As far as the Jesus events are concerned, the date questions are of his birth, his death and his return.
We (or many of us) need to have dates and times clear for our lives to run smoothly. So we become dependent on our (mainly) electronic calendars and clocks.
In terms of date, I stress a particular element of the words of Jesus:
Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert[a]! Mark 13:31-33, NLT). This seems to me remarkably clear. Big changes, very big changes, coming! Unfortunately, people have been able to avoid the truth and calculate a return date - with many misled.
Both Mark and Matthew contain the specific caution against date fixing. Matthew’s text continues with pericopes about being ready at all times for the Master’s return. Mark and Luke have similar admonitions and warnings against complacent neglect. Whilst some aspects of the warnings have relevance to Roman suppression events in Judaea over the following 100 years, they clearly make every “day” a possible day for the climactic event we await.
The New Testament (NT) contains numerous references to the “end of the ages”. Jesus’ words on the “last things” are a large topic. Matthew, Mark and Luke devoted considerable space to the need to be “on watch”. For us, John has the solemn caution: “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day (John 12:47-48, NIV). That has a final ring to it.
Jesus did talk about a future day of judgement, but not a date! In the NT, as in the Old Testament (OT), various things are said about the “day”. Some people put the information together and come up with schemes, to say that Jesus’ coming is “nigh”. With the possible exception of the need of the whole earth to hear the Good News of Jesus, there is no ground for confidence that Jesus’ return will be delayed. Even then, the ancient fluidity in ideas such as “the whole earth” leaves no certainty of delay and reinforces Jesus’ admonitions. He said that only the Father knows the “when”.
The death of Jesus is fixed with the Jewish Jerusalem Passover observance of a particular year. The year is often spoken of as around AD 30 (30CE). This could be correct, from our point of view. It may also be wrong. Part of the challenge arises from the changes to the calendar since that time. In effect “we” extend our dating system backward to cover recorded history. Major political happenings of the era have uncertain dating in our calendar. This is similar to the history of Pontius Pilate - he appears in the external record in one inscription. Otherwise he is best attested from his NT mention (in the Gospels) and in Josephus.
With prominent people and events having no clear record in modern eyes, it is hardly surprising that the execution of a minor trouble-maker from an unpopular backwoods region would lack precision and in fact be unrecorded. (A physical record would be suspect!) The number of births and of crucifixions unrecorded is very large. This “gap” must be within God’s plan and purpose; as also the uncertainty of the sites of Jesus' birth, crucifixion and burial. In that regard the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, culminating in 135CE, was critical. The Romans had no interest in preserving sites connected to any despised Jewish cult. (It was not until 200 years later that the official policy changed.) Today, of course, the tourist may be shown many locations, some thoroughly marble-clad, asserted to be identified with the life of Jesus.
Calendars have undergone great change. There are even multiple calendars. So, for example, many, many, people treat December 25 as special for celebrating the birth of Christ. However, for a considerable number of those people, their December 25 is not the same as that which recently happened here.
The accounts of the birth of Jesus seem to have some markers from history to fix the year (though not the day) in our calendar. So Luke’s careful words: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria (Luke 2:1-2, NRSV). Note the typical “flowery” official language, “all the world”. Many translations replace “world” by reference to the Empire. Moreover, there are ancient alternatives to “while Quirinius was” (see the versions and their footnotes). It is also reported that Quirinius took a census in Syria in A.D. 6 or 7. That hardly fits with the other records. It would also be hazardous to be certain Quirinius had never before represented Augustus in the province, though it may be so.
Modern historians identify two significant dates as 4 BC (Herod’s death) and AD 6, when Augustus deposed Herod’s successor in Judea and appointed Coponius (Procurator) as Governor. (Rome took full control of Judaea thenceforth.) Quirinius was commander (Legate) of all “Syria”. The Empire ran on gold and blood. Individuals with power used it to their own advantage and records were not made and published to modern ideas (though, in view of our Royal Commission, in some ways things are unchanged). I found an article bearing on these matters I think interesting, though, for which, I am not vouching: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/when-was-jesus-born-bc-or-ad/
As previously posted under “Christmas”: Here (again) is a succinct statement by Paul (the Apostle): But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law (Galatians 4:4, CEV). The timing, the person, the process and the setting, neatly encapsulated.
I note the insistence on a real live birth and that all this was a plan made by God. The contemporaries of Jesus show no doubt they were dealing with a human being like them (- and who did he think he was, anyway!). Moreover, Paul reminds us, Jesus, the Son who was sent, was born a Jew - or perhaps more accurately, an Israelite - one of the people generously bonded to the LORD and guided by his Law. (Later on, people would speculate that Jesus was something else, not flesh and blood.)
Many were the births and deaths and few were the records. It is futile to contend for the traditional December 25, and why would we? If God wanted us to have fixed locations and calendar dates, God could ensure that. The important thing is that Jesus did come; did give his life; did rise; will come again. Is this not so?
In terms of date, I stress a particular element of the words of Jesus:
Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert[a]! Mark 13:31-33, NLT). This seems to me remarkably clear. Big changes, very big changes, coming! Unfortunately, people have been able to avoid the truth and calculate a return date - with many misled.
