Interesting to talk about, but makes no difference in the substance of Christianity. I find this theory interesting about the birth of Christ. Zachariah, John the Baptist's father, was in the division of Abijah, and in 4 BC, was on duty around the last of June. If John was conceived that week (Luke 1), then Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit some six months later, or late December. It follows that Christ would have been born 25-28 September.
Here is an portion of "When Was Jesus Born? Zechariah's Priestly Service"
If we bracket out for the moment the three weeks of the year when all twenty-four courses were on duty, we find by this approach that the course of Abijah would have come on duty during only one week that would yield a Christmas date within our established parameters. A week of service for the course of Abijah would have begun on June 23, 4 BC (Sivan 27, AM 3757).
Assuming John was conceived around July 1-7, this gives a date of the Annunciation around December 30-January 5, 3 BC and a date for the birth of Christ around September 22-28, 3 BC, during the feast of Tabernacles. It should also be noted that the date of the Annunciation by this reckoning falls very close to January 6, the feast of the Epiphany, which in ancient times may have marked the celebration not of the birth of Christ per se, but the fact of the incarnation.
http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-zechariahs-priestly-service/
Any thoughts?
Possible Birthday of Christ
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by RIPP0NWV, Dec 2, 2013.