Bible Timeline and History

We know Christ was not born in 1 AD, the year calculated by Dionysius Exiguus in 525 AD. Here’s why and here are the proposed years of his birth.

Christ was born two years before the death of Herod the Great. Herod the Great died shortly after a lunar eclipse visible from Judea and before passover. Christ was born during a census. And there was an astronomical event that showed a great light or star in the sky. The most widely accepted year for these events coming together is 4 BC as calculated by Ussher – the date used on the Amazing Bible Timeline.

The birth years range from as early as 15 BC to as late as 2 BC.

Herod might have died in 4 BC if the lunar eclipse is the partial eclipse visible from Judea in March of 4 BC or the full eclipse in December of 1 BC which puts his death in 1 AD. Since Christ was born two years before his death this gives us a range of 6 BC to 2 BC for Christ’s birth year.

Supporting events. The census and the astronomical event that produced a star.

The star of Bethlehem could have been one of three events; a comet, a supernova or the conjunction of several planets. Proposed events are the comet visible to the Chinese that stayed in one place for seventy days. This was in 5 BC. Another is the conjunction of two important planets in 2 BC. A supernova cannot be accurately dated but should have been recorded.

Finally the census. There was a census taken in 2 BC to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Gaius Octavius being given the name “Augustus.” There was also a census taken in 4 BC

What year was Christ born? Actually pick your year, pick your event and you can find supporting evidence for it. The most commonly accepted year with the greatest supporting evidence is 4 BC.

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