The birth of Jesus probably didn't happen in the year 0 but slightly earlier, in about 4, 5, 6 or 7 BCE/BC. Q&C, BAR, July/August 2013 Let me add a footnote to Suzanne Singer’s report on the final journey of Herod the Great (Strata, BAR, March/April 2013): She gives the standard date of his death as 4 B.C. The nativity of Jesus, nativity of Christ, birth of Christ or birth of Jesus is described in the Biblical gospels of Luke and Matthew. Because the human race had fallen into sin, God promised to send the Messiah to redeem mankind. Birth Of Jesus Apr 28, 2016 by Shreya Sharma in Bible Stories. The manger that I … (Jesus) Isa’s (AS) mother, (Mary) Maryam (AS), was a special child from birth. They were tempted by Satan the devil and they fell into sin. The name ‘Jesus’ is the Greek form of a Hebrew word meaning “Jehovah [God] will save”. The Word of God is so beautiful! "Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them, but his mother treasured all these things in her heart, and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Martin further noted that despite the deficiencies in the records of secular historians who wrote during the period of Jesus’ birth, early Christian historians were remarkably consistent in proclaiming that Jesus was born after 4 BC, and not before 4 BC, which, unfortunately, is the position held so firmly by many scholars today. Use this Christmas lesson to challenge students to respond to Jesus’ birth in a new way. [63] In the 20th century, leading theologian Karl Barth continued the same line of reasoning and viewed the Nativity of Jesus as the birth of a new man who succeeded Adam. [19] The historical evidence is too ambiguous to allow a definitive dating,[20] but the date has been estimated through known historical events mentioned in the Gospels of Luke chapter 2 and Matthew or by working backwards from the estimated start of the ministry of Jesus. Calendar and chronology, Jewish and Christian: biblical, intertestamental and patristic studies, p. 72. [32], Mainstream scholars interpret Matthew's nativity as depicting Jesus as a new Moses with a genealogy going back to Abraham,[33][34] while Ulrich Luz views Matthew's depiction of Jesus at once as the new Moses and the inverse of Moses, and not simply a retelling of the Moses story. The best way to learn the truth about Jesus’ birth—and more importantly, His life—is to abandon this holiday of myths and replace it with study and faithfulness to what is recorded in the Bible. The infancy gospel is part of the Matthean Prologue in 1:1-4,16. The birth of Jesus is the premise for the Christian holiday known as Christmas. [46][47][48] The theological issues were addressed as early as Apostle Paul, but continued to be debated and eventually lead to both Christological and Mariological differences among Christians that resulted in early schisms within the Church by the 5th century. Fourth century documents such as the Codex Sinaiticus do not mention the prophet Isaiah in the statement in Matthew 1:22: "All this happened to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet" but some copies of Matthew from the 5th–6th centuries, such as the Codex Bezae, read "Isaiah the prophet". There is more text is allotted to the shepherds than to the visit of the Magi – 13 verses in all. The Nativity and Resurrection of Jesus thus created the author and exemplar of a new humanity.[57]. Paul the Apostle viewed the birth of Jesus as an event of cosmic significance which brought forth a "new man" who undid the damage caused by the fall of the first man, Adam. [5] The Armenian Apostolic Church however continues the original ancient Eastern Christian practice of celebrating the birth of Christ not as a separate holiday, but on the same day as the celebration of his baptism (Theophany), which is on January 6. While in Bethlehem, the baby Jesus was born. Thirdly, the very fact of Jesus’ birth attests that He was born of a virgin. After some time, three wise men, also known as magi, saw the brilliant star in that sky that rested over where Jesus was born. From John, we learn that Jesus "received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness" . Matthew 2:16[10] In addition, if the phrase "about 30" in Luke 3:23 is interpreted to mean 32 years old, this could fit a date of birth just within the reign of Herod, who died in 4 BC. