The date of the baptism of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion have an important bearing on the problem of the
Star of Bethlehem as a backward calculation from these dates and an assumed age of
Jesus Christ should narrow down the possible
dates when he was born and when the Star of Bethlehem should have been visible.
One of the few events in the life of Jesus Christ that can be dated with some accuracy is his baptism by
John the Baptist who began to preach in the 15th year of Tiberius
(Luke 3:1-3).
Counting from the year when Tiberius assumed the sole rule over the Roman Empire after the death of Augustus
(14 CE),
this would be equivalent with 28 or 29 CE. It is assumed that Jesus Christ was baptized in the same year when he was about
30 years old
(Luke 3:23).
The so-called synoptic gospels (Mark, Mathew & Luke) concur in stating that
Jesus Christ was crucified on the Friday following the
Day of Preparation for the Jewish Passover feast and was resurrected on the following Sunday. Thus, according to the
synoptic tradition the Last Supper of Jesus Christ and his disciples was a Passover meal and, in terms of the Jewish calendar,
this implies that Jesus Christ was crucified on the 15th day of the month Nisan, or the first day of Passover. The
Gospel of John, however, suggests that the passion of Jesus Christ occurred on the Day of Preparation, or 14 Nisan. John’s
version is supported by the Talmud (Sanhedrin 43a), which records that Jesus the Nazarene died on the day before
Passover.
The synoptic gospels all mention a three-hour darkness shortly before the death of Jesus Christ on the cross
(Mark 15:33;
Matthew 27:45;
Luke 23:44-45),
but some manuscripts of Luke specifically indicate that the Sun was eclipsed. Although biblical commentators have
noted from the early third century onwards that a solar eclipse cannot take place so near to the Jewish Passover feast
(as the latter starts on a Full Moon day), some scholars have argued that the passage
in Luke possibly preserves a
memory of a nearly total solar eclipse that had been visible from Jerusalem on 24 November
29 CE.
Others, following the report in some early Christian sources
(Report of Pontius Pilate,
version I &
II)
that the Moon had turned red as blood during the Crucifixion, have suggested the darkness mentioned in the synoptic
gospels may have referred to the Moon that rose eclipsed on the evening of 3 April
33 CE.
The following list gives some early opinions on the dates of various events in the life of Jesus
Christ:
- Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon (late 2nd century): Placed the birth of
Jesus Christ about the 41st year of the
reign of Augustus. Reckoned from the death of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE, this would be in 4 or 3 BCE
(Against
Heresies III 21.3).
- Clement of Alexandria (late 2nd century): Placed the birth of Jesus Christ in the 28th year of Augustus
(counting from the battle of Actium in 31 BCE, this would be in 4 or 3 BCE). Some place the day of his
birth on 25 Pachon, others on 24 or 25 Pharmuthi. Jesus Christ was baptized in the 15th year of Tiberius,
either on 11 or 15 Tybi, and was crucified in the 16th year of Tiberius, 42 years and 3 months
before the destruction of Jerusalem. The day of the crucifixion was dated by various witnesses as 25 Phamenoth,
19 Pharmuthi or 25 Pharmuthi
(Stromata I 21
[147]).
- Hippolytus (3rd century): Placed the birth of Jesus Christ in the 5500th year since the Creation
and the crucifixion in his 33rd year
(Commentary
on Daniel II 4-5). Elsewhere (reference?),
Hippolytus lists the birth of Jesus Christ more precisely as Wednesday, 25 December in the 42nd year
of the reign of Augustus (i.e 3 or 2 BCE). The day of Jesus Christ’s conception is listed as
2 April, though Hippolytus elsewhere (reference?) marks
this as 25 March.
[Say something more about later traditions regarding the date
of his birth, baptism and crucifixion]
- Gauricus, L., De eclipsi Solis miraculosa in passione Domini observata; item de anno, mense, die
et hora conceptionis, nativitatis, passionis et resurrectionis ejus
(???, Rome, 1539) – reprinted in Paris in 1553.
- Hoffmeister, ?., Ecclipsis Solis, quae die passionis
Domini accessit, declarata (???, Wittenberg, 1683).
- Newton,
Isaac, Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John (J. Darby
& T. Browne, London, 1733), part I, chap. 11 [= pp. 144-168]
[???
link].
- Scherz, J.G. & Lauth, J.J., De eclipsi Solis, quae tempore passionis Christi acciderat,
supernaturali atque miraculosa (???, Strasbourg,
1743).
