By Pastor Stephen Feinstein
Have you ever wondered how it is that theologians and historians figure out things like what year Jesus was born? For example, most of us are quick to say Jesus was born in 4 B.C. But how do we know? Often we read facts like this in books and repeat them to others, but do not know why they are true. How can we 2,000 years later pinpoint a year of Christ’s birth? It is rather simple. We will use a number of methods and they all point to the same time. First, we know that He was born before the death of Herod. Remember, in Matthew 2, Herod sought to kill Jesus, understanding He was the true king of the Jews. Jesus’ family fled to Egypt until Herod died. We know from secular sources that Herod died around April in 4 B.C. So Jesus had to be born prior to that. Of course, the easiest way to arrive at the specific year is from comparing Luke 3:23 with John 2:20. Luke 3:23 tells us what age Jesus was when He began His ministry, and John 2:20 records a statement made by the Pharisees as to how long the Temple was being remodeled for soon after Christ’s ministry had begun.
Luk 3:23 As He began His ministry, Jesus was about 30 years old and was thought to be the son of Joseph, son of Heli,
Joh 2:20 Therefore the Jews said, "This sanctuary took 46 years to build, and will You raise it up in three days?"
So at the time that Jesus had this confrontation with the Jews in John 2, He was 30 years old and the Temple was being worked on for 46 years. The first century Jewish historian Josephus helps clear this up in Antiquity of the Jews Book 15, Chapter 11, verse 1 where he tells us that Herod began the remodeling of the Temple in the 18th year of his reign. We know from Roman records that his reign began in 38 B.C. Eighteen years later would place us at 20 B.C. and that is when Josephus tells us Herod began the remodeling of the Temple. Count 46 years after that and you end up in late A.D. 26, early 27. So if Jesus’ ministry began in late 26, and He was 30 years old, then subtract His age from 26 A.D. and we end up with a birth year of 4 B.C. There you go. Now you know why we know Jesus was born in 4 B.C. And it just so happens to match with the year that king Herod died. Isn’t it amazing how it all works out? God bless.
2 comments:
How does Daniel 9 line up with a crucifixion date of AD 30? It seems to better fit with AD 32 or 33.
It depends on whether or not you start the count in 445 B.C. or 444 B.C. Then it depends on whether or not the decree was made early in the year, or late. If the decree was made early (real early) in 445 B.C. then it makes 30 a possibility. One thing that we must consider is our ability to prescribe precise years to events such as imperial decrees and such is not an exact science and ultimately represents the best historians can do with the information that they have. Usually they are ball park figures that end up being within a decade of the correct date, which is very good if you think about it.
On the date of Jesus' birth, there is no room for debate. If Herod died in 4 B.C. (based on Roman records and Josephus), then Christ had to be born prior to that. If the Holy Spirit recorded the Jews 30 years after Christ's birth saying that Herod's Temple was in the works for 46 years, this gives us a very precise point in history to begin the countdown. It brings us to 4 B.C. Counting forward from that date puts this scene in John 2 in the year A.D. 27. If we only have a ministry of 4 Passovers for Christ, then that is a 3 year ministry. If that is the case, then His crucifixion had to be in A.D. 30. This is the only option that Scripture leaves us based on what it does tell us in the Gospels. The only other option is to say there was one more Passover and John chose not to mention it. I think that could be a possibility, but it is not likely. Also, it would cause problems related to what day Christ died in order to be in the tomb for three full days. Computing Christ's birth rests on 3 solid statements in the Gospels in conjunction with a number of statements of Josephus. That makes its precision much more possible than the date of Artaxerxes decree since the latter is derived from a smaller number of known facts.
In conclusion, Daniel 9's specific prophecy was fulfilled within a three year period from 30 (as late as 33 depending on when you start the count and how many days are in each year -- prophetic year v. regular). The fact that it is that close to when we know Christ had to have died is more than enough to satisfy me. The reason being is that we cannot be 100% precise on the date of Artaxerxes' decree in the 440s, but we can be precise about Christ's death and resurrection in 30. It is always better to start with the conclusions that are certain, and then work towards the ones that are not so exact.
Pastor Steve
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