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→Was Our Divine Lord and Savior really born in 4 B.C.?
:Jesus was executed at about 33 years of age, so based on the time Pilate was governor, Jesus must have been born between 7 B.C. and 3 A.D. It also seems that that Pilate was somewhat established at the time of Jesus' execution, so he must have been in office for at least a few years by then. (Pilate's tradition of releasing one criminal each year was well established at this point.) That has always seemed close enough to me. --[[User:DavidB4|<font color="ForestGreen">DavidB4</font>]] <sup>([[User talk:DavidB4|TALK]])</sup> 22:39, 3 May 2020 (EDT)
:Jesus was executed at about 33 years of age, so based on the time Pilate was governor, Jesus must have been born between 7 B.C. and 3 A.D. It also seems that that Pilate was somewhat established at the time of Jesus' execution, so he must have been in office for at least a few years by then. (Pilate's tradition of releasing one criminal each year was well established at this point.) That has always seemed close enough to me. --[[User:DavidB4|<font color="ForestGreen">DavidB4</font>]] <sup>([[User talk:DavidB4|TALK]])</sup> 22:39, 3 May 2020 (EDT)
::Both Matthew and Luke say Herod was king at the time Jesus was born. Herod died shortly after a lunar eclipse on March 13, 4 BC, according to Josephus. Herod Antipas, Herod's son, became king in 4 BC, according to his coinage. It's a safe bet Herod was dead by that time. See "[https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/herods-death-jesus-birth-and-a-lunar-eclipse/ Herod’s Death, Jesus’ Birth and a Lunar Eclipse]." This is the basis for the claim that Jesus was born in 4 BC. The traditional 2 BC birth year is from Luke 3:1,23 as explained above. Perhaps the gospel writers confused Herod the father and Herod the son. The Venus-Jupiter conjunction of June 17, 2 B.C is a popular explanation for the [[Star of Bethlehem]]. See "[https://www.space.com/33866-venus-jupiter-conjunction-star-of-bethlehem.html Saturday's Venus-Jupiter Encounter May Explain Bible's Star of Bethlehem]." [[User:PeterKa|PeterKa]] ([[User talk:PeterKa|talk]]) 04:17, 4 May 2020 (EDT)
::Both Matthew and Luke say Herod was king at the time Jesus was born. Herod died shortly after a lunar eclipse on March 13, 4 BC, according to Josephus. Herod Antipas, Herod's son, became king in 4 BC, according to his coinage. It's a safe bet Herod was dead by that time. See "[https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/herods-death-jesus-birth-and-a-lunar-eclipse/ Herod’s Death, Jesus’ Birth and a Lunar Eclipse]." This is the basis for the claim that Jesus was born in 4 BC. The traditional 2 BC birth year is from Luke 3:1,23 as explained above. Perhaps the gospel writers confused Herod the father and Herod the son. The Venus-Jupiter conjunction of June 17, 2 B.C is a popular explanation for the [[Star of Bethlehem]]. See "[https://www.space.com/33866-venus-jupiter-conjunction-star-of-bethlehem.html Saturday's Venus-Jupiter Encounter May Explain Bible's Star of Bethlehem]." [[User:PeterKa|PeterKa]] ([[User talk:PeterKa|talk]]) 04:17, 4 May 2020 (EDT)
Hi David and Peter. Right, David. As you note, Pontius Pilate must already have been in office a few years since the tradition of him releasing one person on Passover had likely been done for several years by then. Already in Luk 13:1, Pontius Pilate is in office and has killed some Galileans. So it is very unlikely all this is taking place in 26 or 27 AD imo but much more likely these events, after Tiberius 15th year, are 30 and 31 AD culminating with the crucifixion in 33 A.D. We have a further confirmation that Three Passovers (and so three years) passed during Christ's Ministry.
Please see the 7 "clues" or pointers in the Gospel: https://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/when-precisely-did-jesus-die-the-year-month-day-and-hour-revealed Briefly, we can narrow it down first to either April 7, 30 A.D. or April 3rd, 33 A.D. which is when Nisan 14th or Passover fell in those respective years. But recall that the Gospels demonstrate that 3 Passovers passed during Jesus' Ministry. So I think we can exclude 30 A.D completely.
The 33 A.D. is the remaining date. How does this tie in with the birth? Christ being born in 4 B.C. doesn't fit with being 30 years before Ministry and 3 years of ministry. It makes Jesus like 36 or 37 by the time of His death. So I would argue backward from the Death to a 2 B.C. Birth. Your thoughts, David?
I'll post an excerpt on the Death date in a separate question thread.
Hi Peter. Thanks for the link. I think the December 29 1 B.C. date is a good date for the lunar eclipse shortly after which Herod died. Thus, He would have died in 1 A.D. and Our Lord would have been born in 2 B.C. and the horrible slaughter of infants would have been in 1 B.C. Many of the early Christians saw Herod's death (and suffering before death) as divine chastisement for his wicked attempt to kill Our Lord Jesus and for killing babies. We should recall many liberals and secularists completely deny Herod killed the babies and try to fault the Gospel writers for recording it. I believe the Star of Bethlehem documentary also concluded based on astronomical evidence also that Our Lord Jesus Christ was indeed born in the year 2 B.C.
Your thoughts, Peter?
God Bless, All.