The First Christmas: The Story of Jesus’ Birth in History and Tradition
Interested in the Christmas story and what it meant to the earliest Christians?
In this free eBook, expert Bible scholars and archaeologists offer glimpses of the first Christmas as recounted and understood by those who first told the beloved story.
Discover what Bible experts have to say about the Gospel stories of Jesus’ birth, the history of Christmas, the three wise men, the adoration of the magi, the star of Bethlehem, the date of Jesus’ birth, shepherds and angels at the nativity, the location of Jesus’ birth, the magi in art and literature and early Christian Christmas traditions.
The time-honored traditions of Christmas are dear to the hearts of Christians today. The story of the first Christmas recaptures the imagination as it is retold year after year in Bible readings, carols, Christmas pageants, live manger scenes and crèche displays, to name a few. Perhaps in the midst of all this, we might wonder what the story of Jesus’ birth meant to the earliest Christians. How did their story differ from the one we tell today, and what significance did they give to each member of the cast of characters?
Chapter 1
Witnessing the Divine: The Magi in Art and Literature
Early and modern-day Christians alike have been captivated in particular by the three magi in the Christmas story. Author Robin Jensen tells us that early Christian art contains more representations of the adoration of the magi than of the infant Jesus in the manger. What key theological message did the early Christians see in the story of the magi? Jensen uncovers the answer by tracing the magi’s numerous appearances in art and literature from the period in “Witnessing the Divine: The Magi in Art and Literature.”
Chapter 2
The Magi and the Star: Babylonian Astronomy Dates Jesus’ Birth
Perhaps the most mystifying part of the magi’s journey is the star that guides them. Scholars and astronomers have tried for some time to identify a celestial event that corresponds with the magi’s guiding star, in part because it would also pinpoint the date of Jesus’ birth. Where modern science fails to explain the mysterious star, Babylonian astronomy gives better clues in “The Magi and the Star: Babylonian Astronomy Dates Jesus’ Birth” by Simo Parpola.
Chapter 3
What Was the Star that Guided the Magi?
Author Dale C. Allison, Jr. does not look to astronomy for an explanation of the magi’s star, though he does look heavenward. In “What Was the Star that Guided the Magi,” he suggests that another sort of celestial entity was the bright light that guided the magi’s journey to pay homage to the infant Jesus.
Chapter 4
Where Was Jesus Born? O Little Town of ... Nazareth?
The star, tradition tells us, led the magi to the tiny Judean town of Bethlehem. However, many scholars of the New Testament have come to the conclusion that Jesus was born in Nazareth, not Bethlehem. Steve Mason’s “O Little Town of … Nazareth?” explores the the passages in the Biblical text that suggest Nazareth was Jesus’ birthplace.
Chapter 5
Where Was Jesus Born? Bethlehem ... Of Course
Despite the belief held by some researchers that Jesus was born in Nazareth, other prominent New Testament scholars remain convinced that the first Christmas took place in Bethlehem. Jerome Murphy O’Connor supports the Bethlehem tradition using archaeology, the gospels and other ancient texts in “Bethlehem … Of Course.”
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Christmass Day?
Hippolytus A Saint born about the year of 175 AD, fixed the Christmass date upon Dec. 25 based on the following.
He had reached the conviction that Jesus’s life from conception to crucifixion was precisely thirty-three years and that both events occurred on Mar. 25. By calculating nine months from the annunciation or conception he arrived at Dec. 25 as the day Of Christ ‘s birth.
If Jesus was conceived on March 25 and died on The Cross march 25th then he would have went full circle. Full Circle a never ending God.
33 years old at death, the number 33 means promise. Jesus is our promise. Jeremiah 33 is the promise chapter of the messiah. Esp verse 14
As well the number 25 is the number for forgiveness of sins.
Jeremiah 52.31 is a Prophetic allegory of the Messiahs birth.
The Chapter # 52 represents how many weeks are in a year. The fifty second week starts on the 25th day of the twelfth month, or 12.25.
12 is the number representing Governmental Perfection.
Verse 31 represents: Offspring Luke 1.31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
31 is as well the number for covenant
Jeremiah 31.31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jeremiah 31 as well tells of Christmass’ coming.
Jeremiah 52.31 And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,
More later.
“Jeremiah 52.31 is a Prophetic allegory of the Messiahs birth.” et al
Jehoiachin only ruled for 3 moths and 10 days and did what was bad in God’s eyes.
Numerology as you are applying it leaves a lot to be desired, because the Bible was not divided into Chapters and verses until many centuries after the last book of Revelation was completed in 98 AD. The Masoretes divided it into verses, the in the 13th century chapters were added. In 1553 Robert Estienne’s edition of the French Bible was published as the first complete Bible with the present chapter and verse divisions.
Secondly numerology, as you are applying it is akin to a form of divination, which of course is incompatible with the teachings and principles contained in the Bible.
Was born in a cave man! Shalom
The magi…….witnessing the divine!!!!