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. [157][158][168] Many view the discussion of historicity as secondary, given that gospels were primarily written as theological documents rather than chronological timelines. By the beginning of the 5th century, the Spanish poet Prudentius had written "From the Heart of the Father" where the ninth stanza focused on the Nativity and portrayed Jesus as the creator of the universe. What a privilege it is to know Jesus Christ and to study about the Person and Teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and to walk with Him! But thereafter there was a torrent of new music, e.g., Heinrich Schütz's 1660, Marc-Antoine Charpentier (Midnight Mass, Pastorals, Oratorio, instrumental music, 11 settings), The Christmas Story and Bach's Christmas Oratorio in the 18th century. The date we celebrate was adopted by the Christian church as the birthday of Christ in the fourth century. Pope Sixtus III then instituted the practice of Midnight Mass just before that feast. But when she delivered her, she said, "My Lord, I have delivered a female." However, she gave birth to the Light of this World, the twenty-fifth day of the month of December, being fifteen years of age. [139], According to Christian fundamentalism, the two accounts are historically accurate and do not contradict each other,[140] with similarities such as the birthplace of Bethlehem and the virgin birth. an ascetic; or may refer to Isaiah 11:1. This should help in recalling related terms … He wanted to find out how many people were in the empire. Background Study: (For background read Luke 1:1-80 and Matthew 1:18-25) Caesar Augustus ruled the Roman Empire (31 B.C. [5] The day or season has been estimated by various methods, including the description of shepherds watching over their sheep. [123], The Magnificat, in Luke 1:46–55, is spoken by Mary and is one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns, perhaps the earliest Marian hymn. In the 2nd century Church Father Irenaeus writes: "When He became incarnate and was made man, He commenced afresh the long line of human beings, and furnished us, in a brief, comprehensive manner, with salvation; so that what we had lost in Adam – namely to be according to the image and likeness of God – that we might recover in Christ Jesus. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn and in the Roman Forum, as well as a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms. Luke's prelude is much longer, emphasizing the age of the Holy Spirit and the arrival of a savior for all people, both Jew and Gentile. He suggested the Virgin Mary as the "second Eve" and wrote that the Virgin Mary had "untied the knot of sin bound up by the virgin Eve" and that just as Eve had tempted Adam to disobey God, Mary had set a path of obedience for the second Adam (i.e. Joseph, Mary and Jesus return home to Nazareth, 1. The birth of Jesus Christ is the one of the most significant events in all of history and when we understand the truths regarding the true date of his birth it will thrill and inspire your heart. – [161][162][163] According to Brown, there is no uniform agreement among scholars on the historicity of the accounts, e.g., most of those scholars who reject the historicity of the birth at Bethlehem argue for a birth at Nazareth, a few suggest Capernaum, and other have hypothesized locations as far away as Chorazin. The following is a collection of the most used terms in this article on Birth of Jesus Christ for Kids. He told Zacharias about John, and Gabriel also told Mary she would have a baby. [9][10] The Gospel of Luke states that Mary gave birth to Jesus and placed him in a manger “because there was no place for them in the inn". Our scripture today is in Luke 1:26-39; 2:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25. Magi from the east came to Herod and asked him where they would find the King of the Jews, because they had seen his star. (Isaiah 7:14). In his sermons Gerson emphasized the loving nature of Jesus at his Nativity, as well as his cosmic plan for the salvation of mankind. [153][159] Nevertheless, they are considered to contain some useful biographical information: Jesus being born near the end of Herod's reign and his father being named Joseph are considered historically plausible. [121] These "Gospel canticles" are now an integral part of the Christian liturgical tradition. By the beginning of the 21st century these countries began to pay more attention to the sensitivities of non-Christians during the festivities at the end of the calendar year. Some of the debates involved the title Theotokos (God bearer) for the Virgin Mary and began to illustrate the impact of Mariology on Christology. In the 2nd century, the Resurrection of Jesus became a separate feast as Easter and in the same century Epiphany began to be celebrated in the Churches of the East on January 6. Nativity images also carry the message of redemption: God's unification with matter forms the mystery of the Incarnation, a turning point in the Christian perspective on Salvation. [119][120], Luke's Nativity text has given rise to four well-known canticles: the Benedictus and the Magnificat in the first chapter, and the Gloria in Excelsis and the Nunc dimittis in the second chapter. [9] Matthew 2:1 states that "Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king". Martin further noted that despite the deficiencies in the records of secular