- Liedbeck, L., De eclipsi Solis tempore passionis Christi visa
(???, Londini Gothorum, 1760).
- Wurm, H., “Astronomische Beiträge zur genäherten Bestimmung des Geburts- und Totesjahre Jesu”,
Bengels Archiv für die Theologie und ihre neuste Literatur, 2 (1817),
293-???.
- Grausbeck, J.A., Ausführliche Untersuchung über die Finsterniss bei dem Tode Jesu, zur
Richtigstellung der Ansichten darüber für Wissenschaftliche wie für gebildete Leser
(???, Tübingen, 1835).
- Chwolson, D.A., “Das letzte Passamahl Christi und der Tag seines Todes nach den in Übereinstimmung
gebrachten Berichten der Synoptiker und des Evangelium Johannis, nebst einem Anhang: Das Verhältniss
der Pharisäer, Sadducäer und der Juden überhaupt zu Jesus Christus nach den mit Hilfe rabbinischer
Quellen erläuterten Berichten der Synoptiker”, Mémoires de l’Académie impériale des sciences de
St.-Pétersbourg, série VII, 41 (1892), nr. 1 – also printed separately by
??? (Leipzig, 1908).
- Ramsey, W.M. & Turner, ?.,
“???”, The Expositor, 5th ser., 10
(190?), 431-432.
- Achelis, H., “Ein Versuch, den Karfreitag zu datieren”, Nachrichten der Gesellschaft der
Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Philosophisch-historische Klasse, 5 (1902),
707-???.
- Fotheringham, John Knight, “The Date of the Crucifixion”, Journal of Philology, 29
(1903), 100-118 [Periodicals
Archive Online link].
- Bebber, J. van, “Zur neuesten Datierung des Karfreitags”, Biblische Zeitschrift, 2
(1904), 67-??.
- Gerhardt, O., Das datum der kreuzigung Jesu Christi (Wiegandt & Griegen, Berlin, 1904).
- Ladeuze, P., “La date de la mort du Christ d’après quelques études récentes”, Revue d’histoire
ecclésiastique, ?? (1904),
896-???.
- Preuschen, E., “Todesjahr und Todestag Jesu”, Zeitschrift für Neutestamentliche Wissenschaften und
Kunde der Urchristentums, 5 (1904), 15-??.
- Hontheim, J., “Das Todesjahr Christi und die Danielsche Wochenprophetie”, Der Katholik, 86
(1906), 12-36, 96-128, 176-188 & 254-281.
- Bacon, B.W., “Lucan versus Johannine Chronology”, The Expositor, 7th ser., 3
(1907), 206-220.
- Bacon, B.W., “Notes on Gospel Chronology”, Journal of Biblical Literature, 28
(1909), 139-???.
- Westberg, F., Die biblische Chronologie nach Flavius Josephus und das Todesjahr Jesu
(Deichert, Leipzig, 1910).
- Fotheringham, John Knight, “Astronomical Evidence for the Date of the Crucifixion”,
The Journal of Theological
Studies, 12 (1911), 120-127 [Periodicals
Archive Online link].
- Bach, J., Monatstag und Jahr des Todes Christi (Herder, Freiburg in Breisgau, 1912 [= Beilage
zum Jahresbericht des Bischöfl. Gymnasiums zu Straßburg 1912]).
- Fotheringham, John Knight, “Astronomical Evidence for the Date of the Crucifixion”, The Churchman,
26 (1912), 265-??? &
709-???.
- Sickenberger, J., “Zur Frage nach dem Totestag Christi ”, in: F.X. Seppelt (ed.),
Kirchengeschichtliche Festgabe Anton de Waal zum goldenen Priester-Jubiläum (11. Oktober 1912)
dargebracht (Herder, Freiburg in Breisgau, 1913 [= Römische Quartalschrift für christliche
Altertumskunde und für Kirchengeschichte, supplement nr. 20]), pp. 289-298.
- Husband, Richard Wellington, “The Year of the Crucifixion”, Transactions
and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, 46
(1915), 5-27 [JSTOR
link].
- Schoch, K., “Christi Kreuzigung am 14. Nisan”, Biblica, 9 (1928), 48-56.
- Schaumberger, J.B.C., “Der 14. Nisan als Kreuzigungstag und die Synoptiker”, Biblica, 9
(1928), 57-77.
