1. Is Jesus God? (2)

Can We Date the Birth and Crucifixion of Jesus?

Our current Anno Domini (Latin for “in the year of our Lord”) calendar year system is based on taking the birth of Christ as the year one. Events after Jesus birth are dated AD (Anno Domini); time before His birth looks back from this moment and is identified as BC (Before Christ).  There is no year 0, after 1 BC follows 1 AD. However, unfortunately, when the year 1 was calculated in 525 AD by a monk named Dionysius Exiguus in Rome he miscalculated at least a few years, so therefore Christ is generally believed to have been born a few years BC.

Herod died in 4 BC, so Jesus was born before that, perhaps in 7 or 6 BC as seen in Matthew’s record of Herod’s killing boys up to two years old (Matthew 2:16). Luke mentions the decree by Caesar Augustus to take a census while Quirinius was governor of Syria (Luke 2:1-2).  This caused serious criticism as historical records show that Quirinius was governor from 6-9 AD, but this is at least 10 years too late. Was Luke wrong? Some claim he was and therefore reject the remainder of his gospel as well. Wouldn’t it be odd for such a detailed and careful writer as Luke to make such a careless mistake? Because he also reveals John the Baptist was born six months before Jesus in the days of Herod (Luke 1:5, 1:26-38). Instead of taking cheap shots at Luke, give him credit for his scholarship and integrity.  After all, there could well be another explanation. Quirinius was a well respected senior official who previously served in provinces adjacent to Syria . The registration of Jews may have begun while Quirinius held a roving command prior to his formal appointment in Syria .[1] Another explanation might be that a better translation of the text would be “this census took place before Quirinius became governor.” [2] Or it might have been that Quirinius was governor in two periods, the earlier term around 7 BC. This assumption is supported by a Latin inscription found in 1764 in Antioch ascribing a post to Quirinius.[3] A fourth alternative is that from about 7 to 4 BC Quirinius oversaw the census in the politically volatile Palestine , effectively superseding the weak Quintilius Varus, who was governor in name only.[4] Whatever the explanation, if we take Matthew and Luke seriously, the most plausible date for the birth of Jesus would be 6 or 5 BC.

By studying historical references in Luke and Acts, we can fix the time John the Baptist began his ministry. John began to prophesy “in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius” (Luke 3:1). Caesar Augustus died August 19, 14 AD and Tiberius was proclaimed emperor September 17 of that same year. Tiberius’ fifteenth year would have been 29 AD,[5] the very year John began his public ministry. Since Jesus was baptized by John, the earliest date for His ministry is sometime in 29 AD. Astronomical considerations have established that Jesus’ death must have occurred either in 30 or 33 AD.[6] Thus – unless one takes the view that Jesus’ ministry only lasted one year – it follows that Jesus’ ministry extended beyond 30 AD. Therefore the most logical and likely date for the crucifixion is the Passover of 33 AD.