Changes

{{cquote|Clement of Alexandria [c. 150 – 215], for instances mentions (and dismisses) proposals that Christ was born on April 19 or May 20 and himself calculated the date as November 17, 3 BC. Other suggested dates included March 28 and April 2, but not December 25. None of these dates were influential, or enjoyed any official recognition.<ref>Hijmans, S.E., ''Sol: The Sun in the Art and Religions of Rome,'' 2009, p. 584.</ref>}}

{{cquote|Clement of Alexandria [c. 150 – 215], for instances mentions (and dismisses) proposals that Christ was born on April 19 or May 20 and himself calculated the date as November 17, 3 BC. Other suggested dates included March 28 and April 2, but not December 25. None of these dates were influential, or enjoyed any official recognition.<ref>Hijmans, S.E., ''Sol: The Sun in the Art and Religions of Rome,'' 2009, p. 584.</ref>}}

In 221, Sextus Julius Africanus wrote a universal history that gave the spring equinox not only as the first day of Creation, but also as the date of incarnation.<ref name=NewCath>"Christmas and its cycle", ''New Catholic Encyclopedia'', 2nd edition, 2002, Catholic University of America Press. vol. 3, pp. 550–557.</ref> On the Roman calendar, the equinox was March 25, now celebrated as Annunciation.<ref>Sosigenes of Alexandria intended March 25 to be the date of the equinox when he designed the Julian calendar. This calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, drifted by almost a day each century. By 325, calendar drift had moved the equinox to March 21, according to the Council of Nicaea. The [[Gregorian calendar]], instituted in 1582, attempted to reestablish the calendar alignment as it was at the time of Nicaea. By modern calculations, the equinox is on March 21 or 22.</ref>  This implies that Jesus was born in December, nine months later.<ref>Africanus did not calculate the date of birth himself. (Hijmans, p. 585, footnote 8.)</ref>

In 221, [[Africanus (Christian historian)|Sextus Julius Africanus]] wrote a universal history that gave the spring equinox not only as the first day of Creation, but also as the date of incarnation.<ref name=NewCath>"Christmas and its cycle", ''New Catholic Encyclopedia'', 2nd edition, 2002, Catholic University of America Press. vol. 3, pp. 550–557.</ref> On the Roman calendar, the equinox was March 25, now celebrated as Annunciation.<ref>Sosigenes of Alexandria intended March 25 to be the date of the equinox when he designed the Julian calendar. This calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar in 45 BC, drifted by almost a day each century. By 325, calendar drift had moved the equinox to March 21, according to the Council of Nicaea. The [[Gregorian calendar]], instituted in 1582, attempted to reestablish the calendar alignment as it was at the time of Nicaea. By modern calculations, the equinox is on March 21 or 22.</ref>  This implies that Jesus was born in December, nine months later.<ref>Africanus did not calculate the date of birth himself. (Hijmans, p. 585, footnote 8.)</ref>

Solar symbolism was common among Christian writers of the time.<ref>Hijmans notes the "the pervasive use of the sun as metaphor for Christ in early Christian literature, in which he is often referred to as “Sol verus”, “Sol Justitiae”, etc." (Hijmans, p. 584).</ref> This symbolism was justified by the identification of Jesus as the "sun of righteousness" mentioned by the prophet Malachi.<ref>"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4:2, ESV).</ref>

Solar symbolism was common among Christian writers of the time.<ref>Hijmans notes the "the pervasive use of the sun as metaphor for Christ in early Christian literature, in which he is often referred to as “Sol verus”, “Sol Justitiae”, etc." (Hijmans, p. 584).</ref> This symbolism was justified by the identification of Jesus as the "sun of righteousness" mentioned by the prophet Malachi.<ref>"But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall." (Malachi 4:2, ESV).</ref>