THE BIRTH YEAR OF JESUS (Tishri 15, 4BC) (Part 2) Because of a mistake by the monk Dionysius Exiguus, who created our current calendar, the year of His birth was first designated year one on our calendar instead of year 753 after the founding of Rome on the Roman calendar. He used Luke 3 verses 1 and 23 and concluded that Jesus was thirty years old in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar. Augustus Caesar ruled from 27 BC and died on 19 August 14 AD and he was succeeded by Tiberius Caesar (14 to 37 AD). Power was actually transferred a year earlier in 13 AD. So his fifteenth year was 27/28 AD. Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrach of Galilee ... When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age. (Luke 3: 23). According to Luke 3: 23. Matthew also says that Herod killed all the boys under two years old in the region. So, before He died Herod thought that the maximum age of Christ must be around two years. Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. (Matthew 2: 16). So we will examine all the prophetic, mathematical and historical requirements for the age of Jesus ◾PROPHECY. At least two prophecies point to either the age or year of death. -->•Year Of Death (Seventy Weeks) (Daniel 9: 27). He died in 31 AD to fulfill the seventy weeks. -->•Age Of Death (The Unclean Woman) (Leviticus 12: 2-6). Jesus was 33 when He died. This is a prophecy unique to my website and I will explain it in another post, ◾AGE. His age at certain events can be used as checkpoints to establish His birth year. --> •AGE 2. We will use His age as a check point. Jesus was 2½ at the lunar eclipse in the year 1 BC. So He was old enough for the persecution of the children under two by Herod (Matthew 2: 16-18). --> •AGE 30. He was about thirty years old in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar (27 AD) (Luke 3: 23). According to the law, a priest could not work until he was 30 (Numbers 4: 35). So He was baptized in this year. --> •AGE 33. He was thirty three years old at his death (31 AD). The chronological records of John show that He worked for three Passovers and died during the fourth. --> •AGE 33.5. Since He was 33.5 years old when He died at Passover, then He was born during Tabernacles. ◾HISTORY. The Jewish historian Josephus records several events that help us to pinpoint His birth. --> •Herods Reign (40 BC to 37 BC to 1 BC). Herod was appointed ruler by Caesar in 40 BC, but he did not get to rule until the fall of Jerusalem in 37 BC. Josephus says that Herods seventh year occurred during the battle of Actium (September 2, 31 BC). So Herod began his rule in 37 BC (siege and capture of Jerusalem). Josephus also says that Herod died 37 years after the Romans made him king (40 BC) and 34 years after he took Jerusalem. It took 3 years to overthrow the Hasmoneans. So I conclude that he died in 1 BC. --> •HERODS TEMPLE (19 BC to 27 AD). Herod began rebuilding the temple at the beginning of 19 BC, in the eighteenth year of his reign over Israel. The first Passover after Jesus began His ministry the temple was 46 years old (John 2: 20). John mentions three Passovers and this cleansing of the temple happened during the first Passover. Jesus began His ministry around 30 years old. He was about 30.5 at this time. --> • LUNAR ECLIPSES (Winter Eclipse of 1BC). Josephus claims that Herod died at the time of a winter eclipse, after Yom Kippur and before Passover. There were three lunar eclipses between 5 BC and 1 BC and only one was in winter (1 BC). It was also after Yom Kippur and before Passover. Jesus would have been 2.5 years old at this time. Most use the 4BC lunar eclipse and push back the birthdate to 6BC. These are the 3 calculated eclipses: • 5 BC, March 23 (8: 52 PM). Total. • 4 BC, March 13 (4: 04 AM). Partial. • 1 BC, January 10 (1: 35 AM). Total. --> •CENSUS (8BC-4BC). The problem critics have with Lukes account is that Quirinius was made governor of Syria by Augustus in AD 6 AD and he took a census in 6/7AD for the enrollment of the Roman provinces of Syria and Judaea for tax purposes. This was about 10 years after the birth of Christ. Empire Tax. And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. Governor Cyrenius. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) His Own City. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David): (Luke 2: 1-4) Augustus authorized three censuses during this reign in 28 BC, 8 BC, and 14 AD. The censuses are listed in the Acts of Augustus, which were the 35 greatest achievements of his reign. These were placed on two bronze plaques outside of his mausoleum. Although the claim is made that records show that a census was taken about every 14 years, these were 20 years apart. So the discrepancy might be in the time it took the bureaucracy of Rome to complete a census once it was authorized. •Prior/First Census. If he was governor in 6/7 AD and this was the first census since his rule, how could Jesus have been born in his census? The Greek word prote for first can also be translated as prior or before. This enrollment (census) was before that made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. » Alternate Translation Of Luke 2: 2. Luke was simply using the census of Quirinius/Cyrenius as the reference point. Jesus birth occured in the previous census. The earlier census may have been an important landmark event. It could also mean that Quirinius might have been involved in that earlier census when he was in another leadership position. •Earlier Census. So the census prior to 6/7 AD would begin around 9/8 BC. •Earlier Leadership. Archaeologist Sir William Ramsay discovered several inscriptions that indicated that Quirinius was governor of Syria on two occasions, the first time several years prior to this 6/7 AD [4. Robert Boyd, Tells, Tombs, and Treasure (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1969), p. 175]. •Worldwide Census. Critics also scoff at a worldwide census which would require citizens to return to their place of birth as a ridiculous claim. » In Their Own City. What does that mean? In reading Luke 2 I find that it does support a global census which was to occur each in their own city. This could simply mean that the census was in the city of their current residence or a designated city near by. It is clear that Joseph chose to go to 80 miles to Bethlehem. It does not say that the law forced people to return to their city of birth. So Joseph went there for his own private reason. This reason could be to fulfill prophecy or to go to a central or regional polling location designated by the state. » City Of Their Birth. This may not be ridiculous after all. Historical records from Egypt (104 AD) show that people were required to travel to their home cities for a Roman census. It allowed the registrar to verify family connections with the help of witnesses. So until we can dig up archaeological records critics cannot claim that an event was impossible because the records are few or non-existent. We cannot use our ideas about what is logical or reasonable to denounce a story. The bible was correct in naming Quirinius as a governor who existed at that time period. •ASTRONOMICAL SIGNS. The seven years surrounding His birth (7BC-1BC) were filled with very unusual astronomical signs prophesied by Balaam. These rare signs included many planetary conjunctions, eclipses, comets, a supernova and the appearance of a new star. Jesus was born in the middle of those seven years (4BC). •MIRACULOUS SIGNS. The seven years surrounding His death (27AD-34AD), which were prophesied by Daniel, were filled with miraculous signs. He died in the middle of those seven years (31AD). ◾OTHER ISSUES. --> •Birth Range (7 BC-4BC). Since Herod was reported to be sick but alive in Jericho in 5BC, historians place his death around the 4BC eclipse. Although there were three possible eclipses that would fit with the death of Herod based on Josephus writings, many are clinging to the 4BC eclipse. This pushes the birth of Jesus back to around 7 BC. However this makes Jesus much older than 30 around the time of Tiberias. --> •Age 32? Some who want the death of Jesus to fit into their prophecy are willing to claim that being about 30 could also mean that He was 32 years old. SUMMARY: Birth Year. So, remembering that there is no year zero, if Jesus was 33 years old in autumn in the feast of tabernacles on Tishri 15, 30 AD then He was born in 4 BC. And, if Herod died around Passover 1 BC, then Jesus was two and a half years old during Passover of that year.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 00:18:28 +0000
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