- Power, E., “John 2:20 and the Date of the Crucifixion”, Biblica, 9 (1928), 257-288.
- Schoch, K., “Das Karmel-Neulicht”, Biblica, 9 (1928), 350-352 [cf. also pp. 466-468].
- Gerhardt, O., “???”, Biblica, 9 (1928),
464-???.
- Gerhardt, O., “Das Datum der Kreuzigung Jesu Christi”, Astronomische Nachrichten, 240 (1930),
137-162 [nr. 5745/46] [ADS
link] – addendum by Fr. Wünschmann in ibid., 240 (1930),
405-406 [nr. 5758] [ADS
link].
- Dittrich, E., “Zum Totesdatum Jesu von Nazareth”, Astronomische Nachrichten, 241 (1931),
401-408 [nr. 5784] [ADS
link].
- Hennig, R., “Das Datum der Kreuzigung Christi”, Astronomische Nachrichten, 242 (1931),
109-112 [nr. 5789] [ADS
link].
- Gerhardt, O., “Zum Datum des Todes Jesu”, Astronomische Nachrichten, 242 (1931),
127-128 [nr. 5790] [ADS
link].
- Gerhardt, O., “Zum Datum der Kreuzigung”, Astronomische Nachrichten, 242 (1931),
305-310 [nr. 5801] [ADS
link].
- Torrey, C.C., “The Date of the Crucifixion according to the Fourth Gospel”, Journal of Biblical
Literature, 50 (1931), 229-241.
- Ven, J.M. van der, Dag en jaar van Christus’ kruisdood: Eene chronologische studie
(Mosmans, ’s Hertogenbosch, s.a. [1931]).
- Holzmeister, U., “Neuere Arbeiten über das Datum der Kreuzigung”, Biblica, 13 (1932),
95-??.
- Zeitlin, S., “The Date of the Crucifixion according to the Fourth Gospel”, Journal of Biblical
Literature, 51 (1932), 263-271.
- Bedeus,
Gustav, “Das Datum des Todes Jesu”, Astronomische Nachrichten, 252 (1934),
75-82 [nr. 6029] [ADS
link].
- Fotheringham, John Knight, “The Evidence of Astronomy and Technical Chronology for the Date of the
Crucifixion”, The Journal of Theological Studies, 35 (1934),
146-162 [Periodicals
Archive Online link].
- Hennig, R., “Zur Streitfrage des Todestags Christi”, Astronomische Nachrichten, 254
(1935), 149-150 [nr. 6081] [ADS
link].
- Hennig, R., Das Geburts- und Todesjahr Christi: Eine Wissenschaftliche Prüfung der überlieferten
Unterlagen, insbesondere der Berichte über den Stern von Bethlehem und die Sonnenfinsternis am Todestage
Jesu (H. Fürstenau, Essen, 1936).
- Schindler, G., “Gab es am Kreuzigungstage eine Sonnenfinsternis?”, Weltall, 37 (1937),
106-108.
- Wattenberg, D., “Die astronomische Bestimmung des Geburts- und Todesjahres Jesu Christi”,
Himmelswelt, 47 (1937), 130-133.
- Ogg, G., The Chronology of the Public Ministry of Jesus (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
1940).
- Doyle, A.D., “Pilate’s Career and the Date of the Crucifixion”, The
Journal of Theological Studies,
42 (1941), 190-193 [PCI Full
Text link not available].
- Jaubert, A., “La date de la derniere Cène”, Revue de l’histoire des religions, 146 (1954),
140-???.
- Dittrich, E., Das Kreuzigungsdatum Jesu von Nazareth (s.l. [Leiden?], s.a. [1956]).
- Jaubert, A., “The Date of the Last Supper”, Theology Review, 5 (1957),
67-??.
- Jaubert, A., La date de la Cène: Calendrier biblique et liturgie chrétienne (Gabalda Lecoffre,
Paris, 1957 [= Études Bibliques, nr. ??]).
- Blinzler, J., “Qumran-Kalender und Passionschronologie”, Zeitschrift für Neutestamentliche
Wissenschaften und Kunde der Urchristentums, 49 (1958),
238-???.
- Ogg, G., “The Age of Jesus when He Taught”, New Testament Studies, 5 (1958/59),
291-???.
- Strobel, A., “Termin des Todes Jesu”, Zeitschrift für Neutestamentliche Wissenschaften und
Kunde der Urchristentums, 51 (1960), 69-101.
