I think you miss the point. The idea is that passages of the Bible or Christian practices are not just copies of pagan practices. It might not matter for you a believer, but it might matter for those we are trying to convince.
Do you think that God doesn't care about anything specific? God has given specificity in so many details of His word that one would be wise to find truth in every detail that one can. He created everything. Down to the minutia of every detail in physics. He cares. He reveals himself from the smallest detail to the largest metadata.
Yes, Jesus cares about an accurate date. He doesn't want to worshipped on the Sun God's birthday. The bible makes it clear God doesn't want to us copy pagan worship customs to worship him.
O Lord! Let’s have prayer!!! You missed it. The point is God becoming human for our salvation was [is!] so important to the early persecuted Church that through biblical analysis a date of both His birth, death and Resurrection should be set to honor God. The result then is that Christmas was NOT birthed out of paganism.
When I was a child, Christmas always meant a celebration of the birth of Jesus to me. Now that I'm rounding third and heading for home, I still celebrate it for the birth of my savior, in my heart. I realize the waters have been muddied over the years as to the actual date, but God looks on the heart. I love Christmas; however, it's not nearly as important as the empty tomb, which I celebrate on Easter Sunday, even though it may or not be the actual date of the reserection.
Also remember that when it is said this Country (America --USA) was founded upon Christian beliefs...this is true. It is also true that not only was the celebration of Christmas frowned upon, but at one point in time was BANNED by the church. We did not always decorate trees, that was adopted from the Germans basically thru Prince Albert Queen Victoria's husband. We presume all these traditions of men have been celebrated all along. But no, they have not.
@@lynnreed2493 Who presumes that these traditions have been celebrated all along? It is well known that Christians in Alsace Lorraine began decorating trees and calling them "Christmas trees" in the 1400s. There is no evidence that it was pagan in origin. It was an innovative form of Christian art, just like cathedrals or Gregorian chant. I have never met anybody that thought Christmas trees have been celebrated "all along".
The only way to know your heart is by asking yourself if you knew exactly the time when Jesus was born if your willing to stop celebrating Christmas and celebrate during the real date. Or am I not willing to do it for the sake of my tradition. If you’re not willing then it wasn’t about Jesus all along.
The important thing about Jesus’ birth is that it fulfilled prophecy. Micah 5:2 (KJV) 2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Matthew 2:5-6 (KJV) 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
The problem with trying to calculate the date of Jesus' birth starting with the conception of John the Baptist, is that we do not know on which of the occasions when Zechariah was on duty in the temple the angel appeared to him. There were 24 priestly divisions, and each served for one week, twice a year. Abijah's division was the eighth (I Chron.24:10; Luke 1:5). However, ALL the priests were on duty for the feasts, so Zechariah would have been on duty in March or April for Passover; seven weeks later for Shavuot (Pentecost); probably June for his first regular turn of duty; September or October for Sukkot (Tabernacles), and ?November for his second regular turn of duty. He could have seen the angel at any of those times. Furthermore, not all the divisions were represented among the priests who returned from the Exile. The rota had to be re-arranged, but we don't know exactly how. And there is another serious difficulty. The Hebrew calendar is lunar, with each month lasting 29-30 days. In order to keep in synch with the seasons, seven years out of every 19 are leap years, when the twelfth month is repeated - Adar Aleph and Adar Bet - so then what happened to the rota? Answer: We simply do not know! I hope that makes it clear that trying to work out the time of Jesus' birth from when Zechariah was on duty is a futile exercise! However, there is a much simpler way to know, and the clue is in Luke 2:8ff where we are told the shepherds were "keeping watch over their flocks at night." The fields around Bethlehem were where the animals for the temple sacrifices were bred and reared, especially the Passover lambs. Those shepherds had the enormous responsibility of ensuring the lambs arrived safely and were protected. Normally, only one or two would be awake at night, to guard the sheep from thieves and predators - presumably on a rota basis as they had to sleep some time! However, at lambing time they would ALL be watching the ewes very carefully, to ensure the safe delivery of those precious lambs. It makes perfect sense to think that our Passover Lamb was born at the same time, in the same area as the regular Passover lambs. The census was held around late Adar to early Nisan, and Mary and Joseph remained in Bethlehem for the birth, which occurred two to four weeks later. (Contrary to popular myth, Mary was not actually in labour when they arrived in Bethlehem, she was in the late stage of pregnancy - Luke 2:5-6) If that is correct, Jesus could well have been conceived at Shavuot the previous year, when Jews celebrated the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai - "For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus the Messiah." (John 1:17)
The editor seems to have cut out any explanation of how Dr. Calvert arrived at March 25th for the annunciation of John and the starting place for the chronology he proposes. Everything hinges on that starting point. Without that detail, the entire theory is baseless. It seems as though Calvert worked backwards from December 25th, rather than forward from when Zachariah would have been in the Temple. Considering Zachariah was part of Abijah, the eighth order of Levitical priests, it’s just as reasonable to assert John’s conception fell on the heals of Shavu’ot (the Feast of Weeks), Jesus’ annunciation fell six months later on Hanukkah (the Feast of Dedication), John’s birth was three months later on Passover (fulfilling expectations Elijah would return to announce the Messiah on Passover), and Jesus was born six months afterwards during Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles, when Israel memorializes God dwelling with them in the wilderness; Emmanuel “God with us”).
This is correct I believe and fits with the understanding that Jesus fulfills all of the Jewish festivals. Thus He enters the world at Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, as He is the light of the world. He is born on the feast of Tabernacles which celebrated God being with and leading the Jews out of exile.
Exactly. I’m very disappointed that a history professor didn’t do his research on dates of the orders of the Levitical priesthood. Sounds like he’s trying to justify keeping Christmas when there is no record of it being kept by the disciples or early Christians.
If Jesus was conceived in September, six month after the (unsubstantiated) March 25, wouldn't that put Jesus' birth month to be the next June (9 months later)?
The Bible does not say to commemorate the birth of his earthly body. It Does say to commemorate his death. "This do in remembrance of me”.And no, it does not turn into his actual blood and body, it’s a symbolism.
yes, you are correct that the bible does not explicitly instruct believers to commemorate the birth of Jesus. however, this does not mean that celebrating His birth is unbiblical or contrary to christian faith. celebrating Jesus' birth can be seen as a way of acknowledging the miracle of the Incarnation: God becoming flesh (John 1:14). reflecting on this event can deepen our understanding of God’s love and purpose for humanity. and same thing with his death for the miracle of his resurrection. so i dont know if what is really you're trying to imply.
I am guessing you are a Baptist? Do you know why you reject the true corporal body blood of Christ is present in the Eucharist? It becomes Baptist/Evangelicals followed the theology of Zwingli who literally resurrected the ancient heresy of Nestorianism . All theology is Christology. You believe the eucharist is merely symbolic because of the Christological errors in your theology.
@@Zulonix The eucharist is not merely a symbolic remembrance. Christ says, “This is My body.” And Paul says of this broken bread that it is “a participation in the body of Christ” (1 Cor. 10:16). Moreover, he says in the words of institution, “This is My body, which is broken for you,” that is, what is divided in the Supper is the body of Christ. Therefore Christ, God and man, is present in the total action of the Supper instituted by Him, and offers to those who eat it his body and blood. Those churches who follow the theology of Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin do not believe in the real presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. Rather, they believe in representation, that bread and wine only represent the body and blood of Christ. Zwingli’s concept of representation sprang from his misunderstanding of the two natures in Christ. Zwingli revived the error of Nestorius, who denied there was a sharing of attributes between the two natures in Christ. Zwingli did not believe that the human nature of Christ could share in the attributes of his divine nature and still remain human. His favorite slogan was “the finite is not capable of the infinite”-(Latin: finitum non est capax infiniti). Zwingli called all biblical references which indicated that the divine nature shared its attributes with the human nature “a figure of speech (Greek: alloeosis).” Zwingli interpreted Christ’s ascension into heaven and sitting at the right hand of God as Christ’s human nature being confined to a specific location in the universe. Thus, he reasoned, Christ could not be present in the Lord’s Supper if his human nature were confined at the right hand of God. Therefore, he reasoned, “This is my body … This is my blood” must mean that bread and wine merely represent the body and blood of Christ.
Would it not be easier to go back in the record books and find out when Joseph paid his taxes to Pharoah or Rome? Wasn't that the reason that he loaded up a very pregnant Mary and traveled to Bethlehem in the first place?
Not really, the Catholics are who really defined timelines and is used to this day. The modern timelines who use BCE or CE instead of BC wouldn’t have changed the time frame but to prove it in AD and based on BC, timeframe it’s a bit off; thus to take away any relationship to Christianity and ill will to Christians is what this hubbub is truly about. Many and if not all Christian understand and respect time but celebrate on December 25 or near shouldn’t be the issue but non respecting people throw fits at parties to make it about themselves. *challenging to text and cycle for brain a body workouts Have a wonderful Christmas 🎄
I lived in Israel for three years. I can tell you with certainty that December is the bitter cold, rainy season and shepherds do not “keep watch with their flocks by night” in the fields, but have them penned up. For what it’s worth, he was most likely born at Passover given that all the inns were filled with people all the way out to Bethlehem. Another marker.
Really?!? During the roman empire Britain was so temperate the Roman grew wine in the country. The Sahara region at used to be a tropical climate before it was a desert. Are you so dense as to think the climate wasn't different 2000 years ago?
The inns were full due to the one-time anomaly of Herod ordering a census, not due to celebrating a Feast. BTW, when Jesus was born has been spelled out since Moses and is right there in the name, it's no mystery... Feast of Tabernacles "tabernacle" - an intransitive verb meaning, "to take up temporary residence; especially to inhabit a physical body" God laid aside His divine glory, and came to earth to “tabernacle” among us in human form John 1:1-14
Probably He was not born on December 25, and maybe it is more likely that he was born on March 25, the day we celebrate the Annunciation? We are after all, less interested in the historical date than in the fact of the incarnation. A doctrine which,BTW, Orthodox Jews and Muslims think of as pagan in origin. Luke’s Gospel does not tell us, even hint about the date. and we are not sure of even the year, only that Herod the Great was King of the Jews when it happened. We are not even sure of when Our Lord was crucifiedm died, was buried but rose on thr third day in a time when Toberias was Emperor and Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea and a younger Herod was king. Then some three hundred years later, some many of his followers existed in the Empire and beyond its limits that the Emperor became his champion that today the city of Rome still belongs to the pope, who claims the allegiance to billions of people.
This video was not trying to prove that Jesus was born in December. It’s trying to explain why the early Christians chose that date. That’s all. And you are right: he was most likely born in the spring.
The only reason I celebrate Christmas is because my savior Jesus Christ was born, and I will continue to. "Christmas" whether its the right date or not is one of the most celebrated dates/holidays in history around the world that spreads the gospel.
Sorry, but it’s NOT an issue that matters. The precise day is irrelevant. What’s celebrated is The Incarnation. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 1:14 Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory-the glory of the one and only…
Galatians 4:8-11: Paul expresses concern that the Galatians are turning back to what he describes as "weak and worthless elementary principles of the world," observing "days and months and seasons and years." This suggests Paul was wary of the Galatians reverting to practices from their pagan past or adopting Jewish customs for salvation, which he saw as a form of spiritual bondage rather than freedom in Christ. This has been interpreted by some as a criticism of observing holidays, whether Jewish or pagan, if they are done with the intent of earning salvation or out of legalistic observance rather than faith.
None of that is justification for Christmas. Throughout the scriptures, God has instructed His people on HOW they are to worship Him and how they are not to worship Him. Making the individual the deciding factor on how God is to be worshipped in the face of the massive amounts of instructions is humanism at best. Many well meaning historical figures may have made this declaration or that edict for worship but it has no authority other than that which is supported by the entire Word.
Christmas makes perfect sense near the winter solstice in the liturgical calendar. What makes anyone think that getting the date just right was ever the point?
Of course it is important, as it fulfilled prophecy. But we don't know the date, and it is not ok to celebrate pagan holidays and paste Jesus' birthday on it. Can you imagine if your wife celebrated your birthday on her old boyfriends birthday, and did all the stuff he liked to celebrate it? You would likely not think that was ok, right?
If the birth mattered to God wouldn't he have given us a date or tell us to observe it. He's pretty detail oriented. One knows this just by reading the O.T. Some questions to ask: Who observed birthdays in the Bible? What does it mean to observe a birthday? And lastly, what occurred at those two birthdays in the Bible? In Exodus, God had Moses rescue his chosen people from Egypt. But when Moses was on the mountain, the people started to worship God with a golden calf. It's what they knew from Egypt. (I think the worst offenders were struck down). God did not approve. How we worship God matters. And we need to make sure it's how he wants, not the traditions of men. The life of Jesus aligns with Jewish holidays, set by God. Is the birth of Jesus important? And are his instructions to us more important than traditions of men?
