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Star of Bethlehem a Talk to Springfield Park Baptist Church by Gary Auker

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Star of Bethlehem a Talk to Springfield Park Baptist Church by Gary Auker Star of Bethlehem a talk to Springfield Park Baptist Church by Gary Auker on Tuesday 2 nd December 2008 Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 1 Star of Bethlehem: Talk Overview • What time of year was Jesus born ? • Which year was Jesus born ? • The Politics of the Time • Herod the Great • Prophesy of Jewish Messiah known in many parts of Middle East • Magi came from the East • Who were the Magi ? • Candidates for the Star of Bethlehem • When was Christ’s real 2000 th Birthday ? Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 2 Star of Bethlehem Time of Year clue from • Luke 2:8 “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.” • Keeping a watch on their flocks at night is what shepherd’s do during the lambing season in Spring Lambing occurs in Spring not Winter Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 3 Star of Bethlehem • If Jesus was born in the Spring as reading Luke may imply why do we celebrate his birthday on 25 th December each year ? • To answer this question we need to understand a little about Roman culture in 1 st century & some early church history Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 4 Star of Bethlehem Why celebrate Christmas on 25 December ? • Sol Invictus (Unconquered Sun) Festival introduced in 274 AD by Emperor Aurelian celebrated on 25 December • Celebration of Jesus’ birthday pre-dates the Sol Invictus festival, The earliest record of the celebration of Christ's birthday on December 25 dates to 243 A.D. Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 5 Star of Bethlehem • Why celebrate Christmas on 25 December ? • Saturn – Roman God of Agriculture & Harvest celebrated. • Saturnalia – Roman Festival held to Saturn 17 - 23 December since Julian calendar was introduced in 45 BC Slaves were exempt from punishment. Public holiday were Masters would serve their slaves at a banquet. Toga not worn but informal clothes, and the Freedman’s hat (Pileus) was worn by everyone. Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 6 Star of Bethlehem • Why celebrate Christmas on 25 December ? • Pope Julius I chose December 25. It is commonly believed that the church chose this date in an effort to adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival. Julius I Papacy 337 – 352 AD Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 7 Star of Bethlehem • Which year was Jesus born ? • We know the current year is not 2008 after his birth • It wasn't until 525 AD that the year of Jesus' birth was fixed. by Dionysius Exiguus who determined Jesus was born 8 days before Roman New Year's day in the year 1 A.D. • The Gospels provide us with clues that Dionysius Exiguus was wrong. Herod the Great died before 1 AD. • Jesus most likely born between 8 BC censors & 6 AD censors Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 8 Star of Bethlehem Jewish History recorded by the Jew & later Roman citizen Josephus • Josephus (AD 37 – c. 100), also known as Yosef Ben Matityahu (Joseph, son of Matthias). His works give an important insight into first-century Judaism. • Josephus fought the Romans in 66-73AD as a Jewish military leader in Galilee. • Josephus and one of his soldiers surrendered to the Roman forces • In 71AD, he arrived in Rome & became a citizen of Rome. It was while in Rome, and under Flavian patronage, that Josephus wrote all of his known works. • Josephus was granted accommodation in conquered Judaea, and a decent, if not extravagant, pension. Roman bust possibly of Josephus (AD 37 – c. 100) Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 9 Star of Bethlehem : Empires Persian Empire Parthia, an Iranian kingdom, c.60 BCE Roman Republic c 44 BC Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 10 Star of Bethlehem • The Politics of the Time – Palestine under Roman rule from (63 BC) Mark Anthony Co-ruled 44-31 BC Emperor Augustus 27 BC to 14 AD was adopted nephew of Julius Caesar Emperor Julius Caesar Tiberius Dictator of Rome Empire 49 – 44 BC Octavian later re-named 14 AD to 37 AD Emperor Augustus Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 11 Star of Bethlehem • The Politics of the Time – Palestine under Roman rule from (63 BC) • A family fight : brother-in-laws Mark Anthony & Octavian fall out • Disagreement between Octavian and Anthony erupted into civil war, in 31 BC. • Anthony was defeated by Octavian at the naval Battle of Actium near Greece, and in a brief land battle at Alexandria, Egypt. • Mark Anthony committed suicide, and his lover, the Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, killed herself shortly after. Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 12 Star of Bethlehem • The Politics of the Time – Palestine under Roman rule from (63 BC) • Caesarion was proclaimed “King of Kings” 34BC by Cleopatra & Mark Anthony. Caesarion was Julius Caesar’s natural son • Octavius invaded Egypt 30 BC. • Octavius had 17 yrs old Cleopatra & her Caesarion executed in 30 BC Julius Caesar son Ptolemy XV Dictator of Rome Also named Empire 49 – 44 BC Caesarion (Little Caesar) Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 13 Star of Bethlehem • Herod was the pro-Roman king of the small Jewish state in the last decades before the common era AD. He started his career as a general, but the Roman statesman Mark Anthony recognized him as the Jewish national leader. Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 14 Star of Bethlehem Herod’s life • Herod had 10 wives in his lifetime • Mariamne I (48 BCE to 29 BCE) was the second wife • Herod had 2 sons & 2 daughter by her • Both sons Alexandros and Aristobulus were executed circa 7 BC Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 15 Star of Bethlehem Herod Timeline 30s BC • 39–37 BC – War against Antigonus. After the conquest of Jerusalem and victory over Antigonus, Mark Antony executes Antigonus. • 38 BC Herod made King (age~ 35) of Judea by Mark Anthony • 35 BC – Aristobulus III of Judea is drowned at a party, on Herod's orders. • 31 BC – Judea suffers a devastating earthquake. Octavian defeats Mark Antony, so Herod switches allegiance to Octavian, later known as Augustus. • 30 BC – Herod is shown great favour by Octavian, who at Rhodes confirms him as King of Judaea Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 16 Star of Bethlehem Herod Timeline 20s BC •27 BC – An assassination attempt on Herod was foiled. •25 BC – Herod imported grain from Egypt and started an aid program to combat the widespread hunger and disease that followed a massive drought. He also waives a third of the taxes. •23 BC – Herod built a palace in Jerusalem and the fortress Herodion (Herodium) in Judea. He married his third wife, Mariamne II, the daughter of high priest Simon. •Circa 20 BC – Expansion started on the Second Temple. Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 17 Star of Bethlehem When did Herod die ? Josephus wrote that Herod died after a lunar eclipse ? Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 18 Star of Bethlehem Lunar Eclipses visible from Jerusalem including 8BC & 6AD Censors and the Mass Oath to Emperor Augustus in 3-2 BC 9 BC Jun 03 23:00 Total Lunar Eclipse 9 BC Nov 28 18:50 Total Lunar Eclipse 5 BC Mar 23 18:20 Total Lunar Eclipse 5 BC Sep 15 20:10 Total Lunar Eclipse 4 BC Mar 13 00:40 Partial Lunar Eclipse 3 AD May 04 19:26 Total Lunar Eclipse 3 AD Oct 28 22:37 Total Lunar Eclipse 4 AD Oct 16 23:02 Partial Lunar Eclipse 6 AD Mar 03 20:22 Partial Lunar Eclipse 7 AD Feb 20 20:08 Total Lunar Eclipse 8 AD Feb 09 23:00 Partial Lunar Eclipse Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 19 Star of Bethlehem Lunar Eclipses 5 BC & 4 BC Total Lunar Eclipse Partial Lunar Eclipse 28 Aug 2007 16 Aug 2008 Similar to 5 BC Similar to 4 BC Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 20 Star of Bethlehem Herod’s Death The scholarly consensus, based on Josephus' Antiquities of the Jews is that Herod died at the end of March or early April in 4 BC. Reasoning as follows: • Herod died 34 years after the death of Antigonus II Mattathias circa 37 BC. Implies Herod died 4 / 3 BC • Herod Philip II's death took place after a 37-year reign in the 20th year of Tiberius 33 AD. Implies Herod died 5/4 BC. • Josephus wrote that Herod died after a lunar eclipse, and a partial eclipse took place in 4 BC. It has been suggested that 5 BC might be a more likely date– there were two total eclipses in that year. • However, the 4 B.C. date is almost universally accepted Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 21 Star of Bethlehem The Census Problem • The Census of Quirinius took place in 6–7 AD. • The census Luke referred to could have been another event such as a mass oath taking that took place when Augustus was given the title "father of the nation" (3–2 BC). • Augustus is known to have taken a census of Roman citizens at least three times, in 28 BC, 8 BC, and AD 14 • Other scholars, however, argue that Luke was simply mistaken. Tuesday 2 nd Dec 2008 by Gary Auker 22 Star of Bethlehem Prophesy of Messiah known in many parts of Middle East • Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II captured Jerusalem 597 BC, deposed King Jehoiakim of Judah.
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