If our calendar is broken up into B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (anno Domini, the year of our Lord) doesn’t that mean Jesus was born in year one (since we don’t count year zero)?

Actually, the issue is a bit more complex than that.

Although the Gospel writers did not focus primarily on preserving a precise chronological history of Jesus’ life and ministry, we can still approximate some key dates by comparing historical markers with passages of Scripture.

Here’s why many scholars say Jesus was born between 5 and 6 B.C.

Support the show

GET THE NEWSLETTER
Each edition of the Reasonable Theology newsletter contains my latest article or podcast episode PLUS:

• A Theological Word or Phrase Explained Quickly and Clearly
• A Painting Depicting a Scene from Scripture or Church History
• Audio of a Hymn or other Musical Selection to Enjoy
• A Recommended Book or Resource to Expand Your Library

SUBSCRIBE HERE