historians who wrote during the period of Jesus’ birth, early Christian historians were remarkably consistent in proclaiming that Jesus was born after 4 BC, and not before 4 BC, which, unfortunately, is the position held so firmly by many scholars today. He also implies that Jesus could have been as much as two years old at the time of the visit of the Magi, because Herod ordered the murder of all boys up to the age of two years, "in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi". "[39] Raymond E. Brown states that the 3rd century BCE translators of the Septuagint may have understood the Hebrew word "almah" to mean virgin in this context. [143][144][145][146][147], Neither Luke nor Matthew claims their birth narratives are based on direct testimony. About the Author. [110], Early Christians viewed Jesus as "the Lord" and the word Kyrios appears over 700 times in the New Testament, referring to him. [133], In the Eastern Church icons of Nativity often correspond to specific hymns to Mary, e.g. The city of Bethlehem was a small village about five miles southwest of Jerusalem. The one on December 25, 451, demonstrates his concern to increase the importance of the feast of nativity and along with it emphasize the two natures of Christ in defense of the Christological doctrine of hypostatic union. On one hand the introduction of the Nativity scene encouraged the tender image of Jesus, while on the other hand Francis of Assisi himself had a deep attachment to the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross and was said to have received the Stigmata as an expression of that love. Jesus’ birth. Both versions are right: Jesus was one of us, born to ordinary parents, but he was also King of Kings, born to glory. [59], In the Middle Ages the birth of Jesus as the second Adam came to be seen in the context of Saint Augustine's Felix culpa (i.e. Beginning with 1:23, Matthew shows a clear interest in identifying Jesus as "God with us" and in later developing the Emmanuel characterization of Jesus at key points throughout the rest of his Gospel. 7. Christians of the Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodox Church observe a similar season, sometimes called Advent but also called the "Nativity Fast", which begins forty days before Christmas. His mother rebuked him for causing them anxiety, because his family had not known where he was, but he answered that he was in his Father's house. "The Sources of the Old Testament Quotation in Matthew 2:23". Adoration of the shepherds in Bethlehem [165][166] Armand P. Tarrech states that Chilton's hypothesis has no support in either the Jewish or Christian sources, although Chilton seems to take seriously the statement in Luke 2:4 that Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. John 3:30 NRSV[44][better source needed], In the 1st and 2nd centuries, the Lord's Day (Sunday) was the earliest Christian celebration and included a number of theological themes. The Nativity of Jesus thus began to serve as the starting point for "cosmic Christology" in which the birth, life and Resurrection of Jesus have universal implications. AD 41–AD 42: King Agrippa I started building the expansive third wall around the northern parts of Jerusalem. Ulrich Luz, The Theology of the Gospel of Matthew, Menken, Maarten J. J. 1 * In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus * that the whole world should be enrolled. Jesus, also called Jesus Christ, Jesus of Galilee, or Jesus of Nazareth, (born c. 6–4 bce, Bethlehem—died c. 30 ce, Jerusalem), religious leader revered in Christianity, one of the world’s major religions.He is regarded by most Christians as the Incarnation of God. 1) That he … [13], In the 2nd century, Justin Martyr stated that Jesus had been born in a cave outside the town, while the Protoevangelium of James described a legendary birth in a cave nearby. [46], The nativity of Jesus impacted the Christological issues about the Person of Christ from the earliest days of Christianity. [106] By around 385 the feast for the birth of Jesus was distinct from that of the Baptism and was held on December 25 in Constantinople, Nyssa and Amaseia. Firstly, the actual birth day of Jesus was not December 25. B. Eerdmans, 1955), XIV, pp. Joseph awoke and did all that the angel commanded. He wanted to find out how many people were in the empire. 5. [24], Another approach to estimating the year of birth is based on an attempt to work backwards from the point when Jesus began preaching, using the statement in Luke 3:23 that he was "about 30 years of age" at that time. "[134] In many Eastern icons of Nativity (often accompanied by matching hymnody) two basic elements are emphasized. This is one of the best Jesus stories to read for kids. Mary was soon seated on a throne as the Magi visited. The birth of Jesus probably didn't happen in the year 0 but slightly earlier, in about 4, 5, 6 or 7 BCE/BC. [150][151][152], Many modern scholars consider the birth narratives unhistorical because they are laced with theology and present two different accounts. God leaves no detail unnoticed. In the 5th century the Gallic poet Sedulius composed "From the lands that see the Sun arise" in which the humility of the birth of Jesus was portrayed. 