THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM, A COMET IN 5 BC ... - Tyndale House

56 TYNDALE BULLETIN 43.1 (1992)
around Passover time is suggested (13–27 April 5 BC). This date is
consistent with the available evidence including a reference in Luke to
there being shepherds out in the fields at night. Although today
Christmas is celebrated on 25 December in the west and on 8 January
in the east, we suggest that the evidence of astronomy, the bible and
other ancient literature points to the Spring of 5 BC as being the time
of the first Christmas.
It is proposed to continue the discussion of the chronology of the life
of Christ in ‘The Jewish Calendar, a Lunar Eclipse and the Date of
Christ’s Crucifixion’ in volume 43.2 (November, 1992).