Was Jesus really born in Bethlehem, or did the gospel writers “invent” the story to fit prophecy? Did a Roman census ever force people to travel back to their ancestral towns? And what about Herod’s massacre of the innocents – pure theology, or plausible history?
In this special Advent episode of Ask NT Wright Anything, Tom Wright and Mike Bird respond to challenges raised by historian Tom Holland (of The Rest Is History podcast) about the birth narratives of Jesus.
Tom explains why ancient history is full of gaps, how new evidence has repeatedly vindicated biblical details once dismissed as “unhistorical,” and why we should be cautious about confidently declaring, “That could never have happened.”
🎧 If you’ve ever wondered, “Did Luke get Christmas wrong?” or felt unsettled by historical objections to the nativity, this episode will help you think more clearly – without losing the wonder.

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