Headline: The Mystery of Jesus’ Birth: Historians Weigh In
Subhead: Was Jesus really born on Christmas Celebrated on December 25th?”>December 25th? Experts weigh in on the biblical narrative and historical evidence.
Byline: Jesus’ birth is celebrated worldwide on December 25th, but the historical accuracy of this date has long been debated among scholars and theologians. To shed light on the matter, VG Norway spoke with several experts in the field, each offering unique perspectives on the biblical accounts and historical evidence.
Article:
Professor Gunnar Haaland, NLA Høgskolen:
Gunnar Haaland, a professor of theology, religion, and philosophy at NLA Høgskolen, kicked off the conversation by acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding Jesus’ birthdate. "We don’t know exactly when Jesus was born," he admitted. "But we do know that the early Christians celebrated his birth on December 25th, and that this date was chosen for a reason."
Haaland explained that the choice of December 25th was likely influenced by the Roman festival of Sol Invictus, which celebrated the birth of the ‘invincible sun’ on December 25th. "The early Christians saw Jesus as the true light of the world," Haaland said, "and so they chose to celebrate his birth on the same day as the Roman festival."
However, Haaland also noted that the date of Jesus’ birth may not have been the primary concern for the early Christians. "What was more important for them was Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection," he said. "The date of his birth was secondary to the message of his mission and the impact he had on people’s lives."
Professor Jorunn Økland, University of Oslo:
Jorunn Økland, a professor at the University of Oslo and leader of the Bible Society’s translation committee, echoed Haaland’s sentiments. "The date of Jesus’ birth is not a central issue in biblical scholarship," she said. "What matters more is the story of his life, death, and resurrection, and the impact he had on people’s lives."
Økland also noted that the stories of Jesus’ birth in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are quite different. "Matthew tells of the wise men from the East who follow a star to Jesus’ birthplace in Bethlehem," she said. "Luke, on the other hand, focuses on the census that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem from Nazareth."
Professor Anna Rebecca Solevåg, VID Specialized University:
Anna Rebecca Solevåg, a professor of New Testament at VID Specialized University, agreed that the date of Jesus’ birth is not the primary focus of the biblical accounts. "The birth narratives in Matthew and Luke serve different purposes," she said. "Matthew is interested in showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, while Luke is more concerned with the historical context of Jesus’ birth."
Solevåg also noted that the celebration of Jesus’ birth on December 25th was not established until the fourth century, long after the events described in the Gospels. "The date was likely chosen to compete with the Roman festival of Sol Invictus," she said. "But the historical evidence for Jesus’ birth on December 25th is slim."
Professor Torleif Elgvin, NLA Høgskolen:
Torleif Elgvin, a professor emeritus of biblical studies and Jewish studies at NLA Høgskolen, offered a different perspective on the date of Jesus’ birth. "I think it’s possible that Jesus was born in the spring, not the winter," he said. "The biblical accounts of his birth are filled with symbolism and cannot be taken literally. But if we look at the historical context, we can find evidence to support a spring birth."
Elgvin pointed to the mention of shepherds in the Gospel of Luke, who would not have been out in the fields in the winter. "Shepherds were only out in the spring and fall," he said. "So it’s unlikely that Jesus was born in the winter."
Elgvin also noted that the Gospel of John does not include a birth narrative, but instead begins with a prologue that speaks of Jesus as the ‘word’ who was with God in the beginning. "This suggests that Jesus’ birth was not the primary focus of the early Christians," he said. "What mattered more was his divine nature and the impact he had on people’s lives."
Conclusion:
The debate over the date of Jesus’ birth is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon, as the biblical accounts and historical evidence remain open to interpretation. However, the experts interviewed for this article agree that the primary focus of the Christmas story should be on the message of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, rather than the exact date of his birth.
As Haaland put it, "Jesus is not just a historical figure, but a living presence in the lives of millions of people around the world. That’s what really matters, and that’s what Christmas is all about."