- Jaubert, A., “Jésus et le calendrier de Qumrân”,
New Testament Studies, 7 (1960/61),
1-??.
- Blinzler, J., The Trial of Jesus (Newman, Westminster [MD], 1961).
- Shepherd Jr., M.H., “Are both the Synoptics and John correct about the Date of Jesus’ Death?”,
The Journal of Biblical Literature, 80 (1961), 123-132.
- Carmignac, J., “Comment Jésus et ses contemporains pouvaient-ils célébrer la Pâque à une date non
officielle?”, Revue de Qumran, 5 (1964), 1-??.
- Driver, G.R., “Two Problems in the New Testament”, The Journal of Theological Studies, new series,
16 (1965), 327-337 [Periodicals
Archive Online link].
- Jaubert, A., The Date of the Last Supper (Alba, New York, 1965).
- Ogg, G., “The Chronology of the Last Supper”, in: D.E. Nineham et al. (eds.), Historicity
and Chronology in the New Testament (S.P.C.K., London, 1965 [= Theological Collections,
nr. 6),
pp. ???-???.
- Ruckstuhl, E., Chronology of the Last Days of Jesus (Desclee, New York, 1965).
- Maier, Paul L., “Sejanus, Pilate, and the Date of the Crucifixion”, Church History, 37
(1968), 3-13 [Periodicals
Archive Online link].
- Sawyer, John F.A., “Why is a Solar Eclipse mentioned in the Passion Narrative (Luke XXIII.44-5)?”,
The Journal of Theological Studies, new series, 23 (1972),
124-128 [Periodicals
Archive Onlne link].
- Strobel, August, Ursprung und Geschichte des frühchristlichen Osterkalenders (Akademie-Verlag, Berlin,
1977 [= Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur, Band 121]).
- Mulder, H., John XVIII 28 and the Date of the Crucifixion (E.J. Brill, Leiden, 1978
[= Supplements to Novum Testamentum, nr. 58]).
- Humphreys, Colin J. & Waddington, W.G., “Dating the Crucifixion”, Nature, 306 (1983),
743-746.
- Miller, J.V., “The Time of the Crucifixion”, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society,
26 (1983), 157.
- France, R.T., “Chronological Aspects of ‘Gospel Harmony’ ”, Vox Evangelica, 16 (1986),
33-59.
- Kokkinos, N., “Crucifixion in AD 36: The Keystone for Dating the Birth of Jesus”, in:
J. Vardaman & E.M. Yamauchi (eds.), Chronos, Kairos, Christos: Nativity and Chronological
Studies Presented to Jack Finegan (Eisenbrauns, Winona Lake, 1989), pp. 133-163.
- Humphreys, Colin J. & Waddington, W.G., “Dating the Crucifixion”, in: J. Vardaman &
E.M. Yamauchi (eds.), Chronos, Kairos, Christos: Nativity and Chronological Studies
Presented to Jack Finegan (Eisenbrauns, Winona Lake, 1989), pp. 172-181.
- Schaefer, Bradley E., “Dating the Crucifixion”, Sky & Telescope, 77 (1989), 374.
- Humphreys, Colin J. & Waddington, W.G., “Crucifixion Date”, Nature, 348 (1990), 684.
- Schaefer,
Bradley E., “Lunar Visibility and the Crucifixion”, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society,
31 (1990), 53-67 [ADS
link].
- Jaubert, A., “The Calendar of Qumran and the Passion Narrative in John”, in: J.H. Charlesworth (ed.),
John and the Dead Sea Scrolls (Crossroad, New York, 1991), pp. 62-75.
- Pratt,
John P., “Newton’s Date for the Crucifixion”, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical
Society, 32 (1991), 301-304 [ADS
link;
another link].
- Smith, H., “The Chronology of the Last Supper”, Westminster Theological Journal, 53 (1991),
29-45.
- Hamilton, J., “The Chronology of the Crucifixion and the Passover”, The Churchman, 106 (1992),
323-338.
- Humphreys, Colin J., “The Jewish Calendar, a Lunar Eclipse and the Date of Christ’s Crucifixion”, Tyndale
Bulletin, 43 (1992), 331-352.
- Bacchiocchi,
S., The Time of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection (Biblical Perspectives, Berrien Springs
[MI], 1994) [???
link].
Dating the Baptism and the Crucifixion of
Jesus Christ