This is a weak presentation. It surprises me that Hillsdale would put this out. The presenter says that we should look to what the early Christians believed and were doing. That is valid. But the early Christians did not observe Christmas for hundreds of years after Jesus was crucified. The presenter says there is no evidence of Christmas for 1400 a 1500 years. Then he tries to retread the old bit about the son and the sun and the light coming to the world blah, blah, blah. So let’s look at what GOD says about the sun/son theory. he created the light and the sun on different days - they are not the same. The Egyptians worshipped the sun god. GOD says HE doesn’t want to be worshipped as the Egyptians worship their gods and GOD punished their gods when HE set Israel free. Then HE sets down for Israel how HE wants to be worshipped. He gives details about HIS holy days which are the heritage of the Christians ( Christ was killed in keeping with the Passover, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples on the Pentecost, the rest of the holy days look to the future return of Christ). The presenter try’s to make a case that Christmas is not pagan but only offers evidence that it is. Look to Jeremiah 10. “Do not look to the way of the nations…” Mixing paganism with Christianity is nothing new. What follows in Jeremiah 10: 3-4 should sound familiar to Christmas. I’ve heard people still clinging to their tree saying “but we don’t worship the tree “ while they are singing to the tree or praising the tree “ Ohhh Christmas tree, Ohhh Christmas tree, how ever green your branches”. I know this is like taking candy from a baby. But you are not children any longer.
It is always a bit perplexing to me that the 'church' or believers are not even acknowledged until 1400 years after His death and resurrection. With no disrespect for those who are now referred to as church 'fathers', doesn't father or fathers normally refer to those there at the conception of something? Thus, would it not seem fitting to learn how those first people of the Way lived?
@ he instituted the lords supper the night he was betrayed. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (KJV) 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.” This is done every first day of the week: Acts 20:7 (KJV) 7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”
@@dB_944 There is no verse in the scriptures that directs anyone to remember, observe or celebrate the resurrection, there is only the one that directs His disciples to remember His death.
@@dB_944 Why do you say that it is done every first day of the week? The Lord directed that it be done on the evening of the Passover, and He set the example for when it was to be done by instituting it during the Passover supper. The first day of the week is not an anniversary of the Passover and is not the Sabbath day, which is the seventh day of the week. Historically both Israel and Judah were punished for Sabbath-breaking by the Lord by being invaded, conquered, and taken into exile, Israel first in 721BC by Assyria, and then later Judah, by Babylon in 595BC.
I remember Hillsdale Academy having a "Festival of Saturnalia" replace the traditional Christmas party in one of the 7th grade classes. Furthermore, as parents, my wife and I were pressured to allow our two young sons to sing a "Christmas" song blessing the "virgin" Mary as the Queen of Heaven even though we raised objections of conscience and quietly asked for our sons to be excused.
If this is true concerning Hillsdale Academy having a “Festival of Saturnalia “and giving homage to the Virgin Mary as the queen of heaven- THIS IS TERRIBLE!
If it is true concerning Hillsdale Academy in celebrating a Festival of Saturnalia and giving homage to the Virgin Mary as the queen of heaven- THIS IS TERRIBLE!
The Magi were using a particular star to locate Jesus. The winter solstice was likely a time where star data was greater and more accurate. At the solstice the particular star would be directly overhead.
@@richardkeeten3933 Not necessarily. We know that Herod sent his decree to target children under 2. But Herod would have been erring on the high side of his age. We also know that by the 8th day, Christ was in the temple at Jerusalem to be circumcised. It is possible the Magi came after that, so I would agree we cannot use the Magi to date his birth.
It is noteworthy that the Shepard were in the field with their flocks at the time of Jesus’s birth. It is my understanding that they move the sheep to the pastures in the springtime around Passover and bring them in around the feast of tabernacles (fall). I think proverbs says that where no oxen are the manger is clean. That would also mean the oxen had been put out to pasture as well. Again, as I understand it, it is much like we tended to do in the United States where we grazed cattle spring and summer, put hogs out to free range spring and summer, and rounded them up in fall and winter. If that idea holds, Jesus’s birth was no where near December
That was nicely put. We do live in a time when multitudes very are out of touch with farming, shepherding, animal husbandry, as well as cyclical practices in other regions.
Bethlehem is literally the same latitude as Los Angeles. Go spend a Christmas in LA and your question will be answered. I live in Colorado. There are days in December when I enjoy being outside late in the evening even up in the mountains.
There isn't a way to know when Zachariah was in the Temple because a priest entered the Temple every day of the year. Luke does not say that he entered the Most Holy Place. If it said that, we could place him in the Temple in September/October, that is, on the 10th day of the 7th Hebrew month. We can come close to Jesus' birthday if we work backward from His death in March. If we say that Jesus ministered for 3 1/2 years, which matches the pattern that God uses for such things (like during the End Times), and He was "about" 30 years old when He started, we can work back to a birth that is likely to be in September/October. There are a lot of buts in my speculation, but at least they are biblical speculations.
This is outrageous that Christians celebrated Christmas. You read the Bible from cover to cover. What did they celebrate? It was not Christmas. They were instructed to keep the Passover, not the birth of Christ. It was more important to recognize the sacrifice of Christ than his birth
No it wouldn’t be “outrageous.” It is definitely something to be celebrated. Where does it say Not to celebrate the birth? Take it easy, it’s good to have holidays, which means Holy-day, and the birth of Jesus is most definitely a Holy day.
I read my Bible abd found this: Colossians 2:13-17 (KJV) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Stop judging me in respect of an holyday. The day belongs to the Lord anyway, and im going to use the day to worship and celebrate the birth of my Savior.
All of the holidays in the Bible were given to the Jews by God through Moses. They were not given directly to the gentiles. Same thing with circumcision, eating pork, and fish with scales and fins.
The Christians wanted their own party. All these pagans are partying during that time of year and the Christian’s felt left out. So they started their own party.
Yes. Luke 1-3. Besides that you have to check out the levitical calendar, not included in the Bible. Read some of the early church Father's like Hippolytus (of Rome or Smyrna, I can't recall which off the top of my head), also not included in the Bible, and calendars used by Christians in those early eras, also not included in the Bible.
@@kristine778 What I always like to say is that the Bible is the absolute truth, but it’s not absolute truth. MEANING, there are a lot of gray areas in the Bible that we have to look back to the early church to find information on/to see how Christians navigated the pagan world.
@@kristine778 Saint Hippolytus of Rome (c. 170-235 AD) was a Christian leader, theologian, and martyr who is considered one of the most important Church Fathers. So the period is around 170-235ad
@@EliSkylander Yes, to make up the Christmas story, you need "sources" outside of the Bible ... that is one of the biggest signs, that this is not a Christian teaching. if we should celebrate Christ's birth, it would have been a New Testament command. But it is not. Christmas is pagan, a human invention we don't find in the Holy Scriptures.
the Bible did not tell us the birthday of Jesus, so He didn't want us to celebrate it, especially on December 25, because that is a pagan holiday, and the Bible says not to worship like the pagans do (Deuteronomy 12: 4-5). What pagan holiday? Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" mentions it, Maccabees dates 25 Kislev as the date Antiochus Epiphanies did the first abomination of desolation, sacrificing a pig on the altar in the temple (notice that Christians eat ham on Christmas?). "The Two Babylons" by Hislop also mentions it. It is called in some cultures Saturnalia, but in other cultures it was part of Sun worship (the winter solstice). It was paired with Sunday worship instead of 7th day sabbath. Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" gives a good description, but it was a time of gift giving, debauchery, etc. The Romans merged paganism with Christianity, which is why you see so many pagan things like the yule log, Christmas tree, presents under the tree (you have to bow down to get them), etc. It might be best to ask how God feels about the holiday instead of how you feel about the holiday. Imagine celebrating your husband's birthday on your old boyfriend's birthday, and doing all the things your old boyfriend likes on that day. It grieves the Lord. Finally look at the fruit of the holiday. Drunkeness, gluttony, focus on presents, lying to children about Santa, extensive credit card debt to pay for presents to celebrate the birth of the Lord who was born in a barn to poor parents. Idols in the shape of nativity scenes, etc. Brothers and sisters, repent and celebrate the holidays the Lord gave you in the Bible!
If you listened, it was not on a pagan holiday. Why would they use a pagan holiday when they were being persecuted by the pagans? Nobody knows the exact date of Jesus birth but a specific date was chosen so Christians could celebrate the incarnation.
If we followed the Holidays mentioned in the Bible we should then not be practicing Christianity but Judaism. We may have Jewish roots but not all of us are. Frankly, I am getting tired of so many complaints on TH-cam videos about the" Pagan" roots of Christmas and why we should stop celebrating it. Even though we don't know the exact date when Christ was born, the point is that He was and that the church celebrates His birth on December 25. It was the winter solstice that was celebrated by pagans. But how many times has Christ overturned paganism on its head? People, countries, customs. Get over yourselves, people. Following religion strictly will make you miserable. I will continue to celebrate Him on the 25th of December and every day of the year. Thank you.
@@zhaba24-pw7lf Consider....were the apostles Christians or Jews? The answer is yes to both. I am not a Jew, but the Bible says I am 'grafted in.' Are you? What makes you think we can make up our own holidays and religion? Modern Judiasm is apostate because they reject their messiah, but it is not always so.
I know the guy has a PhD in history and teachers on an academic level so shout me down. That said he has said "I think" which is an opinion and then adds some more speculation. Concerning the conception and birth if I may speculate based on other scholarships and research the conception would be sometime in December and the birth about September 17, 4 BCE. Now the elephant in the room the early Christian never performed the Mass and thus no Christ-Mas sorry Pope.
"Now the elephant in the room the early Christian never performed the Mass and thus no Christ-Mas sorry Pope." Really, Rufus? Suggest you research the First Apology of St. Justin Martyr (100-165 AD) Chapters 65-66: But we, after we have thus washed him who has been convinced and has assented to our teaching, bring him to the place where those who are called brethren are assembled, in order that we may offer hearty prayers in common for ourselves and for the baptized [illuminated] person, and for all others in every place, that we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the truth, by our works also to be found good citizens and keepers of the commandments, so that we may be saved with an everlasting salvation. Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen. This word Amen answers in the Hebrew language to γένοιτο [so be it]. And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion. And this food is called among us Εὐχαριστία [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. *For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.* For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, This do in remembrance of Me, Luke 22:19 this is My body; and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, This is My blood; and gave it to them alone. Which the wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same thing to be done. For, that bread and a cup of water are placed with certain incantations in the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you either know or can learn.
There is no doubt that Christmas is turning into a secular celebration and has lost to a large extent the true meaning of Christmas! It’s made me to not look at Christmas as a real celebration of Christ! It’s turn into a season of selfishness and not giving! People have been damaged by the Commercialization of Christmas!
Daniel Morgan The word Christmas does not appear in the Bible. No date for the Nativity is given in the scriptures; but a clue is revealed in the book of Luke, chapter 2, verse 8, that gives us an indication of when the Nativity did not happen! It reveals that men were keeping watch over their livestock in the fields. Till this day, if you were to visit the Holy Land in December, you will not see livestock being kept outside and in the field! During this time of year in the Holy Land-which is in the northern hemisphere-it is chilly and rainy, it is the rainy season! Animals are not kept outside at this time of year. That fact, in addition to the fact that there were men in the fields watching their flocks at the time of the Nativity indicates that the Nativity happened outside of the rainy season. Yeshua bar-Joseph, the Hebrew name for the Greek name Jesus Christ, never observed or celebrated His birth, nor the anniversary of it, nor did He direct His disciples to do either of those things; and the apostles likewise did not observe and celebrate the birth of the Messiah and did not teach or direct others to do so. In the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus the feasts and Sabbaths of the Lord which are to be observed by Israel throughout its generations are enumerated. There is no mention of Christmas or even of the Nativity. Neither is there anything stated about observing and celebrating the resurrection of Yeshua; and there is nothing said about celebrating Easter. The plain truth about Christmas is that it has no Biblical basis for an observance or celebration of it!
@ We have always celebrated birthdays! If we want to celebrate the birthday of our savior and chose a day to do so, it should be all about Christ-mas!! It certainly should not be about gifts! I celebrate my Lord and Savior! That’s all I do!
@Alahulapuuloakealahelenokaahu all well and good.....only in the Word we find Jesus going to the feast that was most likely Purim, which was not directed by God to observe. Yet, Christ did not condemn any for observing this holiday. It's not that we Christians say you must observe Christmas in honor of Christ; the problem arises from Christian's who condemn those who do observe Christmas with no Biblical reason.
First, this has been lamented for HUNDREDS of years. We can all individually celebrate as we see fit. It’s your personal responsibility to keep your celebrations as Christ centered during the season.
I'm more confused now than before I watched this twice. What does Elizabeth's March pregnancy have to do with the timeline of Mary's pregnancy and Jesus' birth?
Christ never told us to celebrate His birth. We are called to remember His death, burial, and resurrection. That is what Sunday is about and the Lords Supper. Remember Him offering His life. His body was broken and His blood shed. Not that His birth wasn’t miraculous, but that’s not what He told us to focus on ever.
Debating this issue would take too long in the comments but essentially his argument was very weak. But the meat of it all is: if you actually want to celebrate something about Christ that speaks and testifies about his importance and divinity, then you should celebrate the Levitical commanded feasts. They speak of his sacrifice, redemption of humanity, his return and his kingship. Instead we erased those all together from Christianity and drowned it all with a celebration that is not only not biblical, but also has very suspicious roots at best.
Agreed! And for Christians to not recognize that that the Feast of Tabernacles has a strong parallel to the birth of Jesus (as "God living amoung us"), just as the crucifixion has a parallel to Passover (as a means of salvation) is something that I find very odd
Moot point is Jesus was born and he died for atonement of humankind's sins. Whether 25th December or any other date is largely irrelevant. It's just symbolic.
Hmm, misinformed, His birth was more around April, but the most important thing is that scripture was fulfilled with His birth and it was the birth of defeating the enemy, and death, and eternal was given to all that believed. Praise be to God.
