YellowShark Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 How come the bible doesn't give an exact date for Jesus's birth? If everything else in the Bible is "the word of god" and "basically truth" - why doesn't it say Jesus was born on ___________. Surely God would know the date. It shouldn't be a mystery what so ever. And don't give me BS. If God created "all life and the entire universe" but can't give an exact date of birth just doesn't add up at all. And don't tell me they didn't have calendars. The Jews (see: Jesus) have had a calendar for 5772 years now. And don't use "the bible is a theological document not a historical document.." because you can't have it both ways. Many Christians use the Bible as a historical document to prove their beliefs are based in fact. So why is the biggest fact in Christianity not in the Bible? Link to post Share on other sites
Emilia Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 You are asking people who blindly believe to give you a straight answer? Link to post Share on other sites
Author YellowShark Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 You are asking people who blindly believe to give you a straight answer? Yup. I hope they will. Christians claim so many things in the Bible are factual... so why isn't the exact date of birth for God's #2 guy mentioned anywhere in the bible? At the time of his birth you had two calendars to work from.. the Hebrew calendar and the Julian calendar. So it can't be a lack of reference for time-keeping. And you'd think that something as miraculous as the virgin birth of Jesus would be carefully documented. That kinda thing just doesn't happen every day. So why isn't the most important date in Christianity clearly chronicled? Link to post Share on other sites
Emilia Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Ah but this is God's way of testing your faith, you see? If you need proof you aren't a proper believer. You might even call yourself a scientist! Link to post Share on other sites
Author YellowShark Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 (edited) Ah but this is God's way of testing your faith, you see? If you need proof you aren't a proper believer. You might even call yourself a scientist! Indeed. I am not asking *if* he existed. Only why his birth date is not recorded in the Bible. From what I've read Matthew says he was born when "Herod was King of Judea." Well King Herod died in 4 B.C. 4 years before Christ was supposedly born. ETA: Best guess I have ever read is Jesus was born on the 15th of Tishri, in 3757 (Hebrew calendar.) That's why there was no room at the inn for Joseph and Mary. Jewish pilgrims had come to Jerusalem to observe "the Feast of Tabernacles." "The Feast of Tabernacles" = Sukkot (end of September.) I just don't get why the bible doesn't simply say, "And on the 15th day of Tishri, in the year 3757 the son of god was born..." Seems really lazy not to document the date of birth of God's son. Edited August 21, 2012 by YellowShark 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Emilia Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Seems really lazy not to document the date of birth of God's son. Hahaha just started laughing when I read this. Yes it is lazy. See what everyone else has to say. hahaha Link to post Share on other sites
Author YellowShark Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 (edited) Hahaha just started laughing when I read this. Yes it is lazy. See what everyone else has to say. hahaha What I find funnier is God had an affair with a young housewife named Mary. Got her preggo, then split and left Joseph to take care of the baby. God skipped out on years of child support. And Jesus became a troubled child who finally got busted by the authorities for aggravated miracles and unlicensed wine-making. Edited August 21, 2012 by YellowShark 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Emilia Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 It seems those pesky Christians are not happy to oblige! Link to post Share on other sites
Author YellowShark Posted August 21, 2012 Author Share Posted August 21, 2012 It seems those pesky Christians are not happy to oblige! There are many inconsistencies in the bible that puzzle me. That is why before I succumb to a certain belief system I need some clear answers. I don't think that is asking much. It's not fair ball to say "believe" and it shall be revealed. It should be revealed so that one can truly believe. For instance how come the 5000-year-old Chinese culture makes no reference to Noah's great flood? it seems to have missed China... and Egypt for that matter. Both those civilizations were around then. Genesis 7:17-18 The flood continued forty days on the earth. The waters increased and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters prevailed and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the face of the waters. Link to post Share on other sites
madjac74 Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Because God didn't write the bible? I may know the day my kids were born but if a bunch of people wrote scriptures about me many years later and didn't have access to Google then exact dates may be a little fuzzy. That's why instead of giving exact time frames they just said "40 days and 40 nights". It's a lot like "Once upon a time..." 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Emilia Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Because God didn't write the bible? I may know the day my kids were born but if a bunch of people wrote scriptures about me many years later and didn't have access to Google then exact dates may be a little fuzzy. That's why instead of giving exact time frames they just said "40 days and 40 nights". It's a lot like "Once upon a time..." I would expect it to be taken more seriously than some kid's birthday though, wouldn't you? Link to post Share on other sites
madjac74 Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 I would expect it to be taken more seriously than some kid's birthday though, wouldn't you? Please explain what you are asking. I think the Protagonist of the Bible is Jesus and his birthday would be considered a serious occasion especially under the extraordinary circumstances! Link to post Share on other sites
taiko Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 I would expect it to be taken more seriously than some kid's birthday though, wouldn't you? Why at the time of his birth Mary was just a child who got pregnant before her marriage and Joseph did not move to have her stoned to death. It was only years later that those without search engines came to record the story of an important man's life. Link to post Share on other sites
Author YellowShark Posted August 23, 2012 Author Share Posted August 23, 2012 Jesus is literally the second most important person in Christianity. You would think that they would have taken the time and made the effort to notate the day "The Son of God" was born... and not gloss over that kinda thing. It just doesn't make sense to not write it down considering the importance of God's son being born...to a virgin... on Earth. Link to post Share on other sites
