When was Jesus born? A lot of people would tell you it is December 25. It’s the day when millions of people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ (Yahshua the Messiah). However, if you think about it, a major Christian celebration such as Christmas should be in the Bible, right? Well, not exactly.

You would be surprised that the Bible is silent about the exact date of Christ’s birth. Biblical evidence shows that it is definitely not December 25. Nevertheless, we might not know the exact date, but we can estimate when Jesus was born.

Thus, in this blog, we are going through 4 Bible verses that will show us the real date when Jesus was born.

Why is Christmas December 25?

The first-century church did not celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The mere fact that the Bible didn’t tell us the exact date of Christ’s birth should tell us that God doesn’t want us to focus on it. On the contrary, the Bible tells us the exact time when Jesus was killed and rose from the dead. Thus, the early followers of Jesus didn’t celebrate His birth, but rather His death.

So, if it is not in the Bible, why is Christmas celebrated on December 25? There are 2 primary reasons. These are the following:

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Popular calculation

A Christian historian named Sextus Julius Africanus in Rome believed that the world was created on March 25. He formed his belief that since Jesus is perfect, He would also be conceived on March 25. Adding nine months to March 25, you’ll arrive on December 25.

Pagan celebrations

December 25th falls around the time of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, when the days begin to lengthen. In pre-Christian Roman times, this period was associated with various festivals, including Saturnalia, a celebration of the sun god Saturn.

Additionally, December 25th marked the birthday of Mithra, an Indo-European deity associated with light and loyalty, whose cult was gaining popularity, particularly among Roman soldiers. To learn more, please read my blog, “Who was really born on December 25?a”

When Rome finally adopted Christianity as its official religion, they needed a way to turn the pagans to Christianity. So, what was the solution that they found? They turn to syncretism — a practice of melding pagan worship with Christian worship.

Adopting December 25th for the celebration of Christ’s birth was an attempt to Christianize and redirect the attention of the population during this festive time. December 25th was chosen to coincide with existing pagan festivals to ease the transition from pagan traditions to Christian ones. By incorporating familiar dates and customs, the new Christian celebrations could be more readily accepted.

As you can see, there’s no biblical basis for religious authorities to choose December 25 as the birth of Christ. It is definitely impossible as we will later see. So, this leads us to the core of our discussion, “When was Jesus born?” Here are three Bible verses to show you the correct answer:

1. The shepherds would have not been in the field during winter.

We read in Luke 2:6-12 how the shepherds were looking after their flock out in the field during the birth of Jesus Christ:

6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

As we have read, the shepherds were “living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.” That’s the time when the angel of the Lord appeared before them. So, What’s so significant about this?

Well, the presence of shepherds in the fields contradicts a winter birth. In December, the weather is cold and harsh especially at night, making it improbable for shepherds to dwell outdoors.

Celebrations: The Complete Book of American Holidays suggests that Luke’s account indicates a possible summer or early fall birth for Jesus, reasoning that December’s cold and rainy conditions would lead shepherds to seek shelter for their flocks at night (p. 309).

Moreover, The Interpreter’s One-Volume Commentary argues against a December 25 birth, citing the impracticality of shepherds tending their flocks in the fields during the cold weather. While some may dispute this, reputable sources like The Companion Bible and Clarke’s Commentary concur that the shepherds would not have been outside in the open at night in late December.

In summary, the presence of shepherds in the fields during the Judean winter serves as the first compelling reason against Jesus being born in December.

The Romans would not hold a census during winter

Another compelling indication that Jesus wasn’t born in December arises from the fact that His parents journeyed to Bethlehem for the Roman census. We read in Luke 2:1-5:

¹ And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 

So, there was a decree for a census. This census would require everyone to go back to their own city where they should register. It is highly improbable that a Roman ruler would have ordered a census during winter when temperatures frequently fell below freezing, and road conditions were adverse.

Conducting a census under such circumstances would have been counterproductive, given the formidable challenges faced by Judean residents attempting to travel for the registration.