3. [15][16] The Church of the Nativity inside the town, built by St. Helena, contains the cave-manger site traditionally venerated as the birthplace of Jesus, which may have originally been a site of the cult of the god Tammuz. [3][25][28] Another theory is that Herod's death was as late as after the January eclipse of 1 BC[30] or even AD 1[31] after the eclipse that occurred in December 1 BC. [124] The Benedictus, in Luke 1:68–79, is spoken by Zechariah, while the Nunc dimittis, in Luke 2:29–32, is spoken by Simeon. [73][74] According to Ulrich Luz, the Emmanuel motif brackets the entire Gospel of Matthew between 1:23 and 28:20, appearing explicitly and implicitly in several other passages. [113], The lordship attributes associated with the Kyrios image of Jesus also implied his power over all creation. The birth of Jesus. Sanders, E. P. The historical figure of Jesus. Here are 40 interesting facts about Jesus’ life. At Christmas, we set aside time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Isaiah 7:14 says: “The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and will bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel.” The New Testament opens with the account of Jesus’ birth. More proofs of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, you … Some Eastern Orthodox Christians (e.g. [132] The Magnificat, one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn, is based on the Annunciation. but the Bible clearly reveals he was not born on that day. [102] The celebration of the feast of the Magi on January 6 may relate to a pre-Christian celebration for the blessing of the Nile in Egypt on January 5, but this is not historically certain. [17] In Contra Celsum 1.51, Origen, who from around 215 travelled throughout Palestine, wrote of the "manger of Jesus". When she was born, her mother prayed to Allah (SWT) that she and her descendants stay safe from the clutches of Satan. Angels Announce the Birth of Jesus The ruler of the Roman Empire, Caesar Augustus, ordered that all Jews return to their hometowns to be registered. The theological significance of the Nativity of Jesus has been a key element in Christian teachings, from the early Church Fathers to 20th century theologians. From His birth and throughout His life, Jesus grew and developed into a mature, sinless man. "Does Nativity regard the nature rather than the Person?" [66], In the 13th century Saint Thomas Aquinas addressed the Christologocal attribution of the nativity: Should it be attributed to the person (the Word) or only to the assumed human nature of that person. Background Study: (For background read Luke 1:1-80 and Matthew 1:18-25) Caesar Augustus ruled the Roman Empire (31 B.C. Census of Quirinius (6–7 CE) One day, about 2,000 years ago, an angel named Gabriel appeared to a young Jewish woman named Mary and told her that she would soon give birth to the savior and he would save their people from their sins. The best way to learn the truth about Jesus’ birth—and more importantly, His life—is to abandon this holiday of myths and replace it with study and faithfulness to what is recorded in the Bible. [107] In the 6th century, Emperor Justinian declared Christmas to be a legal holiday. Grand Rapids MI: Wm. [41] It is likely that such a Christian feast was chosen for Christ's marked contrast and triumph over paganism; indeed, new converts who attempted to introduce pagan elements into the Christian celebrations were sharply rebuked[42]. The Bible declares in both the Old and New Testaments that Jesus would be born of a virgin… Isa. 8. The angel of the Lord told shepherds of Jesus’ birth. Joseph, Mary and Jesus return to Israel Joseph and Mary then returned to Nazareth. The construction of the Nativity scene by Saint Francis of Assisi was instrumental in portraying a softer image of Jesus that contrasted with the powerful and radiant image at the Transfiguration, and emphasized how God had taken a humble path to his own birth. 4. The Greek word kataluma may be translated as either “inn” or “guestroom”, and some scholars have speculated that Joseph and Mary may have sought to stay with relatives, rather than at an inn, only to find the house full, whereupon they resorted to the shelter of a room with a manger. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2nd series, Vol XIV p. 207, translated edition by H.R. Jesus’ birth most likely took place in late November of 5 B.C. 7. While in Bethlehem, the baby Jesus was born. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was betrothed to Joseph, but was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Greeks and Syrians) celebrate Christmas on December 25. Ulrich Luz, the Theology of the Gospel of Matthew, Cambridge University Press. That date was then used for the Christmas celebration. Each year his parents went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, and when Jesus was twelve years old they found him in the Temple listening to the teachers and asking questions so that "all who heard him were amazed". The Christmas story’s main highlight was Jesus’s birth. The shepherds went and worshiped Jesus. ", http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1991QJRAS..32..389H, "Library : History & Origin: Feast of the Nativity", "Why do we celebrate Jesus' birth on December 25? Erik Jones is a full-time writer and editor at … [83] To deal with this issue, Aquinas distinguishes between the person born and the nature in which the birth takes place. 32, NO.4/DEC, P.389, 1991, Roger T. Beckwith (2001). but the Bible clearly reveals he was not born on that day. – Jesus’ birth on September 11, 3 BC (Tishri 1, Feast of Trumpets) was one year prior to the start of the Sabbatical Year of 2 BC, starting on Tishri 1, The Feast of Trumpets. Birth of Jesus We talked last week about the angel from God named Gabriel. The two accounts agree that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, his mother Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph, who was descended from King David and was not his biological father, and that his birth was caused by divine intervention. [173] According to Karl Rahner the evangelists show little interest in synchronizing the episodes of the birth or subsequent life of Jesus with the secular history of the age. The earliest artistic depictions of the nativity were in the catacombs and on sarcophagi in Rome. Die Herkunft Jesu Christi nach dem matthäischen Prolog (Mt 1,1-4,16), Göttingen 2019, S. 37-64, Helmut Köster, "Ancient Christian gospels: their history and development", Continuum International Publishing Group, (2004). that Luke was actually referring to a completely different census. Presentation of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem The Roman festival of Natalis Solis Invicti has also been suggested, since it was celebrated on December 25th and was associated with some prominent emperors. This post is divided into these 3 parts. [112] More than any other title, Kyrios defined the relationship between Jesus and those who believed in him as Christ: Jesus was their Lord and Master who was to be served with all their hearts and who would one day judge their actions throughout their lives. The dates that we use now were set by Monks and religious leaders in the Middle Ages and before. [114][115] Paul then looked back and reasoned that the final lordship of Jesus was prepared from the very beginning, starting with pre-existence and the Nativity, based on his obedience as the image of God. Gabriel the angel was sent from God to Nazareth of Galilee. Joseph and Mary travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem chapter VI, This page was last edited on 14 March 2021, at 06:31. The second is Jesus being born. Facts about the birth and childhood of Jesus. Two thousand years later, we are still sharing the Good News of Jesus with people who haven’t heard. But they had to travel to the... Shepherds Visit Jesus. Philippians 2:5-8 tells us that Jesus was God, but came down to earth like a human being. [125] The traditional Gloria in Excelsis is longer than the opening line presented in Luke 2:14, and is often called the "Song of the Angels" given that it was uttered by the angels in the Annunciation to the Shepherds. In the days when Herod was king of Judea, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth in Galilee to announce to a virgin named Mary, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, that a child would be born to her and she was to name him Jesus, for he would be the son of God and rule over Israel forever. Thus we celebrate Christmas Day annually on December 25th. A wide range of hypotheses and beliefs regarding the nature of the nativity of Jesus were presented in the first four centuries of Christianity. The shepherds immediately went to find baby Jesus, which the angels told them they would find sleeping in the manger. However, this was very likely a retrospective justification of a choice already made rather than a genuine attempt to derive the correct birth date. [167], Sanders considers Luke's census, for which everyone returned to their ancestral home, not historically credible, as this was contrary to Roman practice; they would not have uprooted everyone from their homes and farms in the Empire by forcing them to return to their ancestral cities. [7][8] Karl Rahner states that the authors of the gospels generally focused on theological elements rather than historical chronologies. What is your favorite