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Like #Jesus, were several pagan gods also #born on #December25th and visited by #threekings the night of their #birth?
#No, and here is why:
#No, and here is why:
You see, the Bible never states that Jesus was born on December 25th. This was made up. Some scholars believed that December 25th was decided upon by early Christians as a counter to both the Saturnalia (a Roman pagan holiday in honor of Saturn that lasted several days, and
heavily influenced our Christmas celebrations) and Mithras' birthday (though there is reason to doubt that Mithras was actually thought to have been born on December 25th. Same goes with Horus and most, if not all other so-called dying and rising gods).
However, there was a
However, there was a
Jewish reason why December 25th was chosen, one that predates the replacement of the saturnalia in the Roman Empire with Christmas.
You see, according to Jewish tradition, prophets died on the days that they were conceived. Jesus was thought to have bee crucified on 14 Ninsan,
You see, according to Jewish tradition, prophets died on the days that they were conceived. Jesus was thought to have bee crucified on 14 Ninsan,
Or March 25th. 9 months later...you have December 25th. This is why Feast of the Annunciation is celebrated on March 25th; its the holiday that celebrates the conception of Christ.
Nevertheless, we have no Biblical proof that Jesus was born on December 25th.
Indeed, we have
Nevertheless, we have no Biblical proof that Jesus was born on December 25th.
Indeed, we have
evidence that he was NOT born on December 25th.
What is this evidence?
The Shepherds tending their flocks...at night.
Luke's Gospel records shepherds tending their flocks at night when the angels appear to them and sing (Luke 2:8-14). Now, why would they tend their sheep at night
What is this evidence?
The Shepherds tending their flocks...at night.
Luke's Gospel records shepherds tending their flocks at night when the angels appear to them and sing (Luke 2:8-14). Now, why would they tend their sheep at night
when there was a stronger possibility of not seeing potential dangers (snakes, livestock rustlers, bandits, wolves, feral dogs, lions, etc) due to the nighttime?
Simple.
It was in the hot part of the year.
Shepherds would avoid tending their flocks in daytime during the hot
Simple.
It was in the hot part of the year.
Shepherds would avoid tending their flocks in daytime during the hot
dry season due to risk of sunburn to their sheep (and of course to themselves) and also, one can logically surmise, dehydration (You can't just go to a local 7-11 and get a bottle of Dasani water in the 1rst century AD!) Thus, in the wintertime, Shepherds tended their flocks in
the day, but during the hot time of the year..they tended their flocks at night.
Thus, this wasn't winter.
And thus, not December 25th.
And as for being visited by three kings: The Bible does not identify the Wise Men as kings or three, just "magi", or wise men, and the fact that
Thus, this wasn't winter.
And thus, not December 25th.
And as for being visited by three kings: The Bible does not identify the Wise Men as kings or three, just "magi", or wise men, and the fact that
they presented three gifts tells us nothing about their number (I can give my nephew five presents for his birthday. Does that mean that I have 4 clones of myself running around???)
Indeed, the timing from Christ's birth to the Wisemen's arrival could have been as long as 2 years
Indeed, the timing from Christ's birth to the Wisemen's arrival could have been as long as 2 years
(look at Matt 2:16-17)
So Jesus wasn't born on December 25th (even if the hot dry season wasn't actually indicated in the text, you'd still have no passage stating the exact date. You'd have a 1 in 365 chance of it being December 25th!) and he wasn't visited by three kings.
So Jesus wasn't born on December 25th (even if the hot dry season wasn't actually indicated in the text, you'd still have no passage stating the exact date. You'd have a 1 in 365 chance of it being December 25th!) and he wasn't visited by three kings.
Thus, no similarities.
Sources:
Matthew chapter 2
Luke chapter 2
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, by Craig S. Keener, page 194
Sources:
Matthew chapter 2
Luke chapter 2
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, by Craig S. Keener, page 194
NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, page 1744 (see footnotes on Luke 2:8)
"The Case for the Real Jesus" by Lee Strobel, page 170-71
"The Case for the Real Jesus" by Lee Strobel, page 170-71
@thethreadreader untoll please
