The Bible does not provide a specific date for the birth of Jesus Christ. However, scholars have been able to piece together a rough estimate based on biblical references and other historical evidence. According to the Bible, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the land of Israel. Bethlehem was a small village in the eastern region of the country, near the border with Syria. The Bible does not give a specific date for Jesusโ birth, but scholars have been able to estimate it based on other evidence.ย
They believe that Jesus was probably born sometime in the late 6th or early 7th century BC. This is based on a passage in the Bible that says God โmade him (Jesus) ruler over the nations,โ which scholars believe was a reference to Jesusโ role as the Messiah. The Bible also provides other evidence that points to a particular period for Jesusโ birth.ย
For example, the Bible says that Mary was engaged to Joseph long before Jesus was born. This suggests that Jesusโ birth probably occurred in the late summer or early fall, around the time of the Jewish holiday of Passover. In addition, the Bible mentions several events that took place during Jesusโ childhood. For example, Jesus was baptized by
Does the Bible Say When Jesus Was Born?
The Bible does not give a specific date for the birth of Jesus. However, it does give us some clues as to when He may have been born. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke both describe events that took place during the reign of Herod the Great, who died in 4 BC. This means that Jesus was most likely born sometime between 6 and 4 BC.
One of the most popular theories as to the date of Jesusโ birth is that He was born on December 25th. However, there is no biblical evidence to support this claim. In fact, the Bible tells us that Jesus was probably not born on this date. The book of Revelation tells us that Jesus was born โon the first day of the first month.โ (Rev. 1:5) This would most likely be referring to the Jewish month of Nisan, which falls in March or April on our calendar.
So why do we celebrate Jesusโ birthday on December 25th? The truth is, we donโt know. It is possible that this date was chosen because it was already a popular pagan holiday. In the 4th century, the church leader Augustine of Hippo wrote that December 25th was the date of Jesusโ birth because it was nine months after March 25th, which was believed to be the date of the Annunciation (when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God).
Whatever the reason for choosing December 25th, we know that it is not the actual date of Jesusโ birth. But that doesnโt mean that we canโt still celebrate His birth on this day. After all, the most important thing is not when Jesus was born, but that He was born! He is the reason for our hope and our salvation, and that is something to celebrate any day of the year.
The Bibleโs Silence on the Exact Date of Jesusโ Birth
The Bible is silent on the exact date of Jesusโ birth. However, there are a few clues that suggest a general time frame. The first clue comes from the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Both Matthew and Luke indicate that Jesus was born during the reign of Herod the Great (Matthew 2:1; Luke 1:5). Herod the Great died in 4 BCE, so Jesus was most likely born sometime before that.ย
Another clue comes from the gospel of Luke, which says that Jesus was born when a census was taken throughout the Roman Empire (Luke 2:1-2). The only known census that took place during Herodโs reign was in 6 CE. So, if this is the census that Luke is referring to, then Jesus was born in 6 CE or later.ย
Lastly, we know that Jesus was probably born sometime before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, which took place in 70 CE. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple (Mark 13:1-2). If Jesus was born after the destruction of the temple, then his prediction would not have been as impressive.ย
Based on the evidence, it is most likely that Jesus was born sometime between 6 BCE and 4 CE.
Why the Bible Does Not Give an Exact Date for Jesusโ Birth
There are a lot of different opinions out there about when Jesus was born. Some people say that the Bible doesnโt give an exact date for Jesusโ birth, while others believe that it does. So, whatโs the truth?
First, itโs important to understand that the Bible wasnโt originally written in English. It was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. And, when it comes to translating the Bible from one language to another, there is always some degree of interpretation involved. Thatโs why there are so many different English versions of the Bible โ because different translators have interpreted the original texts in different ways.
With that said, letโs take a look at what the Bible says about when Jesus was born.
The first clue we have is in the book of Luke, chapter 2. Luke tells us that Jesus was born when a census was being taken throughout the Roman Empire. This was a mandatory census that had to be carried out every 14 years, and it was used to determine how much tax each person owed.
The Bible doesnโt give us the exact year when this particular census took place, but historians have been able to narrow it down to two possibilities โ 7 BC or AD 6.
So, based on this information, we can at least say that Jesus was born sometime between 7 BC and AD 6.
Another clue we have is in the book of Matthew, chapter 2. Matthew tells us that Jesus was born shortly after King Herod issued a decree that all baby boys in Bethlehem be killed.
Now, we know from history that Herod died in 4 BC. So if we take that into account, it narrows down the possible range of dates even further โ to sometime between 4 BC and AD 6.
So, what can we say for sure about when Jesus was born?
Well, we know that it was sometime between 7 BC and AD 6. And, based on the information in the book of Matthew, we can say with even more certainty that it was sometime between 4 BC and AD 6.
The Significance of Jesusโ Birth Rather Than the Exact Date
The Bible does not give us an exact date for when Jesus was born. However, it does give us clues as to when He was born. Based on these clues, most scholars believe that Jesus was born sometime between 6-4 BC.
One of the clues that point to a date around 6 BC is the fact that Herod the Great, who plays a key role in the Christmas story, died in 4 BC. Another clue is that a star appeared in the sky in 5 BC, which some belief was the Star of Bethlehem.
While we may not know the exact date of Jesusโ birth, we can be certain that it was a significant event. Jesusโ birth was foretold by the prophets, and His coming was heralded by the appearance of a star. The birth of Jesus was a fulfillment of prophecy and a sign that God was keeping His promises.
Jesusโ birth was also significant because it marked the beginning of His earthly ministry. Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins, and His birth was the start of His journey to accomplish that goal.
Though we may not know the exact date of Jesusโ birth, we can be sure that it was a significant event. Jesusโ birth signaled the start of His earthly ministry, and it was a fulfillment of prophecy. It is because of Jesusโ birth that we can have hope for eternal life.
How We Can Celebrate Jesusโ Birth Even Without Knowing the Exact Date
The Bible does not give us an exact date for when Jesus was born. However, that does not mean we cannot celebrate His birth. There are many ways we can celebrate His birth, even without knowing the exact date.
One way we can celebrate His birth is by focusing on His life and what He accomplished. We can read about His life in the Bible and learn about all the amazing things He did. We can also look at how He lived His life and try to emulate that in our own lives.
Another way we can celebrate His birth is by focusing on His death and resurrection. This is the most important event in human history, and it is what we celebrate every Easter. When we focus on His death and resurrection, we are reminded of how much He loves us and how He sacrificed Himself for us.
Lastly, we can celebrate His birth by simply spending time with family and friends, and sharing the love of Christ with them. We can also reach out to those who are alone and donโt have anyone to celebrate with. By doing this, we are spreading the joy of the Christmas season to those who need it the most.
No matter how we choose to celebrate His birth, the most important thing is that we remember what He did for us and how much He loves us.

Joseph Bates is a teacher at the University of Holy Cross. He has served on the staff of Northern Baptist and United Methodist churches in Tampa, Ohio, and Florida.