Who decided that Jesus was born on Christmas Day?

[DPMartin]

22 hours ago, JohnD said:

(from Quora Digest)

 

 

Christmas (Christ Mass) is a Roman Catholic invention under the heading of benevolently changing a traditionally pagan holiday (Saturnalia) into a Christian observation of the birth of Jesus.

There is no way to determine exactly the day of the year he was born.

Other than the account of this event actually happening, no religious observation of it is required or even suggested. Jesus did say to remember his DEATH until he returns (by observing the Passover Seder portion of the broken matzoh and 3rd the cup of redemption which defines what Passover is truly about).

The Roman Catholics also screwed that up with their tradition of the Eucharist (and the Protestants do the Last Supper which more or less stems from the Roman Catholic Eucharist).

“As often as you do this” do in remembrance of me… meant to the Jews in company who understood what he was referring to as often as you do this as Passover Seder.

John 1:14 gives us a hint as to when Jesus was actually born (during the feast of tabernacles) in that John 1:14 states in the Greek that he tabernacled among us. Sometime in September / October depending on the lunar Jewish calendar that year (most agree it was 3–7 BCE). The Roman Catholics also got the year wrong.

No one decided that Jesus was born on Christmas day, but the RCC decided to celebrate the birth of Christ on a holiday celebrated by the populous at the time. Which was wise because the message was spread even more effectively, note even today the churches are filled on Christmas and Easter. Jesus came into the world to be risen on the third day, that date is important and prophesied not the day He came into the world.

[JohnR7]

On 11/8/2022 at 6:46 PM, missmuffet said:

The Bible does not say that Jesus was born mid-winter.

Christmas is the beginning of winter. The shortest day of the year. Jesus was born after the harvest because you cannot pay taxes unless you have already harvested your food. 

Bishop Ussher believes Adam was created on the first Sunday after the beginning of fall. This would be Oct 23 in 4004 BC. So if you go by this then Jesus would have been born on 4 BC on the first Sunday after the Equinox which is when day and night are equal. This happens twice a year, on the beginning of Spring and on the beginning of Fall. The Equinox in 4BC was 25 Sep 08:28. 

Most likely he was born 3 months before Christmas in 4 BC. I use the date of 29AD the day before Passover for when He went to Calvary. 

[The_Patriot21]

Jesus did, when he was born. Hence why it's Christmas.

That's not the question, the real question is why did people choose to celebrate on a day that wasn't actually Christmas.

A more important question is does it really matter...if your celebrating Christ then It doesn't matter when...if your not celebrating Christ then your missing the point...but you will miss the point regardless of the date so again...does it really matter...

[Vine Abider]

On 11/8/2022 at 8:50 AM, JohnD said:

Other than the account of this event actually happening, no religious observation of it is required or even suggested. Jesus did say to remember his DEATH until he returns (by observing the Passover Seder portion of the broken matzoh and 3rd the cup of redemption which defines what Passover is truly about).

Oh yes, Christmas - what a mixed bag! But this post by JohnD brings out something so simple, which I never considered.  No where in scripture, that I'm aware of, are we told to celebrate His birth, but rather His death!  Very interesting & simple . . .

I've gone around and around, over several decades, in my approach to Christmas and the pendulum has had a good swing forth and back.  As an early believer we were taught all the history and reasons why it was really just a pagan based holiday. However, I saw that holding this view and espousing it to people, conveyed little to nothing of Christ to others.  And doing that always left me unsettled.  

Now I view it more neutrally. And while there's a lot of the worldly stuff mixed in with it, there are certainly opportunities to testify of Christ and why He came.  Sometimes just speaking a line of a Christ-centered "Christmas" hymn to others is really good I think - they've heard it hundreds of times perhaps, but possibly have never really considered the words.

[other one]

2 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

but rather His death!

His  death or his resurrection??

[OneLight]

2 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

 No where in scripture, that I'm aware of, are we told to celebrate His birth, but rather His death! 

I agree with celebrating His resurrection, yet, is that not the birth into another life, one everlasting?  Yes, Jesus has no beginning and no end ... I agree, but He did die in the flesh in order to be the first to be resurrected into the next life.

[Vine Abider]

1 hour ago, other one said:

His  death or his resurrection??

"In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." Luke 22:20

"In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For as often as yo eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes."  1 Cor 11:26-27 

These are verses that come to mind regarding His death (which was an amazing atonement for us!), however, I think it's good to celebrate His resurrection too.

[Vine Abider]

52 minutes ago, OneLight said:

I agree with celebrating His resurrection, yet, is that not the birth into another life, one everlasting?  Yes, Jesus has no beginning and no end ... I agree, but He did die in the flesh in order to be the first to be resurrected into the next life.

He was born to die, to raise the sons of earth, born to give us second birth (as the hymn goes). Of course His resurrection is glorious, but the Seed needed to fall into the ground and die first.

[OneLight]

42 minutes ago, Vine Abider said:

He was born to die, to raise the sons of earth, born to give us second birth (as the hymn goes). Of course His resurrection is glorious, but the Seed needed to fall into the ground and die first.

Sure not going to debate if His death is more important than His resurrection, it's all one and the same process.

[Vine Abider]

45 minutes ago, OneLight said:

Sure not going to debate if His death is more important than His resurrection, it's all one and the same process.

I see no debate, bro!  His birth, death and resurrection were all needed to fulfil God's grand redemption design.  The point being made is that we're told in the word to remember and proclaim his death/resurrection (as per Luke 22:20 & 1 Cor 11:26-27), but have not seen that same scriptural instruction regarding His birth.

(but if anyone wants to celebrate His birth, that's fine too, and I may even join in! )