taiko Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 There were no "Christians" to report on anything at the time of Jesus's birth. To the record keepers Mary was a child worthy of execution, not a queen whose records were preserved to protect the kingdomms property rights. Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 I don't think 13 was considered a "child" in ancient times, because girls were married young. You know ... short lifespans, therefore you get things rolling quickly, etc. YS, gotta admit your question "How come?" made me think of :laugh: as for Jesus' birthday ... ya got me there. Believers focus on the idea that God became incarnate, to save us from sin. The Dec. date is "borrowed" from other pagan tradition to help "bridge" the two beliefs. Kinda like how Our Lady of Guadalupe took on indigenous symbolism to appeal to Mexican natives as she won over their hearts. Link to post Share on other sites
Feelin Frisky Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Man. Incredible. There is absolutely nothing in this collection of ancient Jewish tails that can be substantiated as literal truth. And even through the so-called "new testament" there is little accurate knowledge as to who actually wrote the original material which was then translated eons later by people with agendas to see the material voiced in a particular way. I understand that some--many--people grow up in homes where this thing called "the Bible" is held up as the be all and end all of everything, but there has to come a time where you have to use the brain nature (or "god" if you will) gave you and see how much of it adds up to anything. One thing is for certain, it is not the source book for the laws of the United States Constitution. Even at the time of the establishment of America, leaders understood the shortfalls of blind subservience to faith-based traditions and that such zealotry would tear the country to bits if not put in its place with Constitutional language. Today political exploiters with hidden agendas try to imply and insist otherwise but the wisdom of basing the constitution of our country and our society on reason and rational law rather than orthodoxic interpretation of some ancient code based upon presumed super-natural edicts prevails. This "Bible" is just "a" bible, and the universe does not revolve around the Jewish tribes from which the faith-lore emerged nor does it revolve around the people who observe it as the basis of their religion. Such belief is dangerously close to a mental malady which mixes ego-centrism, anthropocentrism and parochial narcissism--not at all a sound basis for some kind of universal "spirituality" which could bring us together as fellows of unconditional love or at least respect. Link to post Share on other sites
M30USA Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 How come the bible doesn't give an exact date for Jesus's birth? If everything else in the Bible is "the word of god" and "basically truth" - why doesn't it say Jesus was born on ___________. Surely God would know the date. It shouldn't be a mystery what so ever. And don't give me BS. If God created "all life and the entire universe" but can't give an exact date of birth just doesn't add up at all. And don't tell me they didn't have calendars. The Jews (see: Jesus) have had a calendar for 5772 years now. And don't use "the bible is a theological document not a historical document.." because you can't have it both ways. Many Christians use the Bible as a historical document to prove their beliefs are based in fact. So why is the biggest fact in Christianity not in the Bible? That's the stupidest question I've ever heard. How can you say the Bible never gives a date when the very date system we use is based on the life of Jesus to begin with? Yeah, let's expect the Bible to say Jesus was born in __ BC when the very date system we now use wasn't even developed until many years later. Do you realize what you're asking? Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Harper Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Jesus was born in July Mary and Joseph had to go to make the sensus that was forced on the population, the Sensus took place after the crop. exact date who knows? maybe some astronomer can figure it out due to the psosition of the stars that guided the wise men (in case you believe in that) My .02 Link to post Share on other sites
OpenBook Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 They harvested crops in July?? I thought harvest typically happens in the fall (Sept/Oct). Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Harper Posted August 23, 2012 Share Posted August 23, 2012 Nope in those times they had 2 harvests one that ended in July and then they seeded again and another in mid Fall, remember the weather is very different over there.... the seasons are not as marked as up north...I researched 2 years for my Thesis. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
madjac74 Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 I swear three times a week I have to ask someone at work what the date is. I imagine if I lived in that era and didn't have constant access to a computer, iPhone or a coworker then I may lose all track of what exact date my kid was born. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Robert Z Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 So why is the biggest fact in Christianity not in the Bible? Nobody knew it was important until 300 years later and by then nobody was sure of the date? Mary and Joseph didn't buy a donkey that came with a calendar and clock? Birthday's weren't important back then for anyone but royalty? His real date of birth was obscured early on to avoid the wrath of Herod? Link to post Share on other sites
Author YellowShark Posted August 24, 2012 Author Share Posted August 24, 2012 Nobody knew it was important until 300 years later and by then nobody was sure of the date? Mary and Joseph didn't buy a donkey that came with a calendar and clock? Birthday's weren't important back then for anyone but royalty? His real date of birth was obscured early on to avoid the wrath of Herod? While some think "this is the stupidest question ever," and others make cute excuses why it isn't documented... I say when the wise men came to worship THE SON OF GOD one would think this would have been carefully documented. The bible documents all sorts of stuff except the birth date of gods son on Earth. That just doesn't happen every day... god having a son. Link to post Share on other sites
TaraMaiden Posted August 24, 2012 Share Posted August 24, 2012 Jesus was born in July Mary and Joseph had to go to make the sensus that was forced on the population, the Sensus took place after the crop. exact date who knows? maybe some astronomer can figure it out due to the psosition of the stars that guided the wise men (in case you believe in that) My .02 The most likely year that Jesus was born, is 6BC, probably in the month of March. There was no year 0 (zero) recorded, so the 2nd millennium celebration of the birth of Jesus should have been held in March 1995. But considering that Nativity was not celebrated at all for the first 300-or-so years, and that Christmas became widely popular only in the 19th Century, it remains remarkable that the birthday of Jesus Christ today is one of the biggest industries in the world. From here. I have seen this date given in other sources of information, and from what I read, it's relatively spot-on.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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