When & where was Jesus born? All important info (2024)

All over the world, millions of people still gather on Christmas Eve, December 24, to celebrate the next birth of Jesus Christ. But was Jesus really born on that date? Here you will find the answers to all the questions about the birth of Jesus.

When was Jesus born?

According to legend, Jesus Christ was born on the night between 24 and 25 December in the year 0. Christians all over the world therefore traditionally celebrate the birth of the Messiah and Son of God on this date as Christmas. But is this the true date of Jesus' birth?

In the New Testament there is no mention of Jesus' date of birth. Even the Encyclopaedia of Theology and the Church says: "The true birthday of Jesus is unknown". This is not surprising, because people at that time were completely unaware of the year and the day. To this day the true birthday of Jesus is still unclear. But historians meanwhile agree that Jesus was neither born on 25 December nor in the year 0.

Background: Jesus himself never wrote the story of his life. What we think we know about him is based on the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament, each of which tells us the life of Jesus from its own perspective. Only Luke (1:26-2:52) and Matthew (1:18-2:23) tell stories of Jesus' childhood and birth. The well-known biblical Christmas story about the birth of the Son of God, which is based on these two scriptures, is still the basis of many Christmas customs: it is re-enacted in the nativity scene in church services and schools, read aloud at Christmas, and in many families traditionally re-enacted with the setting up of a Nativity sets.

What is known about the birth of Jesus according to the Bible?

When & where was Jesus born? All important info (1)The Bible recounts the life of Jesus and his birth.

So there is little valid information about the actual date of Jesus' birth. What emerges from the two biblical traditions of Luke and Matthew is:

  • Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea.
  • Herod the Great was king in Israel at the time of Jesus' birth. But he actually died already in 4 BC and not in the year 0, so the period from 7 to 4 BC can be considered as the time of Jesus' birth.
  • Jesus' parents were called Mary and Joseph, who were engaged at the time of his birth.
  • According to the Bible, the birth of Jesus was a virgin birth by the action of the Holy Spirit.

What is wrong with the date of Christmas?

According to the Bible, a birth date in December is unlikely, because there are various indications in the Bible that the date of 25 December cannot be correct.

When & where was Jesus born? All important info (2)The Christmas story says that Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem and was laid in a manger.

The story of the birth of Jesus begins in Luke's Gospel with the Emperor Augustus asking for a census. For this reason, Joseph set off on the 150-kilometre journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem with the pregnant Mary. That this census took place in winter is unlikely in reality: would the emperor really have expected his people to make such a long and arduous journey in the middle of winter?

When Mary and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem, she gives birth to their son. The newborn baby, inside the Nativity sets is wrapped and placed in a manger with clean straw. Hence the assumption that Jesus was born in a stable. In the Gospel of Luke we read: "And there were shepherds in the same region, standing in the open field and keeping watch over their flock by night" (Lk 2:8). This also suggests a birth in a warmer season, because in the middle of winter there are no flocks of sheep in the fields around Bethlehem. At this time of year there is no grass in the fields and the animals are kept in a stable.

If 25 December was not Jesus' birthday, when was it? Researchers are always making new hypotheses and theses about this. But none of them is really valid and verifiable. When Jesus of Nazareth was really born will probably remain a secret forever.

Why do we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas?

The Nativity sets under the Christmas tree is a symbol of the Christmas story: Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus surrounded by shepherds, travellers and animals in the stable. A scene from around 2000 years ago, which is still the reason for celebrating Christmas today. But why do we celebrate the feast every year in December, if it is not really Jesus' birthday?

Scientists still disagree, but most of them assume that the feast was introduced in Rome on 25 December in the fourth century under the Emperor Constantine.

When & where was Jesus born? All important info (3)Figurative representations around the birth of Jesus in the form of Christmas cribs still inspire children and adults alike.

A list of pagan holidays in the Roman calendar indicates that this date was very special among the pagans of that time. On this day the Romans celebrated the birthday of the Roman sun god Sol Invictus, the winter solstice and the 'rebirth of the sun'. They lit solstice fires and performed festivals in the circus. The Roman Saturnals also fell at this time in December: a Roman peasant festival in honour of the god Saturn. Researchers suspect that this date was therefore chosen as the feast of the birth of Christ. The custom probably spread to what is now Western Europe in the 7th and 8th centuries.

Did Jesus Christ really live? The most important information at a glance

There are many legends and myths surrounding the life and birth of Jesus. Only some of them are valid and only some have been clarified with certainty. What is clear to researchers is that a Jesus of Nazareth really lived. His birth was therefore a real event.

The childhood and youth of Jesus

Scientists today suspect that the Messiah was not born in a stable in Bethlehem, but in Nazareth. His parents and He were Jewish; little is known about His family and childhood. However, it can be assumed that Jesus had several younger brothers and sisters, because they appear in the Gospels, Acts and the letters of Paul. It is also obvious that Jesus first practised the profession of his father, who was a kind of craftsman. Moreover, Jesus could read and write, the evangelists tell us. This privilege was reserved for only a small part of the population at that time.

The greatest turning point in Jesus' life was his encounter with John the Baptist. Jesus was baptised by him, left his family to join the so-called 'desert preacher' and dedicated his life to religion. Eventually he separated from John and went on a pilgrimage alone to proclaim his message. As an itinerant preacher, he gathered an ever-growing group of followers around him.

Jesus the preacher

The four gospels detail the life of Jesus as a predicter, his religious message, how he healed the sick and performed miracles. He proclaimed that God's rule was at hand. He also addressed the poor, the sick and the marginalised. Through his powerful sermons he became more and more popular among the people, which did not please the Roman rulers.

