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NASB | Colossians 2:16 ¶ Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-- |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Colossians 2:16 ¶ Therefore let no one judge you in regard to food and drink or in regard to [the observance of] a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. |
Bible Question: I've been a Christian for about 3 years now. In a bible study of ours, some Christian scholars suggested that Jesus was not born on Dec. 25 because of the path Mary and Joseph took--they say it would be unlikely that His birth was in the winter, rather more like Spring. Does anyone has information on this? |
Bible Answer: Hello, Bcollier. While what Makarios has written has merit, that is only one side of the multifaceted December 25th debate that has raged on for 19 or so centuries. Justin Martyr (c. 100-165) wrote in his “Apology” (I, 34) in an statement to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, concerning actual census records, “as you can ascertain also from the registers of the taxing” that indicate Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Another author, Tertullian’s (c.160-250) “Against Marcion”, Bk 4, 7 makes mention to “the census of Augustus – that most faithful witness of the Lord’s nativity, kept in the archives of Rome”. When Julius was asked by Cyril of Jerusalem (348-386) to designate the true date of Christ’s birth from the census documents tht Titus brought back to Rome, Julius gave Dec. 25th. John Chrysostom (c.347-407), also referred to those records to support his claim Jesus’ birth occurred on Dec 25. Noting, that the best time for a census was AFTER workers could leave their labors in the field, rather then having them leave their fields. And recognizing the fact that travel from Nazareth via the Jordan valley (way below sea level) would provide them comfortable travel because of the continual mild winter conditions considering it is arid. From Alfred Edersheim’s “The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah”, one can learn of the many ancient Jewish sources which, in effect, state “flocks remain in the open alike in the hottest days and in the rainy season – i.e. all the year round” (Bk 2, p.186). Much like Jacob mentions to his father-in-law concerning all the years Jacob spent tending the flocks (Gen. 31:40). “... in the day draught consumed me, and the FROST by night …” (emphasis mine). And, although it might only add fuel to the burning confusion of Jesus’ actual birthday, there are always those who accept Valentius’ influence – January 6. Although that places us right back into the “winter solace” theme again. I can only say, “Yea and amen” to Makarios’ well phrased exhortation. Like Paul said in so many words -- So what? Jesus IS being proclaimed! The important thing isn’t WHEN Jesus was born. It is the facts OF Jesus’ birth, and the WHY. Blessings, Taleb |