My recollection was that Mary and Joseph were travelling to pay taxes when the birth occurred and that that occurred maybe June/July not December. In addition to imagine that people did not note the solstice which occurs about the same time is odd. Certainly the modern Christmas with Santa, reindeer, and a sleigh are a mix of traditional Yule, Grandpa Frost and Sinter Klaas which have little or nothing to do with the nativity. None of these traditions are tied historically to a Dec 25th Christmas but they are the basis of most everything modern Christmas including our New Years tradition which itself was moved from March 25th in the mid-1700's. Another fun fact is that December was the 10th month. All the months from Sept - Dec are named by number. The additional 2 mos were added later on messing up the scheme.
Seriously agree ... All these Theologians need to do is research the HISTORICAL RECORDS... WHEN Herod usually did the taxes, WHEN was it recorded MILITARILY that Herod's order was given to destroy all first born from birth to 2 years? This person is messing with a THEORY. SUN and SON intentionally mixed up...for December... There is also a Theory that April 1 for Jesus' birth THUS, the derogatory term..."April Fools Day" to denigrate original believers... Most important... Believe that Jesus lived, was crucified, died and was risen from the dead for all humanity... NEVER EVER in scripture has it been stated to COMMEMORATE Jesus' birth in ANY WAY!!!
By a tradition handed down from the apostles which took its origin from the very day of Christ’s Resurrection, the Church celebrates the Paschal mystery every seventh day, which day is appropriately called the Lord’s Day or Sunday. The day of Christ’s Resurrection is both the first day of the week, the memorial of the first day of creation, and the “eighth day,” on which Christ after his “rest” on the great Sabbath inaugurates the “day that the Lord has made,” the “day that knows no evening.” (CCC 1166)
Actually biblically Jesus rose Saturday evening...... He didn't die on "good" Friday either.... It was Constantine in 3rd century that made Sunday worship when he made it law that if worshiped on the 7th day(Saturday) it was punishable by death......... He was pagan and worshipped Mithra and claimed he had converted and said God give him the symbol of the cross ....... He didn't convert, all his war monuments after he still praised Mithra ...... But he did make Roman Catholism which did conquer the world with it's pagan traditions mixed in with Christianity....... It was forced upon the world and hundreds of thousands died ..... Accept it or death.
@@davidcrooks7289 that sounds like really bad research. I would suggest you read Peter Leithart's book "Defending Constantine." The problem is that a couple times Constantine did try to intervene in church affairs, but he church fathers told him to shove off. They had just undergone centuries of persecution and while they were glad that Constantine outlawed persecution of Christians (largely because Constantine saw persecution as a detriment to the unity of the empire), the church fathers had no fear of him and refused to receive him as an equal in church affairs. The only time he really prevailed on them was calling for the Nicene council because he wanted the Arians and Trinitarians to reconcile for the sake of imperial unity. Against his wishes, the Nicene council rejected Arianism and came out even stronger for the Trinitarian position. So, no go check again, he did not order anyone to celebrate on Sunday. And his main wish was for unity in the empire. He would not have cared if people worshipped on Saturday.
@godssara6758 In Luke 2:8, we are told that shepherds were with their flocks in the field. In other words they were outside. Now the Holy Land is located in the northern hemisphere. Anyone who has visited there for several days or especially if they have lived there will tell you that December is during the rainy season and most days and nights are rainy and cold. This means that you will not see shepherds with their flocks outside and in the field during December or at any time during the rainy season, the animals are penned up. Only a very foolish, careless or negligent shepherd would have his animals out in the field in December in what we know as the Holy Land. Yet Luke says that there were shepherds in the field with their flocks on the night of the Nativity. Logic and rational reasoning leads to the obvious conclusion that whatever date the Nativity occurred, it was not in December or any other time during the rainy season! The Bible gives no definitive date on when the Nativity occurred. The Savior neither observed or celebrated His birthday, nor did He ever direct anyone to do so; the birthday of the Anointed One is not listed in Leviticus 23 as one of the feasts of the Lord that are to be observed throughout the generations of Israel. Thus, the expression the birth of the Savior is the reason for the season may be a clever and catchy sounding phrase, but it is not supported by Biblical, meteorological, or historical facts and evidence.
The Christian population of the Roman Empire circa 270 was not 30% and probably was not even 10%. Even in Constantine's reign circa 350, the Christian population might have hit 50% and almost all of these were in the East. In 270 AD, Christianity was still a minority religion within the Roman Empire. Scholars estimate that Christians made up about 5-10% of the population. The religion was growing steadily, particularly in urban areas, but faced periodic persecution under emperors like Decius and Valerian. The total population of the Roman Empire at this time is estimated to have been around 60-70 million, meaning there were roughly 3-7 million Christians. By 350 AD, Christianity had become much more widespread due to several factors: The Edict of Milan (313 AD) legalized Christianity under Emperor Constantine. Constantine's conversion and patronage provided significant support. Emperor Theodosius I later declared Christianity the official state religion in 380 AD. Estimates suggest that by 350 AD, Christians constituted maybe 50% of the Roman Empire's population. This means roughly 30-40 million Christians out of a total population of around 70-80 million. The rapid growth of Christianity between these years was due to: The appeal of Christian teachings and community. Organizational efficiency of the early Church. State support starting with Constantine's reign. The decline of traditional Roman paganism. Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 260-339 AD): His Ecclesiastical History provides insights into the growth of Christianity during the early centuries, including the role of Constantine and the Church's organization. Lactantius (c. 250-325 AD): In Divine Institutes and other writings, Lactantius discusses the Christian experience and the persecutions prior to Constantine. Roman Legal Texts and Inscriptions: Records such as the Edict of Milan (313 AD) and inscriptions from the period provide evidence of the growing acceptance of Christianity. Secondary Sources and Scholarship Rodney Stark - The Rise of Christianity (1996): Stark uses sociological modeling to estimate Christian population growth rates, concluding that the religion grew at an average rate of 3.4% per year from its inception to Constantine’s reign. Keith Hopkins - Christian Number and Its Implications: This paper in Journal of Early Christian Studies (1998) examines early Christian demographics and their implications for understanding the spread of Christianity. Ramsey MacMullen - Christianizing the Roman Empire (AD 100-400) (1984): MacMullen discusses the sociopolitical factors that contributed to Christianity's rise and its penetration into different segments of Roman society. Kyle Harper - The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire (2017): Harper explores broader societal trends, including the role of Christianity in the Roman world during times of crisis.
@@frankfebus7565 I do not worship Santa clause, nor we bring him up at all, I simply worship Jesus on December 25 like any other day and we gather as a family to be generous to one another and spend quality time together. It’s okay if that isn’t what your convictions are though!
@ and the phrase Spirit and Truth is being misused here somewhat. Worship that comes from the heart, is sincere, and is motivated by love for God. It's not mechanical or formalistic, but instead is infused with faith, commitment, and love is what Spirit means in the passage. And Spirit o Worship in truth is worship that conforms to the revelation of God in Scripture and is informed by who God is and what he is like. It's rooted in the realities of biblical revelation. That does not mean Christians can’t celebrate the birth of Jesus and deny the secular portion of Christmas.
the March and September date are very big assumptions. And landed a Jewish holiday on a roman calender isnt the proper context. They don't match, December 25th is more of the celebration of winter solace and the lowering of the sun during the winter solace
Yeah the one I have heard is that Christians (much later) wanted to wrap in pagans, so they copted their holidays. Yule (Solar minimum) is claimed as a pagan holiday and Christmas was meant to subvert it. While Easter covers the spring. The problem is summer and fall have no such analogues with this theory. Could see evidence of this being put into practice so early as that debunks those talking points. Yes the people claiming this state that Jesus "really" wasn't born in December. Where this makes it clear there was good reason to believe he was based on the Gospel of Luke.
Sir,paganism is good for a society or country. Abrahmic 3 faiths are always derogatory about paganism. Abrahmic faiths are exclusive and dictatorial, while paganism is inclusive and pluralistic.
I recall reading years ago that there was speculation that the birth of Jesus was the origin of April Fool’s Day, apparently His birth date, as a disparagement to the “foolish” believers.
The man in Luke 2:2, Cyrenius is the same person named Quirinius who was appointed governor of Syria in AD 6 by the Romans after Herod Archelaus, a son of King Herod the Great. was removed from Judea. Matthew 2:22. There was one governor, two census. Thats why in Luke we have shepherds and a manger but in Matthew 2years later we have wisemen from the east finding a 2 year old Jesus in a house. I know.... dates and names can be confusing. Careful study of the Word of God determines that it interprets itself while never contradicting itself.
They use the 25th because it is the first day of Chanukah on the Jewish lunar calendar in the month of Kislev. Then his Brit Mila (circumcision) ends up on the first day of the new year. Very convenient post planning.
I believe the Feast of Tabernacle is more accurate, but at least we are in the same time of th year....fall feasts. Jesus was conceived during Hanukkah...the festival of LIGHTS. Thank you Holy Spirit for bringing us the "light of te world".
There is NOT one "shred of evidence" that the Bible writers allude to the month and date (December 25th) using the Hebrew calendars (sacred or secular) as being identified as the chronological time period of Yeshua's (Jesus's) birthday, or that converted Jews, and Christians should celebrate this period, or any other chronology that obligated or suggested that followers of the Messiah should commemorate, celebrate, or memorialize this event. This is evident with regards to the apostle Paul's admonition in his letter to the Galatian Christians, in Galatians Chapter 4: Verses 10 and 11. The one event that Jesus personally counseled his followers to observe was the "the Lord's Evening Meal, or so-called "Last Supper" (Matthew Chapter 26: Verses 26-28; Mark Chapter 14: Verses 22-25; and Luke Chapter 22: Verse 19); in the Jewish month and date of "Nisan 14, [Hebrew sacred calendar months]" that corresponds to parts of March/April, the 14th day also in, or on the Gregorian calendar. This was a COMMEMORATION or MEMORIAL, NOT a so-called TRANSUBSTANTIATION (the literal changing of the bread and wine into the literal flesh and blood of Christ). The Bible warns us on NOT drinking or "eating" blood at Genesis Chapter 9: Verse 4; Leviticus Chapter 7: Vese 26; Leviticus Chapter 17: Verse 14; Acts (of the Apostles) Chapter 15: Verses 20 and 29; and Acts Chapter 21: Verse 25. This prohibition on the "eating" and drinking of blood by God in his relationship and interaction with humanity was binding Biblically on the patriarchs, those subject to the Law of Moses (or Mosaic Law), and for Christians as stated in both the Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures (the "Old Testament,") and the Christian Greek Scriptures (the "New Testament").
Personally, I'd make Advent the start of our New Year and make 21st June our Christmas Day. I'd leave this travesty of a phoney prop for the godless to themselves..We need to withdraw and let the secular and demonic try to justify two weeks of Bacchanalia. Jesus deserves far better.
Not for me. ☺️ Everything and every day belongs to the Lord. Just because some pagans in the ancient past used God’s creation or a particular day, etc. in their worship doesn’t make that day, etc. pagan. Our ancestors might have been pagan, but we are renewed and redeemed.
It is commonly believed that Jesus was 33 1/2 years old when he was crucified. So if you go back 6 months, you are looking at September, October for a date of birth. This gentleman should know better. Xmas is pagan to the core.
Credit to Pope Gregory for the calendar. At least Christmas is consistent. Easter, on the other hand, should have been switched to always be the first Sunday in April 100 years ago! All of Holy Week would be in springtime.
It is the personification of nature, which comes from the Greeks but also from the Egyptians and so on - it is the winter solstice which is between Dec. 20 and Dec. 23 - where again the day begins to grow in the southern hemisphere and what here that cult of the sun of light etc. the world has personified light as being God or the birth of Jesus etc. spring represents the rebirth of life after the winter hibernation or the death as everything is frozen etc. and again put as being the Easter as Jesus died and was reborn meaning it was winter and spring came and everything is reborn to life - so another personification of nature - the world was a bit bored and invented all kinds of stories in those times, beautiful but they are just stories.
The origins of Christmas, and every other celebration at that time of year is the winter solstice. The time when the days begin getting longer, and the nights begin getting shorter. For people living north of the equator it would have been a joyous occasion. As far as Saturnalia, it predates Christianity, and by implication Christmas, by hundreds of years.
Whenever he was born aside, the solstice occurs between the 20th and the 22nd. The 25th is a different date. Shocking, I know. You've been watching too many Zeitgeist "documentaries."
God has a record of taking over pagan holidays. Look no further than the celebration of Passover. Jesus celebrated that! Get over yourselves, legalists. You don't think God, Almighty takes back ground? At passover, Jesus asked his disciples to break bread and to "do this in remembrance of me." Breaking the bread is part of the request, but remembering Jesus is the point. Be careful with legalism or you"ll miss the point. The wise men came to celebrate- they came to worship, just as we do today. Elizabeth's child leaped for joy within her. Somehow, we're not supposed to pay any respect or feel joy today for what He has done? That would run contrary to Scripture.
Please elaborate with Biblical examples of "God taking over pagan holidays". I've not read one statement saying that we should not feel joy for what He has done. Your statements are quite immature. You lash out with the rote name calling of 'legalist!' in your attempt to demean.
Actually, the Bible says NOT to worship the way the pagans do (Deuteronomy 12:4, 31), which is 'taking over pagan holidays'. Perhaps you don't think the Bible is for today?
Ever heard of the Great Sin in the Bible? A certain King in the northern kingdom of Israel began celebrating feasts NOT appointed by God. Let's not forget the repeated words of God saying "Do not worship me in that way". And last I checked..... God is legal in all his ways.
