Date of Jesus’ birth: A 2 BCE hypothesis
Channel: Galen Currah
Date: 2018-08-02

Date of Jesus’ birth: A 2 BCE hypothesis
Bible quotations from English Standard Version (2001)
Adapted from the work of Ernest L. Martin (1932–2002)
Music by Natrix
http://wordwatchers.currah.us
(Copyright material removed)

Hypothesis

Jesus Christ was born on or near June 17, 2 BCE, at a conjuncture of the planets Jupiter and Venus.

Background and presuppositions

● Persian astrologers were awaiting a celestial sign (LXX: ἀστήρ, aster) to arise over Israel, as predicted by Balaam (Torah, Numbers 15:19), and for an anointed one (‘messiah’) to arrive in Israel as predicted by Daniel (Tanakh, Ketuvim, Daniel 9:24-26).
● The “star” they saw (Greek: ἀστήρ, aster, star or planet) was the planet Jupiter, called the King Star.
● A jubilee year occurred in 6 BCE, when sold property reverted to its original owners’ family.
● Roman general Publius Sulpicius Quirinius Varus (c. 51 BCE – 21 CE) served as Roman legate over Syria and Judah (7/6 – 4 BCE), as imperial Procurator (3 BCE till King Antipater returned from Rome), and as governor of Syria (4 – 6 CE).
● Quirinius was the first Roman Procurator in Judea. Justin Martyr, Apology I:34.
● Quirinius implemented the first imperial decree requiring everyone to pledge allegiance to Emperor Augustus.
● King Herod the Great put to death two rabbis on the eve of the lunar eclipse of 6 January, and he died on 28 January 1 BCE.

Observations

Jesus was born following the jubilee year of 6 BCE, when family property in Bethlehem reverted back to Mary’s husband Joseph.

Jesus was born during the reign of Herod the Great who died in January of 1 B.C.E.

John the Baptist was conceived after Zechariah returned home, six months before Jesus was conceived.

Jesus was born after Emperor Augustus issued a decree in 3 BCE requiring that the entire empire swear fealty to him.

Jesus was born while Quirinius Varus was imperial Procurator over Syria and Judea between 3 and 2 BCE, administering the oath of fealty to Caesar Augustus

Jesus was born between September 3 BCE and August 2 BCE when there were three conjunctions of the planet Jupiter and a star called Regulus in the night sky.

Jesus was born on or near June 17, 2 BCE when there was a conjuncture of the planets Venus and Jupiter in the Western sky.

Deductions

● John the Baptiste was conceived on or near the Vernal Equinox in March of 3 BCE, and he was born on or near the Winter Solstice in December of 3 BCE.
● Jesus Christ was conceived on or near the Feast of Trumpets in September 3 BCE, and he was born on or around the Feast of Weeks in June 2 BCE.
● The details furnished by the Gospels of Matthew and of Luke, about the birth of Jesus, agree comfortably with extra-biblical history and astronomy.