Unlike the convenience of modern times with heated vehicles and well-maintained roads, the majority of people in that era had to traverse on foot. This lack of ease in travel during winter further casts doubt on the likelihood of Jesus’ birth occurring in December.

Jesus was most likely born in the fall

We’ve clarified that, according to the Bible, Jesus wasn’t born on Christmas, in December, or even in the winter. So, when was He born?

Thankfully, the Bible provides essential and undeniable clues by detailing the conception and birth of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist. Yes, that’s right. For us to know Christ’s birth, we simply have to look into the birth of John the baptizer or immerser.

Isn’t it interesting that in the Gospel of Luke, the writing focused on the birth of John instead of Christ? Instead of talking about Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, Luke started talking about Zacharias, Elizabeth, and John!

This deliberate choice by Luke serves a crucial purpose. He precisely discloses the timing of John the Baptist’s conception and birth.

Luke 1 mentions that Elizabeth, John’s mother, was six months pregnant when Jesus was conceived. Notice in verse 24-27:

24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

Given that Elizabeth and Mary were cousins, we deduce that John was six months older than Jesus. So, the next question would be, “When was John born?” Answering this question could help us know when Jesus was born. So, let’s investigate further.

Examining the Bible’s account of John’s birth, we discover that his father, Zacharias, served as a priest in the Temple at Jerusalem during the course of Abijah. Historical calculations place this course, during which Zacharias served, from June 13-19 (The Companion Bible, 1974, Appendix 179, p. 200).

Alright, so, Zacharias served in the Jerusalem Temple from June 13-19. Now, we go back to Luke 1:8:-13:

⁸ So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, ⁹ according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. ¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. ¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 

As we can see here, the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Zacharias about John’s conception occurred during this Temple service period. After completing his service and returning home, Elizabeth conceived John as we read in Luke 1:23-25:

23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

 Assuming John’s conception took place toward the end of June and adding nine months, we arrive at the likely time of John’s birth, around the end of March the following year.

Now, remember, the difference between the age of John and Jesus was six months as we read in Luke 1:26-27 and 36:

²⁶ Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

³⁶ Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.

So, there’s a six-month gap between the birth of John and Jesus. Since John was born on March, we simply add six months and that will lead us to around the end of September!

Therefore, Jesus was born around late September or early October, in the fall season of the year!

Jesus was born on the fall festivals

Did you know that the Bible gives a list of festivals for God’s people? That’s right. Instead of celebrating pagan holidays such as Christmas, God instructs us to celebrate His appointed days.

The Bible tells us there are 7 festivals as listed in Leviticus 23. The last four of these festivals happen in the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, this happens every year on fall or spring, which is around September to October.

We have the Day of Trumpets on the first day, which pictures the second coming of Jesus Christ; the Day of Atonement on the tenth day, which pictures the removal of Satan as ruler of this world; the Feast of Tabernacles on the fifteenth day, which pictures the glorious millennial reign of Yahshua with His saints; and the Eighth Day or Last Great Day on the 22nd day, which pictures the time when God will give vast majority of mankind a chance to salvation. All of these happen in the fall.

So, there’s a greater possibility that Jesus or Yahshua was born on one of these festivals or around this time of the year. Moreover, the Romans would have also thought of having the census during the time when most of the Jews would travel back to Jerusalem for the annual festival observance.

When was Jesus born?

Jesus was most likely born in the fall, around September and October of the Gregorian Calendar based on Bible clues and pieces of evidence we have discussed. From the shepherds looking after their flock at night to the time of Zacharias’ service in the temple, all are pointing to the autumn or fall birth of Christ.

Jesus wasn’t born on December 25, in the dead of winter. The belief that Jesus was born in December originated in paganism. Thus, Christmas shouldn’t be celebrated by true followers of Christ.

We read the clear instruction of Yahweh in Deuteronomy 12:29-32:

²⁹ “When the LORD your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, ³⁰ take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ ³¹ You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

³² “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.

So, in the end, it is up to you to make the right decision: will you celebrate Christmas, which is rooted in lies and paganism? Or, are you going to follow what the Bible says and worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24)?

Now, that you know the truth about when Jesus was born, it is my sincerest hope that you follow God’s will in your life.