Christmas date and customs are undeniably of pagan origin, such as Santa Claus. And some of the Christian part of the theme are at the wrong time--no Magi at Jesus' birth. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
what are you talking about, Santa Clause is based on Saint Nicholas, thats not Pagan, he was literally a Catholic Saint, if anything He was made into a Secular Myth AFTER the fact
The irony of telling others not to bear false witness and then accusing the Christian Saint Nicholas of being pagan, when he is a well-documented Christian from Asia Minor. "They dug a pit and have fallen into the ditch which they made..." Psalm 7
@@jaycampbell6402 Seriously, St. Nicholas flew around the world giving children presents? No one is claiming the real St. Nicholas is pagan. It's the traditions associated with Christmas.
Plain and simple it’s all pagan. Stop trying to justify, spin and change the origin. Read your Bible, know your Bible and stop the half-truths to suit your own meanings.
It's sad that "Torah" is a bad word among many Christians and Christian teachers. Why do Christians teach that the 4th Commandment was changed? The Saviour observed the Biblical sabbath vs the Catholic sabbath. The Saviour observed His Feasts vs the man-made holy days. It says in Exodus 13 and Deuteronomy 6 that observing Passover, etc, is as a sign as frontlets between the eyes and on the hand: thinking & doing what the Father wants us to think and do! Could that be as opposed to the "mark of the Beast"? When I was a child someone told me the reason that Sabbath changed from Saturday (the 7th day) to Sunday (the 1st day) of the week; but if that person had been observing the Feasts of the Creator, he would have known that the Saviour arose on the first day of the week since First Fruits always lands on the first day of the week. I don't think it is evil to observe the "traditional day of Messiah's birth," but why not observe Feast of Dedication too? It is a traditional holiday celebrating the MIRACULOUS! deliverance of the FAITHFUL Jews from a one world secular humanist church state government under Antiochus Epiphanes. According to Maccabees (in the original KJV), there were "renegade" Jews too. Because of the miracle, there was the Hebraic culture into which our Messiah, who observed His Own Feasts & Sabbaths, was born! HalleluYah!
Because the Torah was a conditional covenant with the children of Israel, which was broken by them. See Jeremiah 31:31. Its 613 (not just 10) commandments are no longer required of either Jewish or Gentile Christians.
@@rickcochran6063keep making excuses to live in lawlessness. 1 John 2 Have you read revelation? Jesus says to pray that day doesn’t come during winter or on a sabbath.
Well, if you want to be considered a man of "LAWLESSNESS" ( no 613 laws) go ahead. It doesn't look good for your kind in 2 Thessalonians 3-4. It says there is a great rebellion against God and the man of LAWlessness is revealed-the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call God and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. And Daniel 7:25 says he will try to change the holy people's sacred festivals and seasons. Discounting the LAWS of Moses aren't a good strategy if you want to "Fear God and KEEP His commandments" says the last verses of Ecclessiastes. Written by the WISEST man in the world at the time. LAWlessness will get you KICKED OUT of the Kingdom with the Anti Christ labeled as your Father. I'd keep my eye on the Pope this Christmas Eve and see if he puts baby ( Jewish) Jesus back on the nativity scene wrapped up in that keffiyah. That would be likened to slaughtering a pig on the altar. For him who has ears to hear.
It is related to March 25, but his explanation as to why is laughable. There are many feasts throughout the year during which Zechariah could've been working. Why choose one in September? March 25 was believed to be the date of the death of Jesus. In the ancient world, there was the belief that great men died on the same date on which they were conceived. So, if Jesus died on March 25, he was also conceived on March 25. Nine months later is December 25. Of course, we don't believe such things as the great men theory, and we know that full human gestation is 40 weeks, which is 9 1/2 to 10 months. That being said, the best theory I've seen, as to the birth date of Jesus, is September 11, 3 BC.
Dec 25th may be a pagan celebration. But remember all things have to be replaced by the coming of Jesus. A new meaning to the false and pagan celebration by the light of the world who has come into the world. The tru worship, a true prophecy, a true revelation of God made man. Appreciate the attempt of early Christians by their zeal to find new meaning in Jesus.
@kenyanr1 God doesn't dictate the way of worship.... it is man's way of worship with sound theological sense of worship, free from superstition, fear or superficial act.
It's easy to quite Duet: 12 for once convenience. Read in the light of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible, there are very few places that God speaks directly. Other times, prophets spoke on behalf of God.... here, Moses is admonishing to worship God in an appropriate manner. I challenge you.. Can you prove that by celebrating Christmas that we worship the SUN GOD? Far from it, christmas is not worship of the sun, BUT SON. ALL PAGAN WORSHIP IS REPLACED BY THE SON..JESUS. understand it.. Don't believe the Bible thumpers who speak negative and people with little faith look for such excuses. They are biased... not inspired by the Holy Spirit. Sad, sad ,sad people.
That was rather brief. It does sound good and he presents it at a most surface level to sound reasonable. It is noteworthy that he states it is opinion. Albeit well understood the sentiment toward the day, it would be more truthful for him to simply give his thoughts and admit that he has a bias.
Jeremiah 10 King James Version 10 Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. 6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. 7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. 8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. 9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men. 10 But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. 12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. 13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. 14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. 15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. 16 The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name. 17 Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress. 18 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so. 19 Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous; but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it. 20 My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains. 21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. 22 Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons. 23 O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. 24 O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing. 25 Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.
John was born on the day of PASSOVER. Lord Yeshua was born on the 1st day of the feast of Tabernacles. Zachariah was of the 8th course of Priests found in I Chronicles Chap 24. He was in the temple on the feast of Shavuot or Pentecost. He went home to Elizabeth and she became pregnant for John in July. Mary came to Bethlehem during Hanukkah in December of 4BC. John was born on Passover of 3BC and Yeshua his cousin was born on the 1st day of Tabernacles on September 27th of 3 BC. This is scriptural please look it up. These dates are fulfilled according to the feasts of GOD found in Leviticus Chapter 23. What do you think?
Thank you. This is the level of detail I was expecting to get from the professor. A visual timeline with scriptures as well as external supporting references would help. I would also list all the arguments he counters, e.g, Pagan origins for December 25th, in a visual way with the counter arguments and respective supporting evidence. This would add more credibility. I need to do more research myself on this but your comments are a good start.
Luke 2:21 "and he was named JESUS, the name the angel had given him...." Rely on the Bible, not on your own theories or the theories of modern professors in ivory towers. Only one name under heaven saves us and makes the demons flee, because the angel Gabriel does not care about your theory that he must have had an Aramaic name.
The dec 25th or aproximate winter solctice was celebrated all over the germanic world for hundreds of years before the CATHOLIC church (which is the least "christian" organization on earth" began the amalgamation of other religions and dont try to say the didn't as this is heavily documented. The issue is you find catholic hands all over pagan rituals and statues. They litterally consecrated pagan temples (the very places they celebrated these solstice celebrations in) and called them churches now and held services on these days. I find your assertions speculative and the inverse of the evidence available. In short APOSTASY
Fairly heavily worded but amalgamation of paganism into christianity is the very definition of the word , and provable with available evidence the early catholic church did exactly that. There is a great comedian who said "the roman empire became a church and the English crown became a bank." And he is correct in my opinion
None of the traditions people enjoy during christmas are christian. Gift giving, music, eating, drinking, all preceed christianity. Decorated pine trees in palestine? Yeah, sounds legit. Christmas is just another holiday with a pagan origin, just like the days of the week and names of the months.
The Jewish people worshipped God with a golden calf in Exodus and God was going to eliminate them for worshiping in a way he didn't approve of. =/ None of the traditions of christmas are biblical. And Jesus's life aligned with Jewish holidays, set by God, not roman celebrations.
@@BookZealots Nope. YT is pretty capricious in what it allows. I will say in answer to my own question, the early Church saints and martyrs who existed, converted, believed and died for +300 years without a Bible as you know it today, and likely would not have been able to read it if they had it. I hear Reformists accuse Catholics of idolatry because we have statuary in our homes and churches, while reveling in their own book idolatry.
@@AK-76er Agree, I don't understand the censorship. It has really ramped up. My father grew up Catholic and I know one of my grandmothers was as well. I grew up in a heathen household and we observed the typical holidays, but the name of Jesus was a cussword in my home. =( What I had mentioned last night is that the word of God explains to us how to worship him, not with traditions of men, not with golden calves. That was not a dig on Catholics at all. It was sincerely a study of Exodus. As for "book" idolatry, people look at my channel name and it is actually a reference to the only book that matters, but most people don't discern that. Thank you for having a conversation. It's a challenge sometimes to read though comments and figure out which ones will respond in kind and not be on the attack. I hope you have many blessings in the future.
This is the way I understand it. Zachariah was in the temple and struck mute when John the Baptist was conceived in the womb of Elizabeth. They figure that this was for something that was happening in late September. When the Annunciation happened, Mary was told Elizabeth was six month pregnant. The Annunciation is March 25. Jesus was born 9 months later.
He’s talking nonsense, of course. The 25th December is a very key date because it is the birth date of the new sun every year. The old sun “dies” at the winter solstice (roughly 21st or 22nd December) when its rising point on the horizon reaches its most southerly point of the year. The sun is “dead” for three days i. e. the rising point doesn’t visibly change. Then, as the rising point moves north visibly on 25th December the sun has “risen from the dead” is reborn and the solar new year begins. The idea that these ideas in Christianity is coincidence is absurd. Oh, by the way, Constantine was very much an advocate for Sol Invictus. I suspect he saw Jesus as pretty much the same idea.
It’s amazing to me that intellectuals can ignore mountains of evidence that contradict their point of view…like really bud, you want to tell me saturnalia has no bearing on what we now call christmas? You’re biased and it shows.
@ he didn’t present any evidence. He made generalities which are clearly widely disputed. Pick up any encyclopedia Brittanica from more than a a couple decades ago and you’ll notice that..
When you say early Christians, you are not talking Bible, you are tallking the apostate church making celebrations that God does not ask for or require. They are additions of those claiming Christianity. No Gospel account asks for an annual spiritual celebration of the Christchild. It is teaching doctrines that are the Commandments of men.
Do you think Jesus really cares about an accurate date? He should be celebrated every day!
Amen
I think you miss the point. The idea is that passages of the Bible or Christian practices are not just copies of pagan practices. It might not matter for you a believer, but it might matter for those we are trying to convince.
Do you think that God doesn't care about anything specific? God has given specificity in so many details of His word that one would be wise to find truth in every detail that one can. He created everything. Down to the minutia of every detail in physics. He cares. He reveals himself from the smallest detail to the largest metadata.
Yes, Jesus cares about an accurate date. He doesn't want to worshipped on the Sun God's birthday. The bible makes it clear God doesn't want to us copy pagan worship customs to worship him.
O Lord! Let’s have prayer!!! You missed it. The point is God becoming human for our salvation was [is!] so important to the early persecuted Church that through biblical analysis a date of both His birth, death and Resurrection should be set to honor God. The result then is that Christmas was NOT birthed out of paganism.
When I was a child, Christmas always meant a celebration of the birth of Jesus to me. Now that I'm rounding third and heading for home, I still celebrate it for the birth of my savior, in my heart. I realize the waters have been muddied over the years as to the actual date, but God looks on the heart. I love Christmas; however, it's not nearly as important as the empty tomb, which I celebrate on Easter Sunday, even though it may or not be the actual date of the reserection.
Also remember that when it is said this Country (America --USA) was founded upon Christian beliefs...this is true. It is also true that not only was the celebration of Christmas frowned upon, but at one point in time was BANNED by the church. We did not always decorate trees, that was adopted from the Germans basically thru Prince Albert Queen Victoria's husband. We presume all these traditions of men have been celebrated all along. But no, they have not.
Amen!
@@lynnreed2493 Who presumes that these traditions have been celebrated all along? It is well known that Christians in Alsace Lorraine began decorating trees and calling them "Christmas trees" in the 1400s. There is no evidence that it was pagan in origin. It was an innovative form of Christian art, just like cathedrals or Gregorian chant. I have never met anybody that thought Christmas trees have been celebrated "all along".
The only way to know your heart is by asking yourself if you knew exactly the time when Jesus was born if your willing to stop celebrating Christmas and celebrate during the real date. Or am I not willing to do it for the sake of my tradition. If you’re not willing then it wasn’t about Jesus all along.
@mgz_5482 So are you're telling God he doesn't know how to discern what's in someone's heart?
The important thing about Jesus’ birth is that it fulfilled prophecy.
Micah 5:2 (KJV)
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,
though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel;
whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Matthew 2:5-6 (KJV)
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
@@dB_944 🙏
That presentation did not clarify much of anything.
The problem with trying to calculate the date of Jesus' birth starting with the conception of John the Baptist, is that we do not know on which of the occasions when Zechariah was on duty in the temple the angel appeared to him. There were 24 priestly divisions, and each served for one week, twice a year. Abijah's division was the eighth (I Chron.24:10; Luke 1:5). However, ALL the priests were on duty for the feasts, so Zechariah would have been on duty in March or April for Passover; seven weeks later for Shavuot (Pentecost); probably June for his first regular turn of duty; September or October for Sukkot (Tabernacles), and ?November for his second regular turn of duty. He could have seen the angel at any of those times.
Furthermore, not all the divisions were represented among the priests who returned from the Exile. The rota had to be re-arranged, but we don't know exactly how. And there is another serious difficulty. The Hebrew calendar is lunar, with each month lasting 29-30 days. In order to keep in synch with the seasons, seven years out of every 19 are leap years, when the twelfth month is repeated - Adar Aleph and Adar Bet - so then what happened to the rota? Answer: We simply do not know!
