Category Archives: I) Mary gave birth to Jesus

I) Mary gave birth to Jesus

1) What is the fourth verse indicating Jesus’ birth of date? When did Mary give birth to Jesus?

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Question

What is the fourth verse indicating Jesus’ birth of date? When did Mary give birth to Jesus?

Answer

Luke 2: 6.

εγενετο δε εν τω ειναι αυτους εκει επλησθησαν αι ημεραι του τεκειν αυτην

 egeneto de en tō inai autūs ekī eplēsthēsan ai hēmerai tū tekīn autēn

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (Luke 2:6)

αι ημεραι ‘ai hēmerai’ means the day, while επλησθησαν ‘eplēsthēsan’ is pasive aorist form of πληθω ‘plēthō’ meaning “to fill, to be fulfilled, to be filled”.

Lema plethoo dalam leksikon Greed IPD

Thus, επλησθησαν ‘eplēsthēsan’ means: have fulfilled, have accomplished, accomplished. Phrase επλησθησαν αι ημεραι ‘eplēsthēsan ai hēmerai’ means the days of gestation were accomplished that Mary should be delivered. This indicates that Mary gave birth to Jesus at term, neither premature nor postmature.

Applying definition of “at term” by modern medical science,  Jesus’ date of birth ranges from December 9-29, 5 SM Julian Calendar, counting from March 25, the beginning of Mary’s pregnancy.

Slightly different from modern medical science,ancient Hebrew tradition defined “at term” as 9 months of gestation. Later, the tradition was recorded by Maimonides in 12 AD century in his book.

If one knows for sure that a baby born after nine months even, then, even if the baby was stillborn, we mourned. (Availut 1:7)

Older record about how to calculate Jesus’ date of birth is found in the Apostolic Constitution Book V Chapter III. The apostolic constitution is a collection of earlier canons, at least a portion of which probably date from the Apostles.

Brethren, observe the festival days; and first of all the birthday which you are to celebrate on the twenty-fifth of the ninth month (Apostolic constitution, Book V, Chapter III)1

This record came from 70 AD, or 3 centuries before Constantine and Nicene Council 1. Ninth month in the Apostolic Council is calculated from the date of Mary getting pregnant.

March 25th + 9 months = December 25th

Compare calculation result from modern medical science and ancient Hebrew tradition.

Approach Calculation result
Modern medical science December 9th-29th
Ancient Hebrew Tradition December 25th

 

Calculation comparison by old and modern approaches.

Aftar all, compare the old records to Constantine and Nicene Council 1 era.

Old records Before Contantine and Nicene Council  1 (BCN1)
Apostolic Constitution (70 AD) 3 centuries BCN1
Theophilos,Caesarean bishop (115-181 AD) 2 centuries BCN1
Hyppolitus (225 AD) 1 centuries BCN1

Conclusion

Jesus Christ was really born on December 25, 5 AD Julian Calendar or 25th of Tevet 3757 Hebrew Calendar. Here it is Christmas.

 

Bibliography

1 http://st-takla.org/books/en/ecf/007/0070451.html; February 2nd, 2015

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