I think not, the magi were astrologers and under the Mosaic Law and delving into astrology or having anything to do with it was strictly forbidden. Exodus 20:3,4 and Deuteronomy 18:10-12 are just two scriptures that point this out……..and note that the Bible says that the astrologers were guided by the star, first to King Herod (Herod the Great), who was in Jerusalem and wanted to kill Jesus………not to Jesus who was in Bethlehem Matthew 2:7-12.
The Bible also clearly states that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, NOT Nazareth as some so called “scholars” would have one believe, they fall into the category of those mentioned in Revelation 22:18,19.
First and second century Christians never celebrated birthdays and in the two birthdays mentioned in the Bible men lost their lives, Genesis 40:18-22; Matthew 14:6-11.
Interesting too, is a comment in Encyclopedia Britannica “During the first two centuries of Christianity there was strong opposition to recognising birthdays of martyrs or, for that matter, of Jesus,” ……….it wasn’t until the 4th century that christmas was celebrated at the behest of the Catholic Church and the customs celebrated during this festival are virtually all of pagan origin.
I am at a bit of a loss………….I cannot find the word christmas in the Bible……..maybe I missed it????
“…….two renowned scholars, Steve Mason and Jerome Murphy O’Connor, provide differing takes on where Jesus was born—Bethlehem, as traditionally held, or Nazareth. Mason explores those passages in the Bible that suggest Nazareth was Jesus’ birthplace, while O’Connor offers archaeological, historical and Biblical evidence supporting the Bethlehem tradition.”
The Bible clearly states that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea the reason why he was called a Nazarene or a Galilean was because after Joseph’s return from Egypt, after Herod’s death, he took his family to Nazareth in the district of Galilee. Matthew 2:22,23
As a Christian one should ALWAYS accept what the Bible says rather than what so called Bible scholars or historians have to say on a matter……….it is the Bible that is God’s word.
Where modern science fails to explain the mysterious star, Babylonian astronomy gives better clues in “The Magi and the Star: Babylonian Astronomy Dates Jesus’ Birth” by Simo Parpola. (Chapter 2 The First Christmas)
Let us get our facts straight, first there was no christmas concerning the birth of Jesus.
The celebration of christmas never came into being until the fourth century. also if the birth of Jesus was to be so important, as it is made out to be, (by men), one would have to agree that it would be clearly shown in the Bible, the same as Jesus’ death, which is well documented, and also how the memorial of his death was to be observed.
The quote from the book says that modern science has not been able to explain the star that ONLY the astrologers (magi) saw, which guided them to Herod first, who then ordered the murder of all male children up to 2 years of age. This star certainly was not a sign from God……….the star was a sign from the archenemy of God, Satan the devil.
Satan certainly did not want Jesus to fulfill his purpose on earth, he wanted to prevent the first prophecy in the Bible to become true, which is recorded at Genesis 3:15 and try as he might, God was not going to let Satan have his wish.
Interesting how christmas cards show the star over Bethlehem as part of the nativity scene……….as I mentioned earlier the star led the Babylonian astrologers to Herod, in Jerusalem FIRST and then showed the astrologers where the YOUNG BOY Jesus was in Bethlehem………..he was not an infant in a manger (Matthew 3:9-12) …..note that verse 11 says he was a young child, NOT a baby. This explains why Herod ordered the death of male children up to the age of 2.
This is just another Bible account that shows what christmas really is……….a pagan celebration.
Excellent. I have the same understanding as yourself.
Just another point that I overlooked was that these astrologers would not have travelled straight across from Babylon to Jerusalem…….it was normal in those days to travel via the fertile crescent, following the Euphrates River, rather than face the harsh land that they would have encountered, had they journeyed “as the crow flies” ………this would have meant a trip of about 1 600km and this was no overnight trip using “express camels”
Revrd, WHAT is well researched documentation………I certainly hope you did not mean the book………..if you did, may I suggest that you carry out some careful research of the subject of christmas.
However if you were referring to Bonnie’s comments, they certainly are very good comments.
Hi Bonnie,
Good comments, however, if I am not mistaken, (and I often have been), were some of the points you made concerning christmas from the book “The Two Babylons” by Alexander Hislop…….if so, we really need to be careful quoting him, because he really had an axe to grind about the popes and the catholic church, he had such a hatred that some of the points he made are fabricated and far from the truth. agape
May I quote your opening sentence: “……..expert Bible scholars and……..”
If you do have “expert” Bible scholars I think that you should present more views as to what the Bible really says, rather than what the so-called expert scholars THINK.
“The Bible Historical Daily”seems to me to be a misnomer.
“…….other prominent New Testament scholars remain convinced that the first Christmas took place in Bethlehem.”
There was no “first christmas”………that did not rear its ugly head until hundreds of years after the death of Jesus Christ……….maybe I have missed something in God’s Word that tells us about the “celebration of christmas”………If I have, perhaps you can tell me where it is……….BUT, please do not use spurious scripture that is not part of the Bible canon.