I hope that makes it clear that trying to work out the time of Jesus' birth from when Zechariah was on duty is a futile exercise! However, there is a much simpler way to know, and the clue is in Luke 2:8ff where we are told the shepherds were "keeping watch over their flocks at night." The fields around Bethlehem were where the animals for the temple sacrifices were bred and reared, especially the Passover lambs. Those shepherds had the enormous responsibility of ensuring the lambs arrived safely and were protected. Normally, only one or two would be awake at night, to guard the sheep from thieves and predators - presumably on a rota basis as they had to sleep some time! However, at lambing time they would ALL be watching the ewes very carefully, to ensure the safe delivery of those precious lambs.
It makes perfect sense to think that our Passover Lamb was born at the same time, in the same area as the regular Passover lambs. The census was held around late Adar to early Nisan, and Mary and Joseph remained in Bethlehem for the birth, which occurred two to four weeks later. (Contrary to popular myth, Mary was not actually in labour when they arrived in Bethlehem, she was in the late stage of pregnancy - Luke 2:5-6)
If that is correct, Jesus could well have been conceived at Shavuot the previous year, when Jews celebrated the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai - "For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus the Messiah." (John 1:17)
The editor seems to have cut out any explanation of how Dr. Calvert arrived at March 25th for the annunciation of John and the starting place for the chronology he proposes. Everything hinges on that starting point. Without that detail, the entire theory is baseless. It seems as though Calvert worked backwards from December 25th, rather than forward from when Zachariah would have been in the Temple.
Considering Zachariah was part of Abijah, the eighth order of Levitical priests, it’s just as reasonable to assert John’s conception fell on the heals of Shavu’ot (the Feast of Weeks), Jesus’ annunciation fell six months later on Hanukkah (the Feast of Dedication), John’s birth was three months later on Passover (fulfilling expectations Elijah would return to announce the Messiah on Passover), and Jesus was born six months afterwards during Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles, when Israel memorializes God dwelling with them in the wilderness; Emmanuel “God with us”).
I noticed this as well. It was like "we're measuring from a specific date" but never told us what specific date we're talking about ....
This is correct I believe and fits with the understanding that Jesus fulfills all of the Jewish festivals. Thus He enters the world at Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, as He is the light of the world. He is born on the feast of Tabernacles which celebrated God being with and leading the Jews out of exile.
Exactly. I’m very disappointed that a history professor didn’t do his research on dates of the orders of the Levitical priesthood. Sounds like he’s trying to justify keeping Christmas when there is no record of it being kept by the disciples or early Christians.
If Jesus was conceived in September, six month after the (unsubstantiated) March 25, wouldn't that put Jesus' birth month to be the next June (9 months later)?
@henryluis9270,
Dr. Calvert is alleging Jesus was conceived Mar 25th, and John as conceived the previous September.
The Bible does not say to commemorate the birth of his earthly body. It Does say to commemorate his death. "This do in remembrance of me”.And no, it does not turn into his actual blood and body, it’s a symbolism.
yes, you are correct that the bible does not explicitly instruct believers to commemorate the birth of Jesus. however, this does not mean that celebrating His birth is unbiblical or contrary to christian faith.
celebrating Jesus' birth can be seen as a way of acknowledging the miracle of the Incarnation: God becoming flesh (John 1:14). reflecting on this event can deepen our understanding of God’s love and purpose for humanity.
and same thing with his death for the miracle of his resurrection.
so i dont know if what is really you're trying to imply.
I am guessing you are a Baptist? Do you know why you reject the true corporal body blood of Christ is present in the Eucharist? It becomes Baptist/Evangelicals followed the theology of Zwingli who literally resurrected the ancient heresy of Nestorianism . All theology is Christology. You believe the eucharist is merely symbolic because of the Christological errors in your theology.
You believe the eucharist is merely symbolic because of the Christological errors in your theology.
@@P-el4zd ...umm... "Do this in >>rememberance
@@Zulonix The eucharist is not merely a symbolic remembrance. Christ says, “This is My body.” And Paul says of this broken bread that it is “a participation in the body of Christ” (1 Cor. 10:16). Moreover, he says in the words of institution, “This is My body, which is broken for you,” that is, what is divided in the Supper is the body of Christ. Therefore Christ, God and man, is present in the total action of the Supper instituted by Him, and offers to those who eat it his body and blood.
Those churches who follow the theology of Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin do not believe in the real presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. Rather, they believe in representation, that bread and wine only represent the body and blood of Christ.
Zwingli’s concept of representation sprang from his misunderstanding of the two natures in Christ. Zwingli revived the error of Nestorius, who denied there was a sharing of attributes between the two natures in Christ. Zwingli did not believe that the human nature of Christ could share in the attributes of his divine nature and still remain human. His favorite slogan was “the finite is not capable of the infinite”-(Latin: finitum non est capax infiniti). Zwingli called all biblical references which indicated that the divine nature shared its attributes with the human nature “a figure of speech (Greek: alloeosis).”
Zwingli interpreted Christ’s ascension into heaven and sitting at the right hand of God as Christ’s human nature being confined to a specific location in the universe. Thus, he reasoned, Christ could not be present in the Lord’s Supper if his human nature were confined at the right hand of God. Therefore, he reasoned, “This is my body … This is my blood” must mean that bread and wine merely represent the body and blood of Christ.
Would it not be easier to go back in the record books and find out when Joseph paid his taxes to Pharoah or Rome? Wasn't that the reason that he loaded up a very pregnant Mary and traveled to Bethlehem in the first place?
Not really, the Catholics are who really defined timelines and is used to this day. The modern timelines who use BCE or CE instead of BC wouldn’t have changed the time frame but to prove it in AD and based on BC, timeframe it’s a bit off; thus to take away any relationship to Christianity and ill will to Christians is what this hubbub is truly about. Many and if not all Christian understand and respect time but celebrate on December 25 or near shouldn’t be the issue but non respecting people throw fits at parties to make it about themselves.
*challenging to text and cycle for brain a body workouts
Have a wonderful Christmas 🎄
Ha ha good one @goldengirl48
I lived in Israel for three years. I can tell you with certainty that December is the bitter cold, rainy season and shepherds do not “keep watch with their flocks by night” in the fields, but have them penned up. For what it’s worth, he was most likely born at Passover given that all the inns were filled with people all the way out to Bethlehem. Another marker.
I just checked the weather in bethelahem. It's nowhere near bitterly cold.
Really?!? During the roman empire Britain was so temperate the Roman grew wine in the country.
The Sahara region at used to be a tropical climate before it was a desert.
Are you so dense as to think the climate wasn't different 2000 years ago?
The inns were full due to the one-time anomaly of Herod ordering a census, not due to celebrating a Feast. BTW, when Jesus was born has been spelled out since Moses and is right there in the name, it's no mystery...
Feast of Tabernacles
"tabernacle" - an intransitive verb meaning, "to take up temporary residence; especially to inhabit a physical body"
God laid aside His divine glory, and came to earth to “tabernacle” among us in human form
John 1:1-14
Probably He was not born on December 25, and maybe it is more likely that he was born on March 25, the day we celebrate the Annunciation? We are after all, less interested in the historical date than in the fact of the incarnation. A doctrine which,BTW, Orthodox Jews and Muslims think of as pagan in origin. Luke’s Gospel does not tell us, even hint about the date. and we are not sure of even the year, only that Herod the Great was King of the Jews when it happened. We are not even sure of when Our Lord was crucifiedm died, was buried but rose on thr third day in a time when Toberias was Emperor and Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea and a younger Herod was king. Then some three hundred years later, some many of his followers existed in the Empire and beyond its limits that the Emperor became his champion that today the city of Rome still belongs to the pope, who claims the allegiance to billions of people.
This video was not trying to prove that Jesus was born in December. It’s trying to explain why the early Christians chose that date. That’s all. And you are right: he was most likely born in the spring.
The Savior Jesus is born, that’s all what matters
The only reason I celebrate Christmas is because my savior Jesus Christ was born, and I will continue to. "Christmas" whether its the right date or not is one of the most celebrated dates/holidays in history around the world that spreads the gospel.
Sorry, but it’s NOT an issue that matters. The precise day is irrelevant. What’s celebrated is The Incarnation.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 1:14 Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory-the glory of the one and only…
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Are you really that stupid?
Jeremiah 10:3,4,5
Matthew 28:23
Start reading scriptures!
Galatians 4:8-11: Paul expresses concern that the Galatians are turning back to what he describes as "weak and worthless elementary principles of the world," observing "days and months and seasons and years." This suggests Paul was wary of the Galatians reverting to practices from their pagan past or adopting Jewish customs for salvation, which he saw as a form of spiritual bondage rather than freedom in Christ. This has been interpreted by some as a criticism of observing holidays, whether Jewish or pagan, if they are done with the intent of earning salvation or out of legalistic observance rather than faith.
Thank you, this is Wisdom
It doesn’t really matter exactly when Jesus was born - what matters is we celebrate the risen Messiah!
Thanks for sharing
None of that is justification for Christmas. Throughout the scriptures, God has instructed His people on HOW they are to worship Him and how they are not to worship Him. Making the individual the deciding factor on how God is to be worshipped in the face of the massive amounts of instructions is humanism at best. Many well meaning historical figures may have made this declaration or that edict for worship but it has no authority other than that which is supported by the entire Word.
Christmas makes perfect sense near the winter solstice in the liturgical calendar. What makes anyone think that getting the date just right was ever the point?
I found this presentation to be a waste of time.. just a self proclaimed intellectual talking but not connecting any dots.
Does being a Christian mean that we have to believe that a certain day is the birth of Christ? I can only imagine what the Lord thinks 🤔
But where do you get the March 25th date from?
It was from The Virgin Mary herself. Annunciation March 25. Birth of Christ 9 months later December 25th.
It hurts my heart to read in the comments the feuding between brothers and sisters in Christ over doctrine. :(
Jesus taught doctrine.
It certainly didn’t hurt the prophets, the apostles, or Christ to call out false doctrine. as Ben Shapiro says “Facts don’t care about your feelings.
Not doctrine. Scripture and obedience
If the Birth of Christ is of no importance then why would it be in the Bible.
Of course it is important, as it fulfilled prophecy. But we don't know the date, and it is not ok to celebrate pagan holidays and paste Jesus' birthday on it. Can you imagine if your wife celebrated your birthday on her old boyfriends birthday, and did all the stuff he liked to celebrate it? You would likely not think that was ok, right?
Great analogy!😇
If the birth mattered to God wouldn't he have given us a date or tell us to observe it. He's pretty detail oriented. One knows this just by reading the O.T. Some questions to ask:
Who observed birthdays in the Bible? What does it mean to observe a birthday? And lastly, what occurred at those two birthdays in the Bible?
In Exodus, God had Moses rescue his chosen people from Egypt. But when Moses was on the mountain, the people started to worship God with a golden calf. It's what they knew from Egypt. (I think the worst offenders were struck down). God did not approve.
How we worship God matters. And we need to make sure it's how he wants, not the traditions of men.
The life of Jesus aligns with Jewish holidays, set by God.
Is the birth of Jesus important? And are his instructions to us more important than traditions of men?
They chew you up for being Christian now. My ancestors came here for religious freedom and…….. well….. this place has changed 😢
@ The Catholic kings and the reformation, Martin Luther. Germany. They fled religious persecution coming to America under indentured servitude
This is a weak presentation. It surprises me that Hillsdale would put this out.
The presenter says that we should look to what the early Christians believed and were doing. That is valid. But the early Christians did not observe Christmas for hundreds of years after Jesus was crucified. The presenter says there is no evidence of Christmas for 1400 a 1500 years. Then he tries to retread the old bit about the son and the sun and the light coming to the world blah, blah, blah. So let’s look at what GOD says about the sun/son theory. he created the light and the sun on different days - they are not the same. The Egyptians worshipped the sun god. GOD says HE doesn’t want to be worshipped as the Egyptians worship their gods and GOD punished their gods when HE set Israel free. Then HE sets down for Israel how HE wants to be worshipped.
He gives details about HIS holy days which are the heritage of the Christians ( Christ was killed in keeping with the Passover, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples on the Pentecost, the rest of the holy days look to the future return of Christ).
The presenter try’s to make a case that Christmas is not pagan but only offers evidence that it is. Look to Jeremiah 10. “Do not look to the way of the nations…” Mixing paganism with Christianity is nothing new. What follows in Jeremiah 10: 3-4 should sound familiar to Christmas. I’ve heard people still clinging to their tree saying “but we don’t worship the tree “ while they are singing to the tree or praising the tree “ Ohhh Christmas tree, Ohhh Christmas tree, how ever green your branches”. I know this is like taking candy from a baby. But you are not children any longer.
It is always a bit perplexing to me that the 'church' or believers are not even acknowledged until 1400 years after His death and resurrection. With no disrespect for those who are now referred to as church 'fathers', doesn't father or fathers normally refer to those there at the conception of something? Thus, would it not seem fitting to learn how those first people of the Way lived?
Rejoice and be exceeding glad!!! Said the angel. We celebrate every day!!!! ....also Christmas.
The Bible does not say anything about celebrating Christ’s birth. Certainly, his death, burial, and resurrection, but not his birth.
Which verse(s) say to celebrate His death?
