Real Answers Column
PUBLISHING DATE: December 2005
Does it really matter when Jesus was born?
by
Steve Russo
Someone asked me recently if Jesus was really born on December 25th. The
Bible doesn’t give us the exact date of Christ’s birth. But we do know that it
could not have been in the dead of winter. Shepherds would not have been
roaming the hills at night during the winter with their sheep. Most scholars
agree that Jesus was likely born in the spring or summer in the year 4 B.C.
In A.D. 350, Pope Julius I declared December 25 the official date of Christ’s
birth. The December date for Christmas was not arbitrary, but a calculated
decision reflecting the importance of winter solstice festivals for the nonChristian cultures in Europe and Asia. To abolish these festivals in favor of
only Christian forms of celebration would’ve been political suicide, so it
became clear to church leaders early on that rather than trying to beat the
non-Christians, it was wiser to join them.
The use of December 25 was a remnant of the Mithra - a dominant religion of
the Roman Empire with close similarities to Christianity. Mithra, the god of
light and wisdom, was supposedly born from a rock on December 25.
Symbolizing the sun, Mithra was naturally a big part of solstice festivals, and
his birth was celebrated as a major holiday by his followers. In the third
century, before Constantine became emperor, Emperor Aurelian declared
December 25 the “Day of the Invincible Sun.” When Constantine converted to
Christianity, remnants of his old religion remained throughout the empire.
For many people, incorporating Mithraic rites into the celebration of
Christmas was easy to justify. Jesus represents life, triumph over death and
darkness, and restored hope and light. So rather than celebrating the sun,
people would be celebrating the Son of God. In other words, the birth of
Christ replaced the birth of the sun as the reason for celebrating.
Remember, knowing the exact date when Jesus was born isn’t really relevant
– the important thing is that He was born. And the fact that God sent His
only Son to be born as a baby to grow to be a man and die on the cross is life
changing for each one of us.
Steve Russo is an internationally-known communicator, best-selling author and host of the internationally syndicated daily radio program Real Answers. He is a
featured speaker for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the music video TV show 24/SEVEN. Steve is also the co-host of “Life on the Edge Live!”
Focus on the Family’s teen talk radio show. For a free copy of the Real Answers newsletter, or for more information about Real Answers evangelistic campaigns
or evens and resources: write to P.O. Box 1549, Ontario, California 91762. Or call 909-466-7060. E-mail: [email protected]. Web site:
www.realanswers.com.