (1995). Towards the Origin of Christmas. Kok Pharos Publishing. p. 87, cf. note 173. ISBN 978-90-390-0531-6. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
Bradshaw, Paul F., "Christmas" Archived 9 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The New SCM Dictionary of Liturgy of Worship, Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd., 2002.
Roll, Susan K. (1995). Toward the Origins of Christmas. Peeters Publishers. p. 130. ISBN 978-90-390-0531-6. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
Hijmans 2024, pp. 1010–1011. Hijmans, S. E. (2024). Sol: Image and Meaning of the Sun in Roman Art and Religion, Volume II. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-52158-2.
Tucker, Karen B. Westerfield (2000). "Christmas". In Hastings, Adrian; Mason, Alistair; Pyper, Hugh (eds.). The Oxford Companion to Christian Thought. Oxford University Press. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-19-860024-4.
Collinge, William J. (2012). Historical Dictionary of Catholicism. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-5755-1. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
Morris 1988, p. 93. Morris, L.L. (1988). Luke: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale New Testament commentaries. Inter-Varsity Press. ISBN 978-0-8028-0419-8.
Freed 2001, pp. 136–137. Freed, E.D. (2001). Stories of Jesus' Birth: A Critical Introduction. Biblical seminar. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-1-84127-132-3.

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"Jesus - Jewish Palestine, Messiah, Nazareth | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 6 January 2024.

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Barnes 1968, pp. 204–209. Barnes, T. D. (1 April 1968). "The Date of Herod's Death". The Journal of Theological Studies. XIX (1). Oxford University Press (OUP): 204–209. doi:10.1093/jts/xix.1.204. ISSN 0022-5185.
Bernegger 1983, pp. 526–531. Bernegger, P. M. (1983). "Affirmation of Herod's Death in 4 B.C". The Journal of Theological Studies. 34 (2). Oxford University Press (OUP): 526–531. doi:10.1093/jts/34.2.526. ISSN 0022-5185. JSTOR 23963471.
Steinmann 2009, pp. 1–29. Steinmann, Andrew (2009). "When Did Herod the Great Reign?". Novum Testamentum. 51 (1). Brill: 1–29. doi:10.1163/156853608x245953. ISSN 0048-1009.
Evans 1973, pp. 24–39. Evans, C.F. (1973). "Tertullian's reference to Sentius Saturninus and the Lukan Census". Journal of Theological Studies. XXIV (1). Oxford University Press: 24–39. doi:10.1093/jts/XXIV.1.24. JSTOR 23959449.
Teres, Gustav (October 1984). "Time computations and Dionysius Exiguus". Journal for the History of Astronomy. 15 (3): 177–88. Bibcode:1984JHA....15..177T. doi:10.1177/002182868401500302. S2CID 117094612.
Nothaft, C. Philipp E. (2013). "Early Christian Chronology and the Origins of the Christmas Date". Questions Liturgiques/Studies in Liturgy. 94 (3). Peeters: 248. doi:10.2143/QL.94.3.3007366. Although HRT is nowadays used as the default explanation for the choice of 25 December as Christ's birthday, few advocates of this theory seem to be aware of how paltry the available evidence actually is.
Schmidt, Thomas C. (2015). "Calculating December 25 as the Birth of Jesus in Hippolytus' Canon and Chronicon" (PDF). Vigiliae Christianae. 69 (5): 542–563. doi:10.1163/15700720-12341243. ISSN 1570-0720.

esv.org

Malachi 4:2.

gutenberg.org

Newton, Isaac, Observations on the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John Archived 18 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine (1733). Ch. XI. A sun connection is possible because Christians considered Jesus to be the "Sun of righteousness" prophesied in Malachi 4:2: "But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall."

harvard.edu

ui.adsabs.harvard.edu

Teres, Gustav (October 1984). "Time computations and Dionysius Exiguus". Journal for the History of Astronomy. 15 (3): 177–88. Bibcode:1984JHA....15..177T. doi:10.1177/002182868401500302. S2CID 117094612.

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Revillo, Juan; Keyser, John. "Did Herod the 'Great' Really Die in 4 BC?". Hope of Israel Ministries.

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Finegan, Jack. Handbook of Biblical Chronology, Rev. ed. (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998) 300, §516.

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Pratt, John. "Yet Another Eclipse for Herod". International Planetarium Society.
Mosley, J. (1981). "Common Errors in 'Star of Bethlehem' Planetarium Shows". The Planetarian (Third Quarter).