@ he instituted the lords supper the night he was betrayed.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (KJV)
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.” This is done every first day of the week: Acts 20:7 (KJV)
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”
@@dB_944 There is no verse in the scriptures that directs anyone to remember, observe or celebrate the resurrection, there is only the one that directs His disciples to remember His death.
@@dB_944 Why do you say that it is done every first day of the week? The Lord directed that it be done on the evening of the Passover, and He set the example for when it was to be done by instituting it during the Passover supper. The first day of the week is not an anniversary of the Passover and is not the Sabbath day, which is the seventh day of the week. Historically both Israel and Judah were punished for Sabbath-breaking by the Lord by being invaded, conquered, and taken into exile, Israel first in 721BC by Assyria, and then later Judah, by Babylon in 595BC.
@ that was the old covenant. We’re under the new covenant.
I remember Hillsdale Academy having a "Festival of Saturnalia" replace the traditional Christmas party in one of the 7th grade classes. Furthermore, as parents, my wife and I were pressured to allow our two young sons to sing a "Christmas" song blessing the "virgin" Mary as the Queen of Heaven even though we raised objections of conscience and quietly asked for our sons to be excused.
If this is true concerning Hillsdale Academy having a “Festival of Saturnalia “and giving homage to the Virgin Mary as the queen of heaven- THIS IS TERRIBLE!
If it is true concerning Hillsdale Academy in celebrating a Festival of Saturnalia and giving homage to the Virgin Mary as the queen of heaven- THIS IS TERRIBLE!
""Christmas" song blessing the "virgin" Mary as the Queen of Heaven "
She is precisely that. What's the problem?
@@AK-76er Should people who disagree be forced to participate?
The Queen of Heaven is a demon.
@@AK-76er So parents should not have the right for their children to abstain from religious observances they disagree with?
The Magi were using a particular star to locate Jesus. The winter solstice was likely a time where star data was greater and more accurate. At the solstice the particular star would be directly overhead.
By the time they showed up, he was around 2 years old.
@@richardkeeten3933 Not necessarily. We know that Herod sent his decree to target children under 2. But Herod would have been erring on the high side of his age. We also know that by the 8th day, Christ was in the temple at Jerusalem to be circumcised. It is possible the Magi came after that, so I would agree we cannot use the Magi to date his birth.
It is noteworthy that the Shepard were in the field with their flocks at the time of Jesus’s birth. It is my understanding that they move the sheep to the pastures in the springtime around Passover and bring them in around the feast of tabernacles (fall). I think proverbs says that where no oxen are the manger is clean. That would also mean the oxen had been put out to pasture as well. Again, as I understand it, it is much like we tended to do in the United States where we grazed cattle spring and summer, put hogs out to free range spring and summer, and rounded them up in fall and winter. If that idea holds, Jesus’s birth was no where near December
That was nicely put. We do live in a time when multitudes very are out of touch with farming, shepherding, animal husbandry, as well as cyclical practices in other regions.
Yes I agree with you
Bethlehem is literally the same latitude as Los Angeles. Go spend a Christmas in LA and your question will be answered.
I live in Colorado. There are days in December when I enjoy being outside late in the evening even up in the mountains.
YES MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2025 TO ALL. AMEN AMEN AMEN ❤❤❤
There isn't a way to know when Zachariah was in the Temple because a priest entered the Temple every day of the year. Luke does not say that he entered the Most Holy Place. If it said that, we could place him in the Temple in September/October, that is, on the 10th day of the 7th Hebrew month. We can come close to Jesus' birthday if we work backward from His death in March. If we say that Jesus ministered for 3 1/2 years, which matches the pattern that God uses for such things (like during the End Times), and He was "about" 30 years old when He started, we can work back to a birth that is likely to be in September/October. There are a lot of buts in my speculation, but at least they are biblical speculations.
This is outrageous that Christians celebrated Christmas.
You read the Bible from cover to cover. What did they celebrate? It was not Christmas.
They were instructed to keep the Passover, not the birth of Christ. It was more important to recognize the sacrifice of Christ than his birth
No it wouldn’t be “outrageous.” It is definitely something to be celebrated. Where does it say Not to celebrate the birth? Take it easy, it’s good to have holidays, which means Holy-day, and the birth of Jesus is most definitely a Holy day.
I read my Bible abd found this:
Colossians 2:13-17 (KJV) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Stop judging me in respect of an holyday. The day belongs to the Lord anyway, and im going to use the day to worship and celebrate the birth of my Savior.
So many atheists in here pretending to be Christians banking on real Christians who done know their Christian History.
All of the holidays in the Bible were given to the Jews by God through Moses. They were not given directly to the gentiles. Same thing with circumcision, eating pork, and fish with scales and fins.
The Christians wanted their own party. All these pagans are partying during that time of year and the Christian’s felt left out. So they started their own party.
Is there any scripture to back up what he is saying?
Yes. Luke 1-3. Besides that you have to check out the levitical calendar, not included in the Bible. Read some of the early church Father's like Hippolytus (of Rome or Smyrna, I can't recall which off the top of my head), also not included in the Bible, and calendars used by Christians in those early eras, also not included in the Bible.
@@EliSkylander What period is the early church fathers?
@@kristine778 What I always like to say is that the Bible is the absolute truth, but it’s not absolute truth. MEANING, there are a lot of gray areas in the Bible that we have to look back to the early church to find information on/to see how Christians navigated the pagan world.
@@kristine778 Saint Hippolytus of Rome (c. 170-235 AD) was a Christian leader, theologian, and martyr who is considered one of the most important Church Fathers.
So the period is around 170-235ad
@@EliSkylander Yes, to make up the Christmas story, you need "sources" outside of the Bible ... that is one of the biggest signs, that this is not a Christian teaching. if we should celebrate Christ's birth, it would have been a New Testament command. But it is not. Christmas is pagan, a human invention we don't find in the Holy Scriptures.
the Bible did not tell us the birthday of Jesus, so He didn't want us to celebrate it, especially on December 25, because that is a pagan holiday, and the Bible says not to worship like the pagans do (Deuteronomy 12: 4-5). What pagan holiday? Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" mentions it, Maccabees dates 25 Kislev as the date Antiochus Epiphanies did the first abomination of desolation, sacrificing a pig on the altar in the temple (notice that Christians eat ham on Christmas?). "The Two Babylons" by Hislop also mentions it. It is called in some cultures Saturnalia, but in other cultures it was part of Sun worship (the winter solstice). It was paired with Sunday worship instead of 7th day sabbath. Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" gives a good description, but it was a time of gift giving, debauchery, etc. The Romans merged paganism with Christianity, which is why you see so many pagan things like the yule log, Christmas tree, presents under the tree (you have to bow down to get them), etc.
It might be best to ask how God feels about the holiday instead of how you feel about the holiday. Imagine celebrating your husband's birthday on your old boyfriend's birthday, and doing all the things your old boyfriend likes on that day. It grieves the Lord.
Finally look at the fruit of the holiday. Drunkeness, gluttony, focus on presents, lying to children about Santa, extensive credit card debt to pay for presents to celebrate the birth of the Lord who was born in a barn to poor parents. Idols in the shape of nativity scenes, etc. Brothers and sisters, repent and celebrate the holidays the Lord gave you in the Bible!
If you listened, it was not on a pagan holiday. Why would they use a pagan holiday when they were being persecuted by the pagans? Nobody knows the exact date of Jesus birth but a specific date was chosen so Christians could celebrate the incarnation.
If we followed the Holidays mentioned in the Bible we should then not be practicing Christianity but Judaism. We may have Jewish roots but not all of us are. Frankly, I am getting tired of so many complaints on TH-cam videos about the" Pagan" roots of Christmas and why we should stop celebrating it. Even though we don't know the exact date when Christ was born, the point is that He was and that the church celebrates His birth on December 25. It was the winter solstice that was celebrated by pagans. But how many times has Christ overturned paganism on its head? People, countries, customs. Get over yourselves, people. Following religion strictly will make you miserable. I will continue to celebrate Him on the 25th of December and every day of the year. Thank you.
@@zhaba24-pw7lf Consider....were the apostles Christians or Jews? The answer is yes to both. I am not a Jew, but the Bible says I am 'grafted in.' Are you? What makes you think we can make up our own holidays and religion? Modern Judiasm is apostate because they reject their messiah, but it is not always so.
I know the guy has a PhD in history and teachers on an academic level so shout me down. That said he has said "I think" which is an opinion and then adds some more speculation. Concerning the conception and birth if I may speculate based on other scholarships and research the conception would be sometime in December and the birth about September 17, 4 BCE. Now the elephant in the room the early Christian never performed the Mass and thus no Christ-Mas sorry Pope.
"Now the elephant in the room the early Christian never performed the Mass and thus no Christ-Mas sorry Pope."
Really, Rufus? Suggest you research the First Apology of St. Justin Martyr (100-165 AD) Chapters 65-66:
But we, after we have thus washed him who has been convinced and has assented to our teaching, bring him to the place where those who are called brethren are assembled, in order that we may offer hearty prayers in common for ourselves and for the baptized [illuminated] person, and for all others in every place, that we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the truth, by our works also to be found good citizens and keepers of the commandments, so that we may be saved with an everlasting salvation. Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen. This word Amen answers in the Hebrew language to γένοιτο [so be it]. And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion.
And this food is called among us Εὐχαριστία [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. *For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.* For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, This do in remembrance of Me, Luke 22:19 this is My body; and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, This is My blood; and gave it to them alone. Which the wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same thing to be done. For, that bread and a cup of water are placed with certain incantations in the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you either know or can learn.
Someone might want to update the Catholic encyclopedia then.
There is no doubt that Christmas is turning into a secular celebration and has lost to a large extent the true meaning of Christmas! It’s made me to not look at Christmas as a real celebration of Christ! It’s turn into a season of selfishness and not giving! People have been damaged by the Commercialization of Christmas!
Some have some havent.
Daniel Morgan The word Christmas does not appear in the Bible. No date for the Nativity is given in the scriptures; but a clue is revealed in the book of Luke, chapter 2, verse 8, that gives us an indication of when the Nativity did not happen! It reveals that men were keeping watch over their livestock in the fields. Till this day, if you were to visit the Holy Land in December, you will not see livestock being kept outside and in the field! During this time of year in the Holy Land-which is in the northern hemisphere-it is chilly and rainy, it is the rainy season! Animals are not kept outside at this time of year. That fact, in addition to the fact that there were men in the fields watching their flocks at the time of the Nativity indicates that the Nativity happened outside of the rainy season. Yeshua bar-Joseph, the Hebrew name for the Greek name Jesus Christ, never observed or celebrated His birth, nor the anniversary of it, nor did He direct His disciples to do either of those things; and the apostles likewise did not observe and celebrate the birth of the Messiah and did not teach or direct others to do so. In the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus the feasts and Sabbaths of the Lord which are to be observed by Israel throughout its generations are enumerated. There is no mention of Christmas or even of the Nativity. Neither is there anything stated about observing and celebrating the resurrection of Yeshua; and there is nothing said about celebrating Easter. The plain truth about Christmas is that it has no Biblical basis for an observance or celebration of it!
@ We have always celebrated birthdays! If we want to celebrate the birthday of our savior and chose a day to do so, it should be all about Christ-mas!! It certainly should not be about gifts! I celebrate my Lord and Savior! That’s all I do!
@Alahulapuuloakealahelenokaahu all well and good.....only in the Word we find Jesus going to the feast that was most likely Purim, which was not directed by God to observe. Yet, Christ did not condemn any for observing this holiday. It's not that we Christians say you must observe Christmas in honor of Christ; the problem arises from Christian's who condemn those who do observe Christmas with no Biblical reason.
First, this has been lamented for HUNDREDS of years. We can all individually celebrate as we see fit. It’s your personal responsibility to keep your celebrations as Christ centered during the season.
Finally another person who knows the priestly cycles of the Jewish priesthood and how it’s just math after that.
I'm more confused now than before I watched this twice. What does Elizabeth's March pregnancy have to do with the timeline of Mary's pregnancy and Jesus' birth?
Christmas is not one of Gods holy appointed days more so a catholic feast day
Christ never told us to celebrate His birth. We are called to remember His death, burial, and resurrection. That is what Sunday is about and the Lords Supper. Remember Him offering His life. His body was broken and His blood shed. Not that His birth wasn’t miraculous, but that’s not what He told us to focus on ever.
I noticed that this exposition does not mention the coincidence with taxation in the city of Joseph's ancestors. Why not consider this as well?
Debating this issue would take too long in the comments but essentially his argument was very weak. But the meat of it all is: if you actually want to celebrate something about Christ that speaks and testifies about his importance and divinity, then you should celebrate the Levitical commanded feasts. They speak of his sacrifice, redemption of humanity, his return and his kingship. Instead we erased those all together from Christianity and drowned it all with a celebration that is not only not biblical, but also has very suspicious roots at best.
That's your opinion.
Agreed! And for Christians to not recognize that that the Feast of Tabernacles has a strong parallel to the birth of Jesus (as "God living amoung us"), just as the crucifixion has a parallel to Passover (as a means of salvation) is something that I find very odd
Why do non Christians celebrate christmas if it truly celebrated as the day of Jesus birth.
Tradition and ignorance....
Moot point is Jesus was born and he died for atonement of humankind's sins.
Whether 25th December or any other date is largely irrelevant. It's just symbolic.
Hmm, misinformed, His birth was more around April, but the most important thing is that scripture was fulfilled with His birth and it was the birth of defeating the enemy, and death, and eternal was given to all that believed. Praise be to God.