part of Jesus’ birth, do share with all of the readers in comments below. While this is sometimes debated, the majority of New Testament scholars place Jesus’ birth in 4 B.C. This symbolism applies equally to the celebration of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist on June 24, near the summer solstice, based on John's remark about Jesus "He must increase; I must decrease." [14] Luke 1:26–27 states that Mary originally lived in Nazareth at the time of the Annunciation, before the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The city of Bethlehem was a small village about five miles southwest of Jerusalem. [Jesus’ birth is often dated to 4 B.C. The Birth of Jesus. Main Points About Birth of Jesus In the Creation story, God made first the man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve. [115], The 13th century witnessed a major turning point in the development of a new "tender image of Jesus" within Christianity, as the Franciscans began to emphasize the humility of Jesus both at his birth and his death. In the Council of Tours of 567, the Church, with its desire to be universal, "declared the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany to be one unified festal cycle", thus giving significance to both the Western and Eastern dates of Christmas. More proofs of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, you … [36][37][38] Support for the December date also comes from the fact that the most common breed of sheep in the area are the Awassi. 2:6-8 Jesus is born in Bethlehem in 6 or 5BC. [34], Despite the modern celebration of Christmas in December, neither the Gospel of Luke nor Gospel of Matthew mention a season for Jesus' birth. "Should the Blessed Virgin be called Christ's Mother?" Percival. Yet in Luz's view, the contours appear, in part, strangely overlapped and inverted: "Egypt, formerly the land of suppression becomes a place of refuge and it is the King of Israel who now takes on the role of Pharaoh. Even the name God gave Jesus testified to His mission in life. P. Schaff and H. Wace, (repr. based on the fact that both Luke and Matthew associate Jesus’ birth with Herod’s reign—Ed. [21][22] Luke 2:1 states that Jesus was born during the census of Quirinius in 6 AD, but most scholars have concluded that Luke is in error. The first is Gabriel telling Mary and Joseph that Mary would have a baby and to name Him Jesus. [40] Saturnalia, the Roman feast for Saturn, was associated with the winter solstice. Between the well-known stories and parables are little details that illuminate points of interest about Jesus, his disciples, and first-century life in the near east. II. [106] The earliest suggestions of a feast of the Baptism of Jesus on January 6 during the 2nd century comes from Clement of Alexandria, but there is no further mention of such a feast until 361 when Emperor Julian attended a feast on January 6 in the year 361. [47] 25 March would also roughly be the date of his crucifixion, which ancient Christians would have seen as confirming the date of his birth, since many people of that era held the belief that the great prophets were conceived into the afterlife on the same date they were conceived into the world. Philippians 2:5-8 tells us that Jesus was God, but came down to earth like a human being. ", Historical background of the New Testament, New Testament places associated with Jesus, Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nativity_of_Jesus&oldid=1012116585, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Gundry, Robert H. "Salvation in Matthew. [116] Over time, based on the influence of Anselm of Canterbury, Bernard of Clairvaux and others, the Kyrios image of Jesus began to be supplemented with a more "tender image of Jesus", and the Franciscan approach to popular piety was instrumental in establishing this image. Moses's birth is announced to Pharaoh by Magi; the child is threatened and rescued; the male Israelite children are similarly put to death by an evil king. A star marks the place where Jesus was born in Bethlehem in 5 or 6BC (Luke 2:4) [61][62], The theology persisted into the Protestant Reformation, and second Adam was one of the six modes of atonement discussed by John Calvin. And Lisz's Christus, Berlioz’s L’Enfance du Christ (1850), Camille Saint-Saëns's Christmas Oratorio (1858), etc. [60] Augustine was fond of a statement on Nativity by Saint Gregory of Nyssa and he quoted it five times: "Venerate the Nativity, through which you are freed from the bonds of an earthly nativity". 9. So let us have a brief look at what the birth of Jesus means. Since Herod played a major role in the narrative of Jesus’ birth (see Matthew 2), Jesus would have had to be born before Herod died. 2005. Jesus was born several months after John the Baptist to whom he was related and there are some Biblical clues related to John's birth that can help us sort out the timing.