Comments on: When Was Jesus Born? Clement of Alexandria http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-clement-of-alexandria/ Darrell Pursiful's blog Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:54:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: D. P. http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-clement-of-alexandria/comment-page-1/#comment-253 D. P. Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:23:12 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=182#comment-253 Thanks, JR. I think I've made it clear I'm not betting the farm on any of these dates, although the case for 6 Jan 2 BC is rather compelling in my opinion. Thanks, JR. I think I’ve made it clear I’m not betting the farm on any of these dates, although the case for 6 Jan 2 BC is rather compelling in my opinion.

]]> By: JR http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-clement-of-alexandria/comment-page-1/#comment-252 JR Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:15:12 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=182#comment-252 D.P. I have read some other writers who think the Sept 11 timeframe is correct for the birth of Jesus. I don't know if this works based on anything that you have discovered. They site the death of Herod as also a way to calculate the date. Herod was suppose to have died before the Passover in 2 BC. and only months after ordering the slaughter of the children. The months is suppose to be found from Josephus writings. I have also read that the description of the woman in Revelations giving birth identifies the astrological signs that existed on Sept 11, 3 BC. I am not sure about this because I haven't accessed any astrological calculators. I am not sure that I would know what to enter even if I did find one. This is a thought provoking subject and I have enjoyed the information that you use. Thanks. D.P.

I have read some other writers who think the Sept 11 timeframe is correct for the birth of Jesus. I don’t know if this works based on anything that you have discovered.

They site the death of Herod as also a way to calculate the date. Herod was suppose to have died before the Passover in 2 BC. and only months after ordering the slaughter of the children. The months is suppose to be found from Josephus writings.

I have also read that the description of the woman in Revelations giving birth identifies the astrological signs that existed on Sept 11, 3 BC. I am not sure about this because I haven’t accessed any astrological calculators. I am not sure that I would know what to enter even if I did find one.

This is a thought provoking subject and I have enjoyed the information that you use. Thanks.

]]> By: choosethecross.com » Happy Christmas http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-clement-of-alexandria/comment-page-1/#comment-251 choosethecross.com » Happy Christmas Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:26:34 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=182#comment-251 [...] this day, 2011 years ago, Jesus was born. At least that is what the earliest evidence we have – a document written by Clement of Alexandria around 200AD – indicates. Clement wrote, [...] [...] this day, 2011 years ago, Jesus was born. At least that is what the earliest evidence we have – a document written by Clement of Alexandria around 200AD – indicates. Clement wrote, [...]

]]> By: Toby Janicki http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-clement-of-alexandria/comment-page-1/#comment-250 Toby Janicki Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:38:12 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=182#comment-250 Could you e-mail me and then I dialogue with you to get some more info on this? toby @ ffoz.org Could you e-mail me and then I dialogue with you to get some more info on this? toby @ ffoz.org

]]> By: Toby Janicki http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-clement-of-alexandria/comment-page-1/#comment-249 Toby Janicki Sun, 19 Oct 2008 03:44:24 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=182#comment-249 I enjoyed your post! Can you tell me some more details about the calculations involved in the Clement of Alexandria quote or some sources that discuss this in more detail? Thanks in advance for any help. I enjoyed your post! Can you tell me some more details about the calculations involved in the Clement of Alexandria quote or some sources that discuss this in more detail? Thanks in advance for any help.

]]> By: D. P. http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-clement-of-alexandria/comment-page-1/#comment-248 D. P. Mon, 25 Dec 2006 12:26:49 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=182#comment-248 It is because of Herod's character that I think the two-years-or under rule was laid down. Herod asked the magi when they first saw the star. By my interpretation, they would have answered, "about eighteen months ago" (i.e., May 3 BC). Herod then gives the order for "the slaughter of the innocents" and conveniently rounds up to an even two years or younger just to make sure. Frankly, given Herod's paranoia about threats to his rule, I think I could justify him giving the same order if the magi said, "We first saw the star a couple of months ago." It is because of Herod’s character that I think the two-years-or under rule was laid down. Herod asked the magi when they first saw the star. By my interpretation, they would have answered, “about eighteen months ago” (i.e., May 3 BC). Herod then gives the order for “the slaughter of the innocents” and conveniently rounds up to an even two years or younger just to make sure. Frankly, given Herod’s paranoia about threats to his rule, I think I could justify him giving the same order if the magi said, “We first saw the star a couple of months ago.”

]]> By: Michael Westmoreland-White http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-clement-of-alexandria/comment-page-1/#comment-247 Michael Westmoreland-White Mon, 25 Dec 2006 04:38:59 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=182#comment-247 Your arguments on Jesus' birth are fairly good. I find less compelling the idea of the Magi's visit in the same year. Herod's slaughter of the innocents (if historical--and it certainly fits his character!) and the conversations the Magi have about when they see the star and how long they have been traveling, seem to indicate that they arrived 2 years after Jesus' birth. Of course, there is no guarantee that Matthew has this right (or even that the visit of the Magi is historical instead of a symbol of Gentile recognition when Jews didn't), but the slaughter of the innocents and the refugee flight to Egypt are historically compelling. If they are historical, then they would need a motive and there is no rival motive to the visit of the Magi. So, I'm inclined to accept it as historical (even though it causes problems when compared to Luke's chronology which has the Holy Family return to Nazareth 8 days after Jesus' birth). But I cannot see any compelling case from the biblical witness for dating that visit in the same year--and much against it. Your arguments on Jesus’ birth are fairly good. I find less compelling the idea of the Magi’s visit in the same year. Herod’s slaughter of the innocents (if historical–and it certainly fits his character!) and the conversations the Magi have about when they see the star and how long they have been traveling, seem to indicate that they arrived 2 years after Jesus’ birth. Of course, there is no guarantee that Matthew has this right (or even that the visit of the Magi is historical instead of a symbol of Gentile recognition when Jews didn’t), but the slaughter of the innocents and the refugee flight to Egypt are historically compelling. If they are historical, then they would need a motive and there is no rival motive to the visit of the Magi. So, I’m inclined to accept it as historical (even though it causes problems when compared to Luke’s chronology which has the Holy Family return to Nazareth 8 days after Jesus’ birth). But I cannot see any compelling case from the biblical witness for dating that visit in the same year–and much against it.

]]> By: D. P. http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-clement-of-alexandria/comment-page-1/#comment-246 D. P. Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:59:17 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=182#comment-246 Thanks, Anne. A lot of the basic groundwork is laid out by Ernest Martin (linked on the Star of Bethlehem post). That plus some fiddling around with an online calendrical calculator gave me most of what you're reading. Thanks, Anne. A lot of the basic groundwork is laid out by Ernest Martin (linked on the Star of Bethlehem post). That plus some fiddling around with an online calendrical calculator gave me most of what you’re reading.

]]> By: Anne http://pursiful.com/2006/12/when-was-jesus-born-clement-of-alexandria/comment-page-1/#comment-245 Anne Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:28:11 +0000 http://pursiful.com/?p=182#comment-245 Darrell, how much of this is original research? This is really good stuff. Darrell, how much of this is original research? This is really good stuff.

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