My recollection was that Mary and Joseph were travelling to pay taxes when the birth occurred and that that occurred maybe June/July not December. In addition to imagine that people did not note the solstice which occurs about the same time is odd. Certainly the modern Christmas with Santa, reindeer, and a sleigh are a mix of traditional Yule, Grandpa Frost and Sinter Klaas which have little or nothing to do with the nativity. None of these traditions are tied historically to a Dec 25th Christmas but they are the basis of most everything modern Christmas including our New Years tradition which itself was moved from March 25th in the mid-1700's. Another fun fact is that December was the 10th month. All the months from Sept - Dec are named by number. The additional 2 mos were added later on messing up the scheme.
Seriously agree ...
All these Theologians need to do is research the HISTORICAL RECORDS... WHEN Herod usually did the taxes, WHEN was it recorded MILITARILY that Herod's order was given to destroy all first born from birth to 2 years?
This person is messing with a THEORY.
SUN and SON intentionally mixed up...for December...
There is also a Theory that April 1 for Jesus' birth THUS, the derogatory term..."April Fools Day" to denigrate original believers...
Most important...
Believe that Jesus lived, was crucified, died and was risen from the dead for all humanity...
NEVER EVER in scripture has it been stated to COMMEMORATE Jesus' birth in ANY WAY!!!
By a tradition handed down from the apostles which took its origin from the very day of Christ’s Resurrection, the Church celebrates the Paschal mystery every seventh day, which day is appropriately called the Lord’s Day or Sunday. The day of Christ’s Resurrection is both the first day of the week, the memorial of the first day of creation, and the “eighth day,” on which Christ after his “rest” on the great Sabbath inaugurates the “day that the Lord has made,” the “day that knows no evening.” (CCC 1166)
Why Christians celebrate on Sunday Instead of Saturday
Your welcome
Actually biblically Jesus rose Saturday evening...... He didn't die on "good" Friday either....
It was Constantine in 3rd century that made Sunday worship when he made it law that if worshiped on the 7th day(Saturday) it was punishable by death......... He was pagan and worshipped Mithra and claimed he had converted and said God give him the symbol of the cross ....... He didn't convert, all his war monuments after he still praised Mithra ...... But he did make Roman Catholism which did conquer the world with it's pagan traditions mixed in with Christianity....... It was forced upon the world and hundreds of thousands died ..... Accept it or death.
@@davidcrooks7289 that sounds like really bad research. I would suggest you read Peter Leithart's book "Defending Constantine." The problem is that a couple times Constantine did try to intervene in church affairs, but he church fathers told him to shove off. They had just undergone centuries of persecution and while they were glad that Constantine outlawed persecution of Christians (largely because Constantine saw persecution as a detriment to the unity of the empire), the church fathers had no fear of him and refused to receive him as an equal in church affairs.
The only time he really prevailed on them was calling for the Nicene council because he wanted the Arians and Trinitarians to reconcile for the sake of imperial unity. Against his wishes, the Nicene council rejected Arianism and came out even stronger for the Trinitarian position.
So, no go check again, he did not order anyone to celebrate on Sunday. And his main wish was for unity in the empire. He would not have cared if people worshipped on Saturday.
I LOVE CHRISTMAS!! Jesus is the Reason for the Season no matter how you slice it! God Bless Us! Everyone!!!!
@godssara6758 In Luke 2:8, we are told that shepherds were with their flocks in the field. In other words they were outside. Now the Holy Land is located in the northern hemisphere. Anyone who has visited there for several days or especially if they have lived there will tell you that December is during the rainy season and most days and nights are rainy and cold. This means that you will not see shepherds with their flocks outside and in the field during December or at any time during the rainy season, the animals are penned up. Only a very foolish, careless or negligent shepherd would have his animals out in the field in December in what we know as the Holy Land. Yet Luke says that there were shepherds in the field with their flocks on the night of the Nativity. Logic and rational reasoning leads to the obvious conclusion that whatever date the Nativity occurred, it was not in December or any other time during the rainy season! The Bible gives no definitive date on when the Nativity occurred. The Savior neither observed or celebrated His birthday, nor did He ever direct anyone to do so; the birthday of the Anointed One is not listed in Leviticus 23 as one of the feasts of the Lord that are to be observed throughout the generations of Israel. Thus, the expression the birth of the Savior is the reason for the season may be a clever and catchy sounding phrase, but it is not supported by Biblical, meteorological, or historical facts and evidence.
The Christian population of the Roman Empire circa 270 was not 30% and probably was not even 10%. Even in Constantine's reign circa 350, the Christian population might have hit 50% and almost all of these were in the East.
In 270 AD, Christianity was still a minority religion within the Roman Empire. Scholars estimate that Christians made up about 5-10% of the population. The religion was growing steadily, particularly in urban areas, but faced periodic persecution under emperors like Decius and Valerian. The total population of the Roman Empire at this time is estimated to have been around 60-70 million, meaning there were roughly 3-7 million Christians.
By 350 AD, Christianity had become much more widespread due to several factors:
The Edict of Milan (313 AD) legalized Christianity under Emperor Constantine.
Constantine's conversion and patronage provided significant support.
Emperor Theodosius I later declared Christianity the official state religion in 380 AD.
Estimates suggest that by 350 AD, Christians constituted maybe 50% of the Roman Empire's population. This means roughly 30-40 million Christians out of a total population of around 70-80 million.
The rapid growth of Christianity between these years was due to:
The appeal of Christian teachings and community.
Organizational efficiency of the early Church.
State support starting with Constantine's reign.
The decline of traditional Roman paganism.
Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 260-339 AD): His Ecclesiastical History provides insights into the growth of Christianity during the early centuries, including the role of Constantine and the Church's organization.
Lactantius (c. 250-325 AD): In Divine Institutes and other writings, Lactantius discusses the Christian experience and the persecutions prior to Constantine.
Roman Legal Texts and Inscriptions: Records such as the Edict of Milan (313 AD) and inscriptions from the period provide evidence of the growing acceptance of Christianity.
Secondary Sources and Scholarship
Rodney Stark - The Rise of Christianity (1996): Stark uses sociological modeling to estimate Christian population growth rates, concluding that the religion grew at an average rate of 3.4% per year from its inception to Constantine’s reign.
Keith Hopkins - Christian Number and Its Implications: This paper in Journal of Early Christian Studies (1998) examines early Christian demographics and their implications for understanding the spread of Christianity.
Ramsey MacMullen - Christianizing the Roman Empire (AD 100-400) (1984): MacMullen discusses the sociopolitical factors that contributed to Christianity's rise and its penetration into different segments of Roman society.
Kyle Harper - The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire (2017): Harper explores broader societal trends, including the role of Christianity in the Roman world during times of crisis.
@@thomassenbart interesting, I like the in-depth analysis. Could you share a link to your sources? If appreciate it!
@@MoessnerKeys The sources are already provided. Read the comment.
Why mix Santa Claus with Jesus ? Sorry but it is not worshipping God in Spirit and truth.
@@frankfebus7565 I do not worship Santa clause, nor we bring him up at all, I simply worship Jesus on December 25 like any other day and we gather as a family to be generous to one another and spend quality time together. It’s okay if that isn’t what your convictions are though!
@ and the phrase Spirit and Truth is being misused here somewhat. Worship that comes from the heart, is sincere, and is motivated by love for God. It's not mechanical or formalistic, but instead is infused with faith, commitment, and love is what Spirit means in the passage.
And Spirit o Worship in truth is worship that conforms to the revelation of God in Scripture and is informed by who God is and what he is like. It's rooted in the realities of biblical revelation.
That does not mean Christians can’t celebrate the birth of Jesus and deny the secular portion of Christmas.
Alfred Edersheim believed that Dec 25 was very likely the date Jesus was born
the March and September date are very big assumptions. And landed a Jewish holiday on a roman calender isnt the proper context. They don't match, December 25th is more of the celebration of winter solace and the lowering of the sun during the winter solace
Yeah the one I have heard is that Christians (much later) wanted to wrap in pagans, so they copted their holidays. Yule (Solar minimum) is claimed as a pagan holiday and Christmas was meant to subvert it. While Easter covers the spring. The problem is summer and fall have no such analogues with this theory.
Could see evidence of this being put into practice so early as that debunks those talking points. Yes the people claiming this state that Jesus "really" wasn't born in December. Where this makes it clear there was good reason to believe he was based on the Gospel of Luke.
New book RE: Reason for and meaning of Christmas:
“Promise and Hope: Good News of God’s Anointed One” (2024)
Believe, act, share
Messianic believers believe that Yeshus (Jesus) was born at the Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot.
If you go to hilldale college you should get your money back.
There's so many things wrong with what he's saying. I can't even keep up.
At least a student at Hillsdale would know to give details of their argument rather than just make vague, declarative statements.
@@cherylmockotrAnd know how to keep up.
Sir,paganism is good for a society or country. Abrahmic 3 faiths are always derogatory about paganism.
Abrahmic faiths are exclusive and dictatorial, while paganism is inclusive and pluralistic.
December 25th is cold in Israel the shepherds could not be resting on the grass.
I recall reading years ago that there was speculation that the birth of Jesus was the origin of April Fool’s Day, apparently His birth date, as a disparagement to the “foolish” believers.
The man in Luke 2:2, Cyrenius is the same person named Quirinius who was appointed governor of Syria in AD 6 by the Romans after Herod Archelaus, a son of King Herod the Great. was removed from Judea. Matthew 2:22. There was one governor, two census. Thats why in Luke we have shepherds and a manger but in Matthew 2years later we have wisemen from the east finding a 2 year old Jesus in a house. I know.... dates and names can be confusing. Careful study of the Word of God determines that it interprets itself while never contradicting itself.
They use the 25th because it is the first day of Chanukah on the Jewish lunar calendar in the month of Kislev. Then his Brit Mila (circumcision) ends up on the first day of the new year. Very convenient post planning.
Constantine never came up with December 25th.
Jesus Christ was most likely born on the day of the feast of trumpets.
I believe the Feast of Tabernacle is more accurate, but at least we are in the same time of th year....fall feasts. Jesus was conceived during Hanukkah...the festival of LIGHTS. Thank you Holy Spirit for bringing us the "light of te world".
@@johenderson7786 Hanukkah is not a Levitical feast. Jesus would have never celebrated it or had anything to do with it.
There is NOT one "shred of evidence" that the Bible writers allude to the month and date (December 25th) using the Hebrew calendars (sacred or secular) as being identified as the chronological time period of Yeshua's (Jesus's) birthday, or that converted Jews, and Christians should celebrate this period, or any other chronology that obligated or suggested that followers of the Messiah should commemorate, celebrate, or memorialize this event. This is evident with regards to the apostle Paul's admonition in his letter to the Galatian Christians, in Galatians Chapter 4: Verses 10 and 11. The one event that Jesus personally counseled his followers to observe was the "the Lord's Evening Meal, or so-called "Last Supper" (Matthew Chapter 26: Verses 26-28; Mark Chapter 14: Verses 22-25; and Luke Chapter 22: Verse 19); in the Jewish month and date of "Nisan 14, [Hebrew sacred calendar months]" that corresponds to parts of March/April, the 14th day also in, or on the Gregorian calendar.
This was a COMMEMORATION or MEMORIAL, NOT a so-called TRANSUBSTANTIATION (the literal changing of the bread and wine into the literal flesh and blood of Christ). The Bible warns us on NOT drinking or "eating" blood at Genesis Chapter 9: Verse 4; Leviticus Chapter 7: Vese 26; Leviticus Chapter 17: Verse 14; Acts (of the Apostles) Chapter 15: Verses 20 and 29; and Acts Chapter 21: Verse 25. This prohibition on the "eating" and drinking of blood by God in his relationship and interaction with humanity was binding Biblically on the patriarchs, those subject to the Law of Moses (or Mosaic Law), and for Christians as stated in both the Hebrew-Aramaic Scriptures (the "Old Testament,") and the Christian Greek Scriptures (the "New Testament").
In any case, Christ was not born in December.
Personally, I'd make Advent the start of our New Year and make 21st June our Christmas Day. I'd leave this travesty of a phoney prop for the godless to themselves..We need to withdraw and let the secular and demonic try to justify two weeks of Bacchanalia. Jesus deserves far better.
Absolutely it's pagan
Not for me. ☺️ Everything and every day belongs to the Lord. Just because some pagans in the ancient past used God’s creation or a particular day, etc. in their worship doesn’t make that day, etc. pagan. Our ancestors might have been pagan, but we are renewed and redeemed.
@@loribiddulph3196you might want to check out deuteronomy 12. There is a Bible before the page that says “New Testament”
Absolutely that is an assertion without evidence.
Jesus would likely have been born at the feast of tabernacles..... Not sure why Hillsdale goes through all this....
I believe he was born somewhere in the end of September 1st part of October
How can I see part one of this video
So, you only fudged the matter and dates.. no clarity on the matter here
It is commonly believed that Jesus was 33 1/2 years old when he was crucified. So if you go back 6 months, you are looking at September, October for a date of birth. This gentleman should know better. Xmas is pagan to the core.
The Bible says he was "about 30" when his ministry began. That leaves a lot of leeway for a couple months forward or backward.
Credit to Pope Gregory for the calendar. At least Christmas is consistent. Easter, on the other hand, should have been switched to always be the first Sunday in April 100 years ago! All of Holy Week would be in springtime.
True, we get to celebrate it ...
