I. THE CHRONOLOGY OF TIIE LIFE OF CIIRIST. The main data are to be found in the Gospels and checked by comparison with the contempo rary events of secular history.
(I) The Date of the Xativity.—From Matthew we learn that the birth of Jesus took place "in the days of Herod the King" (ii. 1). The visit of the wise men, the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt, and the massacre of the children under two years of age all preceded Herod's death (ii. 3-18). Thus Herod's death gives us a date later than which the birth of Jesus cannot be placed. According to data in Josephus, it is beyond all doubt that Herod died not long before the Passover of B.C. 4. The star of the wise men may have been the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, which occurred in B.C. 7. The Nativity was, however, after the first appearance of the star. Since several events took place between the Nativity and Herod's death, the evidence in Matthew is conclusive only for a date between B.C. 7 and B.C. 4. In Luke ii. I the data are more definite. "In those days there went forth a decree from Cmsar Augustus that the [Roman] world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment made when Quirinitis was Governor of Syria." The meaning seems to be that this enrollment was the first one of the kind in those regions, and that it was taken while Quirinius was Governor. This definite statement has been the subject of much discussion. The main points in dispute are: whether Augustus ordered an enrollment in Palestine before the famous one Of A.D. 6 (which was, curiously enough, while Quirinins was Governor of Syria), and, if so, whether Quirinius was the Roman official in trusted with its execution. As to the first ques tion, documents recently discovered in Egypt supplement our former imperfect knowledge of Augustus's various censuses, so that we are now reasonably sure that about mu. 9-S a census was ordered to be taken in Palestine as a part of the second general census of the Empire. in which Palestine was now, for the first time, included. From n.c. 23, for a number of years, a census was taken every fourteen years. It is likely that the census ordered for the year me. 9-S did not actually take place in Palestine, owing to its peculiar circumstances, until B.C. 7.
As to the second question, there is a possibility that Luke has made a mistake in naming Qui rinins instead of Saturnimts as the Governor of Syria at the time. Thus both Luke and Nlatthew agree to the effect that the Nativity took place about DX. 7 or A.U.C. 747. It would seem that further aid might lie derived from Luke iii. 1-3 and 23. which verses apparently state that Jesus was thirty years of age in the fifteenth year of Tiberius C:esar. But this is not the case. We are uncertain (1) front what (late Luke reckoned the reign of Tiberius; (2) bore much latitude is to be allowed to the expression "about thirty years:" and (3) how close the is between v, 23 and vv. 1-3. For these reasons we must he content with the result stated above, and (late the Nativity about n.e. 7.
There are no data for determining the month and day of the birth of Jesus. Ancient tradition wavered between two dates. January 6th and December 25th, each of which seems to have been the result of calculation., not based on trustworthy tradition.
(•2.) The Date of Jesus' Ruptism.—From Luke we learn that John the Baptist took tip his work in the fifteenth year of Tiberius. Snell, at least, seems to be the meaning of Luke iii. 1-3. "Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tibe rius Cesar . . . the word of God came unto John . . . iu t he wilderness." if Luke reekoned the reign of Tiberius from the death of Augustus, the year August A.D. A.0.29 would be the year intended. If he counted froth A.D. 12, when Tiberius was associated with Augustus, as the first year, then A.D. 26-27 would be the year Accordingly, the Imptism of •lesus was either in A.D. 27 or in A.D. 29. In the Gospel of John we have a datum which enables us to decide between these two dates. In John ii. 20. at the (line of Jesus' first public appearance in Jerusalem. which was not long after the beginning of His public ministry. there is the statement that the Temple had been. at the time, forty-six years in the process of construction. Since the reomstruction of the Temple was begun by Herod in n.e. 20.19. the baptism of Jesus could not have been later than A.D. 27. Early in the year A.D. 27 seems. then, the most probable date for this event.