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Bernegger 1983, pp. 526–531. Bernegger, P. M. (1983). "Affirmation of Herod's Death in 4 B.C". The Journal of Theological Studies. 34 (2). Oxford University Press (OUP): 526–531. doi:10.1093/jts/34.2.526. ISSN 0022-5185. JSTOR 23963471.
Evans 1973, pp. 24–39. Evans, C.F. (1973). "Tertullian's reference to Sentius Saturninus and the Lukan Census". Journal of Theological Studies. XXIV (1). Oxford University Press: 24–39. doi:10.1093/jts/XXIV.1.24. JSTOR 23959449.

khouse.org

"Where Was Jesus Born?". Koinonia House.

nasa.gov

eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov

Doggett 2006, p. 579. Doggett, L.E. (2006). "Ch.12 Calendars". In P. Kenneth Seidelmann (ed.). Explanatory supplement to the astronomical almanac. Sausalito, CA: University Science Books. ISBN 1891389459.

scribd.com

Hijmans, S.E. (2009). The Sun in the Art and Religions of Rome. p. 588. ISBN 978-90-367-3931-3. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013.

sefaria.org

"Mishnah Chagigah 2:2". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 20 February 2024. Passages in Sanhedrin 107b and Sotah 47a refer to an individual named Yeshu in this event, stating this happened during their period of refuge in Egypt during the persecutions of Pharisees 88–76 BCE ordered by Alexander Jannæus. The incident is also mentioned in the Jerusalem Talmud in Chagigah 2:2 in more detail but there the person in question is not given any name.

semanticscholar.org

api.semanticscholar.org

Teres, Gustav (October 1984). "Time computations and Dionysius Exiguus". Journal for the History of Astronomy. 15 (3): 177–88. Bibcode:1984JHA....15..177T. doi:10.1177/002182868401500302. S2CID 117094612.

tcschmidtblog.wordpress.com

Schmidt, Thomas C. (2015). "Calculating December 25 as the Birth of Jesus in Hippolytus' Canon and Chronicon" (PDF). Vigiliae Christianae. 69 (5): 542–563. doi:10.1163/15700720-12341243. ISSN 1570-0720.

tertullian.org

The manuscript reads, VIII kal. Ian. natus Christus in Betleem Iudeae. ("The Chronography of 354 AD. Part 12: Commemorations of the Martyrs Archived November 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine", The Tertullian Project. 2006.)

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Pollak, Sorcha (22 November 2012). "Pope Benedict Disputes Jesus' Date of Birth". Time. Retrieved 9 August 2023.

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Hyden, Marc (20 December 2021). "Merry Christmas, Saturnalia or festival of Sol Invictus?". Newnan Times-Herald. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023. Around 274 ADᵃ, Emperor Aurelian set December 25—the winter solstice at the time—for the celebration of Sol Invictus who was the 'Unconquered Sun' god. 'A marginal note on a manuscript of the writings of the Syriac biblical commentator Dionysius bar-Salibi states that in ancient times the Christmas holiday was actually shifted from 6 January to 25 December so that it fell on the same date as the pagan Sol Invictus holiday,' reads an excerpt from Biblical Archaeology. / Could early Christians have chosen 25 December to coincide with this holiday? 'The first celebration of Christmas observed by the Roman church in the West is presumed to date to [336 AD],' per the Encyclopedia Romanaᵃ, long after Aurelian established Sol Invictus' festival.
(a) "Sol Invictus and Christmas". Encyclopaedia Romana.

tondering.dk

Tøndering, Claus, The Calendar FAQ: Counting years Archived 24 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine

uchicago.edu

penelope.uchicago.edu

Hyden, Marc (20 December 2021). "Merry Christmas, Saturnalia or festival of Sol Invictus?". Newnan Times-Herald. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023. Around 274 ADᵃ, Emperor Aurelian set December 25—the winter solstice at the time—for the celebration of Sol Invictus who was the 'Unconquered Sun' god. 'A marginal note on a manuscript of the writings of the Syriac biblical commentator Dionysius bar-Salibi states that in ancient times the Christmas holiday was actually shifted from 6 January to 25 December so that it fell on the same date as the pagan Sol Invictus holiday,' reads an excerpt from Biblical Archaeology. / Could early Christians have chosen 25 December to coincide with this holiday? 'The first celebration of Christmas observed by the Roman church in the West is presumed to date to [336 AD],' per the Encyclopedia Romanaᵃ, long after Aurelian established Sol Invictus' festival.
(a) "Sol Invictus and Christmas". Encyclopaedia Romana.