It is the personification of nature, which comes from the Greeks but also from the Egyptians and so on - it is the winter solstice which is between Dec. 20 and Dec. 23 - where again the day begins to grow in the southern hemisphere and what here that cult of the sun of light etc. the world has personified light as being God or the birth of Jesus etc. spring represents the rebirth of life after the winter hibernation or the death as everything is frozen etc. and again put as being the Easter as Jesus died and was reborn meaning it was winter and spring came and everything is reborn to life - so another personification of nature - the world was a bit bored and invented all kinds of stories in those times, beautiful but they are just stories.
The origins of Christmas, and every other celebration at that time of year is the winter solstice. The time when the days begin getting longer, and the nights begin getting shorter. For people living north of the equator it would have been a joyous occasion.
As far as Saturnalia, it predates Christianity, and by implication Christmas, by hundreds of years.
Whenever he was born aside, the solstice occurs between the 20th and the 22nd. The 25th is a different date. Shocking, I know. You've been watching too many Zeitgeist "documentaries."
God has a record of taking over pagan holidays. Look no further than the celebration of Passover. Jesus celebrated that! Get over yourselves, legalists. You don't think God, Almighty takes back ground?
At passover, Jesus asked his disciples to break bread and to "do this in remembrance of me."
Breaking the bread is part of the request, but remembering Jesus is the point.
Be careful with legalism or you"ll miss the point.
The wise men came to
celebrate- they came to
worship, just as we do today.
Elizabeth's child leaped for joy within her.
Somehow, we're not supposed to pay any respect or feel joy
today for what He has done? That would run
contrary to Scripture.
The wise came when he was 2 yrs old not at his birth, the shepherds were in the fields so it was not winter
Please elaborate with Biblical examples of "God taking over pagan holidays".
I've not read one statement saying that we should not feel joy for what He has done. Your statements are quite immature. You lash out with the rote name calling of 'legalist!' in your attempt to demean.
Actually, the Bible says NOT to worship the way the pagans do (Deuteronomy 12:4, 31), which is 'taking over pagan holidays'. Perhaps you don't think the Bible is for today?
Ever heard of the Great Sin in the Bible? A certain King in the northern kingdom of Israel began celebrating feasts NOT appointed by God.
Let's not forget the repeated words of God saying "Do not worship me in that way".
And last I checked..... God is legal in all his ways.
@@Dnelms11 Yes!!
bottom line is we don't know
Thank you for this helpful video.
This man, professing himself to be wise, he becomes a fool.
Read Luke chapter 2v8 Jesus was not born in December. His birth is not really important, his death is.
Christmas date and customs are undeniably of pagan origin, such as Santa Claus. And some of the Christian part of the theme are at the wrong time--no Magi at Jesus' birth. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
So is this app called TH-cam you participate on. Hmmmmmm
what are you talking about, Santa Clause is based on Saint Nicholas, thats not Pagan, he was literally a Catholic Saint, if anything He was made into a Secular Myth AFTER the fact
The irony of telling others not to bear false witness and then accusing the Christian Saint Nicholas of being pagan, when he is a well-documented Christian from Asia Minor.
"They dug a pit and have fallen into the ditch which they made..." Psalm 7
@@jaycampbell6402 Seriously, St. Nicholas flew around the world giving children presents? No one is claiming the real St. Nicholas is pagan. It's the traditions associated with Christmas.
Well that was a lot of circular reasoning.
Plain and simple it’s all pagan. Stop trying to justify, spin and change the origin. Read your Bible, know your Bible and stop the half-truths to suit your own meanings.
What verse in the Bible says that its pagan?
It's sad that "Torah" is a bad word among many Christians and Christian teachers. Why do Christians teach that the 4th Commandment was changed? The Saviour observed the Biblical sabbath vs the Catholic sabbath. The Saviour observed His Feasts vs the man-made holy days. It says in Exodus 13 and Deuteronomy 6 that observing Passover, etc, is as a sign as frontlets between the eyes and on the hand: thinking & doing what the Father wants us to think and do! Could that be as opposed to the "mark of the Beast"? When I was a child someone told me the reason that Sabbath changed from Saturday (the 7th day) to Sunday (the 1st day) of the week; but if that person had been observing the Feasts of the Creator, he would have known that the Saviour arose on the first day of the week since First Fruits always lands on the first day of the week. I don't think it is evil to observe the "traditional day of Messiah's birth," but why not observe Feast of Dedication too? It is a traditional holiday celebrating the MIRACULOUS! deliverance of the FAITHFUL Jews from a one world secular humanist church state government under Antiochus Epiphanes. According to Maccabees (in the original KJV), there were "renegade" Jews too. Because of the miracle, there was the Hebraic culture into which our Messiah, who observed His Own Feasts & Sabbaths, was born! HalleluYah!
Because the Torah was a conditional covenant with the children of Israel, which was broken by them. See Jeremiah 31:31. Its 613 (not just 10) commandments are no longer required of either Jewish or Gentile Christians.
@@rickcochran6063keep making excuses to live in lawlessness.
1 John 2
Have you read revelation?
Jesus says to pray that day doesn’t come during winter or on a sabbath.
@@rickcochran6063 What's so hard about doing a word study of the word "Torah"? in the Bible? Read the context of every entry.
Well, if you want to be considered a man of "LAWLESSNESS" ( no 613 laws) go ahead. It doesn't look good for your kind in 2 Thessalonians 3-4. It says there is a great rebellion against God and the man of LAWlessness is revealed-the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call God and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. And Daniel 7:25 says he will try to change the holy people's sacred festivals and seasons. Discounting the LAWS of Moses aren't a good strategy if you want to "Fear God and KEEP His commandments" says the last verses of Ecclessiastes. Written by the WISEST man in the world at the time. LAWlessness will get you KICKED OUT of the Kingdom with the Anti Christ labeled as your Father. I'd keep my eye on the Pope this Christmas Eve and see if he puts baby ( Jewish) Jesus back on the nativity scene wrapped up in that keffiyah. That would be likened to slaughtering a pig on the altar. For him who has ears to hear.
2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4
It is related to March 25, but his explanation as to why is laughable. There are many feasts throughout the year during which Zechariah could've been working. Why choose one in September? March 25 was believed to be the date of the death of Jesus. In the ancient world, there was the belief that great men died on the same date on which they were conceived. So, if Jesus died on March 25, he was also conceived on March 25. Nine months later is December 25. Of course, we don't believe such things as the great men theory, and we know that full human gestation is 40 weeks, which is 9 1/2 to 10 months. That being said, the best theory I've seen, as to the birth date of Jesus, is September 11, 3 BC.
Does Charlie Kirk believe Jesus was born on December 25th?
Dec 25th may be a pagan celebration. But remember all things have to be replaced by the coming of Jesus. A new meaning to the false and pagan celebration by the light of the world who has come into the world. The tru worship, a true prophecy, a true revelation of God made man. Appreciate the attempt of early Christians by their zeal to find new meaning in Jesus.
No. God tells how to worship him. Christmas is not how we’ve been commanded to worship him
@kenyanr1
God doesn't dictate the way of worship.... it is man's way of worship with sound theological sense of worship, free from superstition, fear or superficial act.
@ Wrong. Deuteronomy 12:4
It's easy to quite Duet: 12 for once convenience. Read in the light of the Holy Spirit. In the Bible, there are very few places that God speaks directly. Other times, prophets spoke on behalf of God.... here, Moses is admonishing to worship God in an appropriate manner. I challenge you.. Can you prove that by celebrating Christmas that we worship the SUN GOD? Far from it, christmas is not worship of the sun, BUT SON. ALL PAGAN WORSHIP IS REPLACED BY THE SON..JESUS.
understand it.. Don't believe the Bible thumpers who speak negative and people with little faith look for such excuses. They are biased... not inspired by the Holy Spirit. Sad, sad ,sad people.
@@anthonyraju8711You are wrong and compromised.
2:00 - Artist who had never seen a baby before :)
Motivated reasoning much?
That was rather brief. It does sound good and he presents it at a most surface level to sound reasonable. It is noteworthy that he states it is opinion. Albeit well understood the sentiment toward the day, it would be more truthful for him to simply give his thoughts and admit that he has a bias.
Jeremiah 10
King James Version
10 Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
6 Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.
7 Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.
8 But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.
10 But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.
14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
16 The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name.
17 Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
18 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.
19 Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous; but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.
20 My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
22 Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.
23 O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
24 O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
25 Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.
John was born on the day of PASSOVER. Lord Yeshua was born on the 1st day of the feast of Tabernacles. Zachariah was of the 8th course of Priests found in I Chronicles Chap 24. He was in the temple on the feast of Shavuot or Pentecost. He went home to Elizabeth and she became pregnant for John in July. Mary came to Bethlehem during Hanukkah in December of 4BC. John was born on Passover of 3BC and Yeshua his cousin was born on the 1st day of Tabernacles on September 27th of 3 BC. This is scriptural please look it up. These dates are fulfilled according to the feasts of GOD found in Leviticus Chapter 23. What do you think?
Exactly! The Feast of Tabernacles should be such an obvious date for Jesus birth, given it recognizing God living amoung his people
Thank you. This is the level of detail I was expecting to get from the professor. A visual timeline with scriptures as well as external supporting references would help. I would also list all the arguments he counters, e.g, Pagan origins for December 25th, in a visual way with the counter arguments and respective supporting evidence. This would add more credibility. I need to do more research myself on this but your comments are a good start.
Luke 2:21 "and he was named JESUS, the name the angel had given him...."
Rely on the Bible, not on your own theories or the theories of modern professors in ivory towers. Only one name under heaven saves us and makes the demons flee, because the angel Gabriel does not care about your theory that he must have had an Aramaic name.
The dec 25th or aproximate winter solctice was celebrated all over the germanic world for hundreds of years before the CATHOLIC church (which is the least "christian" organization on earth" began the amalgamation of other religions and dont try to say the didn't as this is heavily documented. The issue is you find catholic hands all over pagan rituals and statues. They litterally consecrated pagan temples (the very places they celebrated these solstice celebrations in) and called them churches now and held services on these days. I find your assertions speculative and the inverse of the evidence available.
In short APOSTASY
Fairly heavily worded but amalgamation of paganism into christianity is the very definition of the word , and provable with available evidence the early catholic church did exactly that. There is a great comedian who said "the roman empire became a church and the English crown became a bank." And he is correct in my opinion
None of the traditions people enjoy during christmas are christian. Gift giving, music, eating, drinking, all preceed christianity. Decorated pine trees in palestine? Yeah, sounds legit. Christmas is just another holiday with a pagan origin, just like the days of the week and names of the months.
The Jewish people worshipped God with a golden calf in Exodus and God was going to eliminate them for worshiping in a way he didn't approve of. =/ None of the traditions of christmas are biblical. And Jesus's life aligned with Jewish holidays, set by God, not roman celebrations.
"None of the traditions of christmas are biblical."
Who says they have to be?
@@AK-76er
God's word
If we're Christian, we're to worship God how he wants and not as the pagans do.
@@AK-76er I posted a response to you last night, but it looks like it's been removed by the platform. Did you receive it?
@@BookZealots Nope. YT is pretty capricious in what it allows. I will say in answer to my own question, the early Church saints and martyrs who existed, converted, believed and died for +300 years without a Bible as you know it today, and likely would not have been able to read it if they had it.
I hear Reformists accuse Catholics of idolatry because we have statuary in our homes and churches, while reveling in their own book idolatry.
@@AK-76er Agree, I don't understand the censorship. It has really ramped up.
My father grew up Catholic and I know one of my grandmothers was as well. I grew up in a heathen household and we observed the typical holidays, but the name of Jesus was a cussword in my home. =(
What I had mentioned last night is that the word of God explains to us how to worship him, not with traditions of men, not with golden calves. That was not a dig on Catholics at all. It was sincerely a study of Exodus.
As for "book" idolatry, people look at my channel name and it is actually a reference to the only book that matters, but most people don't discern that.
Thank you for having a conversation. It's a challenge sometimes to read though comments and figure out which ones will respond in kind and not be on the attack.
I hope you have many blessings in the future.
This is the way I understand it. Zachariah was in the temple and struck mute when John the Baptist was conceived in the womb of Elizabeth. They figure that this was for something that was happening in late September. When the Annunciation happened, Mary was told Elizabeth was six month pregnant. The Annunciation is March 25. Jesus was born 9 months later.
He’s talking nonsense, of course. The 25th December is a very key date because it is the birth date of the new sun every year. The old sun “dies” at the winter solstice (roughly 21st or 22nd December) when its rising point on the horizon reaches its most southerly point of the year. The sun is “dead” for three days i. e. the rising point doesn’t visibly change. Then, as the rising point moves north visibly on 25th December the sun has “risen from the dead” is reborn and the solar new year begins. The idea that these ideas in Christianity is coincidence is absurd. Oh, by the way, Constantine was very much an advocate for Sol Invictus. I suspect he saw Jesus as pretty much the same idea.
It’s amazing to me that intellectuals can ignore mountains of evidence that contradict their point of view…like really bud, you want to tell me saturnalia has no bearing on what we now call christmas? You’re biased and it shows.
The irony of calling him biased while you ignore his evidence.
@ he didn’t present any evidence. He made generalities which are clearly widely disputed. Pick up any encyclopedia Brittanica from more than a a couple decades ago and you’ll notice that..
When you say early Christians, you are not talking Bible, you are tallking the apostate church making celebrations that God does not ask for or require.
They are additions of those claiming Christianity.
No Gospel account asks for an annual spiritual celebration of the Christchild.
It is teaching doctrines that are the
Commandments of men.
Because he is not claiming that there is any obligation to celebrate a Christmas holiday. You seriously needed that explained?