(samy;46903)
snt--now we are cooking.. Historically, it is known that Herod the Great died in 4 BC, and the Gospels mention him, so Jesus was born prior to his death.Luke gives the age of Jesus at His Baptism as "about thirty years" (Luke 3:23). This would put the time of the Baptism as being about 26 AD. Historical records show that Herod the Great had begun the reconstruction of the Temple in 20 BC, so the "forty and six years" mentioned by the Jews at the first Passover during Jesus' public Ministry (John 2:13-22) brings us to about 26 or 27 AD for that first Passover. This again suggests that Jesus was probably born around 4 BC. The time the star was seen does not necessarily establish clearly the time of the birth. It may have simply announced the impending birth.Herod took no chances. samy
That's right samy, Luke 3:23 and John 2:13 are excellent verses in proofing the year in which Christ was born.There is obvious reluctance on the part of many Christians to make reference to John 2:13 concerning the number of years cited for reconstruction of the Temple; since, it could possibly disprove a popular date, 6 BC.However, data does exist that reveals the commencement of labor upon the Temple Mount in the year 22 BC.Hang in there with me...Apparently, the following data is not well known, unless you're an architect...In 22 BC preliminary work was being done for the reconstruction of the Temple, which involved the placement of massive raised platforms that would double the size of the Temple Mount.It was this preliminary work that was viewed 'literally' by those living in Jerusalem and the surrounding areas as the start of an established year in which the Temple labor began.Knowledge of: the year in which the preliminary work began (*), the information provided by (John 2:13), the age of Christ at his baptism (Luke 3:23), and the inquiry by Herod made of the three wise men (Matt. 2:16), all work beautifully together in establishing and confirming 6 BC as the year of our Lord's birth.I have no doubt that this will eventually end up as someone's Thesis...lolsnt* The Temple at Jerusalem: a Revelation, John Michell Cities in History, 2 Jerusalem: The City and Memory, Dr. Richard Ingersoll