web.archive.org

Nineteen year cycle of Dionysius Introduction and First Argumentum.
Tøndering, Claus, The Calendar FAQ: Counting years Archived 24 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine
McGowan, Andrew, How December 25 Became Christmas Archived 14 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Bible History Daily, 12 February 2016.
The manuscript reads, VIII kal. Ian. natus Christus in Betleem Iudeae. ("The Chronography of 354 AD. Part 12: Commemorations of the Martyrs Archived November 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine", The Tertullian Project. 2006.)
Hyden, Marc (20 December 2021). "Merry Christmas, Saturnalia or festival of Sol Invictus?". Newnan Times-Herald. Archived from the original on 26 December 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2023. Around 274 ADᵃ, Emperor Aurelian set December 25—the winter solstice at the time—for the celebration of Sol Invictus who was the 'Unconquered Sun' god. 'A marginal note on a manuscript of the writings of the Syriac biblical commentator Dionysius bar-Salibi states that in ancient times the Christmas holiday was actually shifted from 6 January to 25 December so that it fell on the same date as the pagan Sol Invictus holiday,' reads an excerpt from Biblical Archaeology. / Could early Christians have chosen 25 December to coincide with this holiday? 'The first celebration of Christmas observed by the Roman church in the West is presumed to date to [336 AD],' per the Encyclopedia Romanaᵃ, long after Aurelian established Sol Invictus' festival.
(a) "Sol Invictus and Christmas". Encyclopaedia Romana.
Augustine, Sermon 192 Archived November 25, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
Senn, Frank C. (2012). Introduction to Christian Liturgy. Fortress Press. ISBN 978-1-4514-2433-1. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
Roll, Susan K. (1995). Towards the Origin of Christmas. Kok Pharos Publishing. p. 87, cf. note 173. ISBN 978-90-390-0531-6. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
Bradshaw, Paul F., "Christmas" Archived 9 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The New SCM Dictionary of Liturgy of Worship, Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd., 2002.
Newton, Isaac, Observations on the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John Archived 18 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine (1733). Ch. XI. A sun connection is possible because Christians considered Jesus to be the "Sun of righteousness" prophesied in Malachi 4:2: "But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall."
Roll, Susan K. (1995). Toward the Origins of Christmas. Peeters Publishers. p. 130. ISBN 978-90-390-0531-6. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
Hijmans, S.E. (2009). The Sun in the Art and Religions of Rome. p. 588. ISBN 978-90-367-3931-3. Archived from the original on 10 May 2013.
Andrew McGowan. "How December 25 Became Christmas". Bible Review & Bible History Daily. Biblical Archaeology Society. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
Kelly, Joseph F. (2004). The Origins of Christmas. Liturgical Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-8146-2984-0. Online here [1] Archived 19 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
Collinge, William J. (2012). Historical Dictionary of Catholicism. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-5755-1. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2014.

wikisource.org

en.wikisource.org

"Story of Jesus (Maaseh Yeshu)". "At this saying, he was very much distraught and went and told the matter to Shimon, the son of Shetaḥ." It should be noted here that this Shimon would have been a very old man at the time when Jesus' mother conceived of him. For he served as President and Judge of the court at Jerusalem under the Hasmonaean king, Alexander Janneus, in the year 67 BCE, as also in subsequent years. He is a well-known personage in Jewish sources.
Luke 1:26

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Barnes 1968, pp. 204–209. Barnes, T. D. (1 April 1968). "The Date of Herod's Death". The Journal of Theological Studies. XIX (1). Oxford University Press (OUP): 204–209. doi:10.1093/jts/xix.1.204. ISSN 0022-5185.
Bernegger 1983, pp. 526–531. Bernegger, P. M. (1983). "Affirmation of Herod's Death in 4 B.C". The Journal of Theological Studies. 34 (2). Oxford University Press (OUP): 526–531. doi:10.1093/jts/34.2.526. ISSN 0022-5185. JSTOR 23963471.
Steinmann 2009, pp. 1–29. Steinmann, Andrew (2009). "When Did Herod the Great Reign?". Novum Testamentum. 51 (1). Brill: 1–29. doi:10.1163/156853608x245953. ISSN 0048-1009.
Schmidt, Thomas C. (2015). "Calculating December 25 as the Birth of Jesus in Hippolytus' Canon and Chronicon" (PDF). Vigiliae Christianae. 69 (5): 542–563. doi:10.1163/15700720-12341243. ISSN 1570-0720.