Both Mark and Matthew contain the specific caution against date fixing. Matthew’s text continues with pericopes about being ready at all times for the Master’s return. Mark and Luke have similar admonitions and warnings against complacent neglect. Whilst some aspects of the warnings have relevance to Roman suppression events in Judaea over the following 100 years, they clearly make every “day” a possible day for the climactic event we await.
The New Testament (NT) contains numerous references to the “end of the ages”. Jesus’ words on the “last things” are a large topic. Matthew, Mark and Luke devoted considerable space to the need to be “on watch”. For us, John has the solemn caution: “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day (John 12:47-48, NIV). That has a final ring to it.
Jesus did talk about a future day of judgement, but not a date! In the NT, as in the Old Testament (OT), various things are said about the “day”. Some people put the information together and come up with schemes, to say that Jesus’ coming is “nigh”. With the possible exception of the need of the whole earth to hear the Good News of Jesus, there is no ground for confidence that Jesus’ return will be delayed. Even then, the ancient fluidity in ideas such as “the whole earth” leaves no certainty of delay and reinforces Jesus’ admonitions. He said that only the Father knows the “when”.
The death of Jesus is fixed with the Jewish Jerusalem Passover observance of a particular year. The year is often spoken of as around AD 30 (30CE). This could be correct, from our point of view. It may also be wrong. Part of the challenge arises from the changes to the calendar since that time. In effect “we” extend our dating system backward to cover recorded history. Major political happenings of the era have uncertain dating in our calendar. This is similar to the history of Pontius Pilate - he appears in the external record in one inscription. Otherwise he is best attested from his NT mention (in the Gospels) and in Josephus.
With prominent people and events having no clear record in modern eyes, it is hardly surprising that the execution of a minor trouble-maker from an unpopular backwoods region would lack precision and in fact be unrecorded. (A physical record would be suspect!) The number of births and of crucifixions unrecorded is very large. This “gap” must be within God’s plan and purpose; as also the uncertainty of the sites of Jesus' birth, crucifixion and burial. In that regard the Roman destruction of Jerusalem, culminating in 135CE, was critical. The Romans had no interest in preserving sites connected to any despised Jewish cult. (It was not until 200 years later that the official policy changed.) Today, of course, the tourist may be shown many locations, some thoroughly marble-clad, asserted to be identified with the life of Jesus.
Calendars have undergone great change. There are even multiple calendars. So, for example, many, many, people treat December 25 as special for celebrating the birth of Christ. However, for a considerable number of those people, their December 25 is not the same as that which recently happened here.
The accounts of the birth of Jesus seem to have some markers from history to fix the year (though not the day) in our calendar. So Luke’s careful words: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria (Luke 2:1-2, NRSV). Note the typical “flowery” official language, “all the world”. Many translations replace “world” by reference to the Empire. Moreover, there are ancient alternatives to “while Quirinius was” (see the versions and their footnotes). It is also reported that Quirinius took a census in Syria in A.D. 6 or 7. That hardly fits with the other records. It would also be hazardous to be certain Quirinius had never before represented Augustus in the province, though it may be so.
Modern historians identify two significant dates as 4 BC (Herod’s death) and AD 6, when Augustus deposed Herod’s successor in Judea and appointed Coponius (Procurator) as Governor. (Rome took full control of Judaea thenceforth.) Quirinius was commander (Legate) of all “Syria”. The Empire ran on gold and blood. Individuals with power used it to their own advantage and records were not made and published to modern ideas (though, in view of our Royal Commission, in some ways things are unchanged). I found an article bearing on these matters I think interesting, though, for which, I am not vouching: https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/when-was-jesus-born-bc-or-ad/
As previously posted under “Christmas”: Here (again) is a succinct statement by Paul (the Apostle): But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law (Galatians 4:4, CEV). The timing, the person, the process and the setting, neatly encapsulated.
I note the insistence on a real live birth and that all this was a plan made by God. The contemporaries of Jesus show no doubt they were dealing with a human being like them (- and who did he think he was, anyway!). Moreover, Paul reminds us, Jesus, the Son who was sent, was born a Jew - or perhaps more accurately, an Israelite - one of the people generously bonded to the LORD and guided by his Law. (Later on, people would speculate that Jesus was something else, not flesh and blood.)
Many were the births and deaths and few were the records. It is futile to contend for the traditional December 25, and why would we? If God wanted us to have fixed locations and calendar dates, God could ensure that. The important thing is that Jesus did come; did give his life; did rise; will come again. Is this not so?
Addendum: Molnar (1999), astronomer, used data to fix the "Bethlehem Star" and published his finding of 17 April 6 BC. I have not seen other support for that specific detail.
https://www.michaelmolnar.com
https://www.michaelmolnar.com
Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission.
All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Note: I retain in the publishers' text where they occur the references to footnotes, but usually not the notes. You can check them out by viewing the text on-line. Often they are replicated in different translations.
Bible passages accessed via BibleGateway.com
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission.
All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Note: I retain in the publishers' text where they occur the references to footnotes, but usually not the notes. You can check them out by viewing the text on-line. Often they are replicated in different translations.
Bible passages accessed via BibleGateway.com
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