Clement of Alexandria writes in his Stromata during the period 193-215 AD: And there are those who have determined our Saviors genesis not only the year, but even the day, which they say took place in the twenty-eighth year of Augustus on the 25th of Pachon... Bishop Hippolytus of Rome in his commentary on Daniel dated 202 AD writes For the first advent of our Lord in the flesh, when he was born in Bethlehem, eight days before the kalends of January [December 25th], the 4th day of the week [Wednesday], while Augustus was in his forty-second year, [2 or 3BC] but from Adam five thousand and five hundred years. He suffered in the thirty third year, 8 days before the kalends of April [March 25th], the Day of Preparation, the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar [29 or 30 AD], while Rufus and Roubellion and Gaius Caesar, for the 4th time, and Gaius Cestius Saturninus were Consuls. Credence as to WHY early Christians would have believed Jesus birth took place December 25th is in the text of scripture. Yom Kippur the Jewish celebration of the day of atonement is sometimes celebrated in September. In the year 2012 it was celebrated on September 25th and if Elizabeth was pronounced pregnant during this time all we need to do is count 6 months from where Mary received her annunciation. That is in Elizabeths sixth month of her pregnancy which was first announced in September possibly even the 25th as Yom Kippur took place last year would bring us to March 25th when May is announced by Gabriel of her conception. Luke 1:10 says that when Zacharias entered the temple, the whole multitiude were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. J.B. Lightfoot says that such an outpouring of support was not just for this specific occasion but Zacharias a priest would have held this occasion for one of the feast days. Lightfoot however believes this was done on the feast of weeks. No doubt early Christians believed though that Elizabeths conception was done during the feast of atonement which would be held sometime between mid-September or early October. This would serve a logical and coherent reason why they believed and still do that Marys announcement was in mid-March (March 25th specifically) or early April (as in the other dates of April 6th and 7th aforementioned). This of course shows a consistent and quite coherent reason for the dates of the Christmas (Advent) season. Elizabeth pregnant in September (September 25th) six months later Mary is announced her pregnancy (March 25th) and nine months later the date Christ was believed to be born by early Christians (December 25th). We can say the same for the other dates beginning with Yom Kippur for those in early October (6th and 7th) to April sixth and seventh to their prospective dates ending in January 6th and 7th. Here we have a relevant very Jewish reason for the timing of the feast of the Nativity dates
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 04:45:33 +0000
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