Topic(s):  Bible Study, Jesus

Todd Clippard

There is no record in the Bible or otherwise, that gives any indication as to the day Jesus was born. The Catholic church endured much turmoil as it battled to set a date hundreds years after the New Testament was written. The Roman bishops wanted December 25 because their parishioners were celebrating the pagan holiday of the Saturnalia on that day. The bishops in Constantinople wanted January 6 set as the day. In a "compromise," the date was set at December 25, but January 6 was set as the date of the epiphany, that is when the wise men came to see Christ. January 6 is twelve days after December 25, thus "the 12 days of Christmas."

Additionally, there is no record of any New Testament Christian celebrating the birth of Jesus. The church is commanded to remember Jesus' death every week in the observance of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-28; Acts 20:6-7;
1 Corinthians 11:18-34). Most religious people spend more time, effort, and money on celebrating an event that God didn't see fit to include in two of the four gospel accounts (Mark & John). In fact, Mark's account said the gospel began with the ministry of John the Baptist, not with His birth.