The Crucifixion

Pontius Pilate, the Roman emperor's administrator, finally had Jesus arrested and sentenced to death by crucifixion. This probably happened in 30 or 31 AD. Legend has it that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion (Easter). Another 39 days later (Ascension Day) the Bible says that God, his Father, took him back to heaven.

The customs surrounding the birth of Jesus

Although the chronological order of the four gospels is different and the traditions are only partly similar, they still represent the foundation of the Christian faith Many beautiful Christmas customs, such as nativity scenes and plays, date back to the biblical story of Christmas around the birth of Jesus even if the date is not the actual birthday.

Celebrating Christmas today is a family tradition popular even for many Germans who profess no faith. This includes rituals such as cosy get-togethers, baking biscuits, making the Christmas tree and giving presents to loved ones. From early Advent onwards, candles, fairy lights, Christmas markets and carols create a cosy Christmas atmosphere throughout the country.

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By the way: on our blog you will find much more interesting information about Christmas and nativity scenes, for example on how to place the crib figures correctly or about the three wise men. Are you inspired and want to recreate the Christmas story with a nativity scene? Then you are welcome to browse through our online shop. Here you will find a wide selection of high-quality, handmade nativity figures and nativity sets with which you can remember that special day.

Credits: main image:© gettyimages/Jorisvo, image 1: © gettyimages/PaulCalbar, 2: © gettyimages/Jorisvo, image 3 e 4: © Lignoma, product images: © Lignoma.

When & where was Jesus born? All important info (2024)

FAQs

When & where was Jesus born? All important info? ›

Although born in Bethlehem, according to Matthew and Luke, Jesus was a Galilean from Nazareth, a village near Sepphoris, one of the two major cities of Galilee (Tiberias was the other). He was born to Joseph and Mary sometime between 6 bce and shortly before the death of Herod the Great (Matthew 2; Luke 1:5) in 4 bce.

When and where was Jesus actually born? ›

Some scholars believe that he was born between 6 B.C. and 4 B.C., based partly on the biblical story of King Herod the Great. In an attempt to kill Jesus, the king allegedly ordered the death of all male infants under the age of 2 who lived in the vicinity of Bethlehem, an event known as the Massacre of the Innocents.

What is the summary of the birth of Jesus? ›

In Luke's Gospel, Joseph and Mary live in Nazareth in Galilee and are required to travel to Bethlehem in Judea because of a census ordered by the Romans. Whilst in Bethlehem, Mary gives birth to a son, and he is laid in a manger as there was no other place for them.

Why is the place where Jesus was born significant? ›

Christian theology has linked this with the belief that his birth there fulfills the Old Testament prophecy of Israel's future ruler coming from Bethlehem Ephrathah (Micah 5:2).

Where was Jesus born according to historians? ›

Birthplace of Jesus: A Scholarly Analysis

Both the earliest (Mark) and the latest New Testament Gospel (John) don't mention Jesus' birth at all. However, Matthew (1:18-2:23) and Luke (2:1-21) do. They give us two narratives and they both indicate that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

What month was Jesus really born? ›

Was it October, December, or April? Theories concerning the exact month when Jesus was born have been and still are a topic of scholarly debate. One of the most commonly suggested months is December. This is a traditional Church theory built upon the celebration of Christmas on December 25th.

What is Jesus's real name? ›

Jesus' name in Hebrew was “Yeshua” which translates to English as Joshua. So how did we get the name “Jesus”?

How old was Mary when she gave birth to Jesus? ›

Some scholars hold the view that among them it typically happened between their mid and late teen years or late teens and early twenties.

Why was December 25th chosen as the birthday of Jesus? ›

“The real reason for the selection of Dec. 25 seems to have been that it is exactly nine months after March 25, the traditional date of Jesus' crucifixion. … As Christians developed the theological idea that Jesus was conceived and crucified on the same date, they set the date of his birth nine months later.”

Who was the first to know about the birth of Jesus? ›

In Luke's Gospel, shepherds are the first to hear about the birth of Jesus.

How do they know the exact place Jesus was born? ›

Since at least the 2nd century AD people have believed that the place where the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, now stands is where Jesus was born. One particular cave, over which the first Church was built, is traditionally believed to be the Birthplace itself.

Is there any historical evidence of Jesus' birth? ›

The historical evidence is too ambiguous to allow a definitive date to be determined, but dates have been estimated through known historical events mentioned in the nativity accounts, by working backwards from the estimated start of the ministry of Jesus, or by associating the claimed astrological portents mentioned ...

Was Jesus really born on December 25th? ›

Unfortunately, we don't know. Neither Matthew nor Luke mentions a specific date for Jesus' birth, leaving the door open for interpretation and later theological debate. To put it more bluntly, there isn't an actual December 25th Bible verse. The absence of a precise birth date in these Gospels is significant.

What is the proof that Jesus was born in Bethlehem? ›

7. The earliest writers after the New Testament tell us that Jesus was placed in a manger in a cave in Bethlehem. The Old Testament and Gospels point clearly to Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah. Then, in early church history, various Christian writers tell us about the place in Bethlehem where he was born.

Was Jesus born in March? ›

All this is still within the time frame of how the Jewish calendar would have served to place the conception of Jesus as being in the sixth month on the Jewish calendar—our March—and Jesus' birth coming nine months later, in December. Christians therefore need not be doubtful about Christmas and its dating.

When did BC and AD start? ›

There is no year zero in this scheme; thus the year AD 1 immediately follows the year 1 BC. This dating system was devised in 525 by Dionysius Exiguus but was not widely used until the 9th century.

Is Bethlehem in Palestine or Israel? ›

Bethlehem, a Palestinian city in the Israel-occupied West Bank just 6 miles south of Jerusalem, has so far escaped the same ravages of war that have gripped Gaza and parts of Israel since Hamas' Oct.

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