10.04.2016 Views

When was Jesus Born

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

WHEN WAS JESUS BORN?: M. M. NINAN<br />

So his eighth year began in January, 48.<br />

Hence according this Christ <strong>was</strong> born in the year 2 B.C.<br />

Dionysius Exiguus<br />

Dionysius Exiguus calculated the Birth of <strong>Jesus</strong> on December 25, 1BC<br />

This led to the starting of year of Our Lord – Anno Domini seven days<br />

later as January 1 , 1 AD.<br />

Under the direction of Pope St. John I (A.D. 523-526), Dionysius<br />

Exiguus introduced the use of B.C. and A.D. With the Edict of Milan<br />

legitimizing Christianity in A.D. 413 and ultimately making it the<br />

official religion of the Roman Empire, the birth of Christ became the<br />

“epoch event” used for dating. B.C. stands for before Christ, and A.D.<br />

stands for anno domini, or “in the year of our Lord”<br />

Thus the Early Christian traditions puts the birth of <strong>Jesus</strong> at around 2<br />

BC. This will fit within the chronology only if Herod <strong>was</strong> alive until 1<br />

BC and not in 4 BC.<br />

24

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!