Regardless of whether these claims were accepted at the time to be true, they shaped a person’s ethnic identity, political status and claims to honor. Just like the comet that celebrated Caesar or the eclipse that accompanied the death of Jesus, the star of Bethlehem was supposed to herald an event of cosmic proportions. According to Colin J. Humphreys in "The Star of Bethlehem—a Comet in 5 BC—and the Date of the Birth of Christ," from Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, Jesus was probably born in 5 B.C., at the time the Chinese recorded a major, new, slow-moving comet—a "sui-hsing," or star with a sweeping tail in the Capricorn region of the sky. Other Jewish texts, such as the book 4 Ezra, written in the same century as the Gospels, and the Jewish sectarian Qumran literature, which is written two centuries earlier, also echo this belief. In the Greco-Roman era, birth stories and genealogical claims were used to establish rights to rule and link individuals with purported ancestral grandeur. Caesar Augustus, who was the first Roman emperor, was proclaimed as a descendant of Apollo. The story of the birth of Jesus is told in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew and the two versions—each of which focuses on a particular theme—are spliced together to form our modern Nativity story. Galilee is Jesus’ hometown. John Meier, a scholar on the historical Jesus, explains that Jesus’ “birth at Bethlehem is to be taken not as a historical fact” but as a “theological affirmation put into the form of an apparently historical narrative.” In other words, the belief that Jesus was a descendant of King David led to the development of a story about Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. And a Jewish writer named Philo who lived in the first century wrote that Abraham and the Jewish priest and prophets were born of God. We also have these very specific descriptions of what the town was like at the time. Rodolfo Galvan Estrada III, Fuller Theological Seminary. Luke 2:7 reads, in the NRSV translation, that Mary gave birth to Jesus and “laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them at the inn.” Though we might assume that they were turned away from the ancient equivalent of the Hilton, there’s no actual mention of a stable here. The prophet Micah prophesied, many centuries before Jesus was born, that Bethlehem is His birthplace. It may well be that Matthew has placed Jesus’ birth there to fulfill Micah’s prophecy (5:2) that a great ruler (the supposed messiah) would come from Bethlehem.. Matthew explains it all by indicating that Joseph and Mary were originally from Bethlehem. Jesus, according to some biblical sources, was born in this town some two millennia ago. It may well be that Matthew has placed Jesus’ birth there to fulfill Micah’s prophecy (5:2) that a great ruler (the supposed messiah) would come from Bethlehem.. Matthew explains it all by indicating that Joseph and Mary were originally from Bethlehem. Whereas the distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem is possible." There are also some who believe Jesus wasn't born in either of the two Bethlehems. These are the only references in the New Testament to Bethlehem as Jesus’ place of birth. "Zero. The reason that we might think of this main room as a stable is that there was a manger or animal trough there. "If you ask me, Jesus was born in Nazareth," said archaeologist Dr Uzi Dahari. The city of Bethlehem, located about six miles southwest of Jerusalem, is the birthplace of our Savior Jesus Christ. Tradition places Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, a small town a few miles south of Jerusalem. Birth stories in Bethlehem solidified the claim that Jesus was a rightful descendant of King David. Instead, they travel north to Nazareth in Galilee, which is modern-day Nazareth in Israel. Some do not mention Bethlehem or Jesus’ birth at all. What makes it more difficult is that neither the other Gospels, that of Mark and John, mentions Jesus’ birth or his connection to Bethlehem. Apostle Paul, who wrote the earliest documents of the New Testament, considered Jesus a descendant of David but does not associate him with Bethlehem. Though planetary conjunctions aren’t especially rare, this one is getting a lot of attention because of its occurrence before Christmas. Bethlehem , meaning "house of bread," was also the renowned City of David. In challenging traditional depictions of the birth of Jesus some scholars go a lot further than just reconfiguring the sleeping plans. The Bible tells us that it was in Bethlehem, for example, that Jacob’s beloved wife, Rachel, was buried. Did the Nativity really happen during winter in Bethlehem 2,020 years ago? There are a number of reasons for this. The Gospel says that the star of Bethlehem subsequently leads them to a house—not a manger—where Jesus has been born to Joseph and Mary. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a humble and lowly state. They made sure that readers were aware of Jesus’ genealogical connection to King David with the mention of this city. Both evangelists go to great lengths to establish Jesus Christ as a historical person, carefully placing him in a specific historical period by referencing leaders and events at the time he was born. Where was Jesus Born? These were valuable gifts, especially frankincense and myrrh, which were costly fragrances that had medicinal use. The story begins with wise men who come to the city of Jerusalem after seeing a star that they interpreted as signaling the birth of a new king. A blind beggar in the Gospel of Mark describes Jesus as both from Nazareth and the son of David, the second king of Israel and Judah during 1010-970 B.C. It’s because of the lack of space, tradition tells us, that they end up in a stable and Jesus is placed in a manger. One day God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary with a message. The Gospels of Mark and John reveal that they either had trouble linking Bethlehem with Jesus, did not know his birthplace, or were not concerned with this city. Luke and Matthew both place Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. Roughly 50 years before Jesus’ birth, a comet appeared in the night sky. When the wise men went to Herod with the news that a child had been born to be the king of the Jews, he made a plan to kill all young children to remove the threat to his throne. The Gospel of John, written approximately 15 to 20 years after that of Mark, also does not associate Jesus with Bethlehem. Question: "Why was Jesus born in a manger?" This is about six miles, (10 kilometers), south of Jerusalem " on the east side of the 'Patriarch's Highway' that ran along the ridge between Shechem and Hebron ." He was from Bethlehem. Since Joseph was a descendant of King David, Bethlehem was the hometown where he was required to register. Bethlehem Ephrata is where Rachel was buried, Ruth met Boaz and slept at his feet on the threshing floor, Nitzevet (King David’s mother) was sent to live by her husband Jesse, David was born, and Jesus was born. Aviram Oshri is right that, in Luke’s Gospel, it made no sense for Joseph to take the heavily pregnant Mary all the way from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea, especially as the Romans would never have counted a woman. The Star of Bethlehem. : Christian tradition states that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in Judea (now Palestine). The town of Bethlehem of Judea, about six miles south of Jerusalem, has always been considered the birthplace of Jesus. David Silverman/Getty Images. Luke mentions that Jesus is not only genealogically connected to King David, but also born in Bethlehem, “the city of David.” [Deep knowledge, daily. Around another bend of history’s trail lies Ruth, whose story is short but moving. There are problems with those claims and I’ll come back to them in a moment. In this story of the destitute widow and the Bethlehem man who later married, protected, and provided for her, we see a picture of Jesus, our kinsman redeemer. By Rodolfo Galvan Estrada III, Adjunct Assistant Professor of the New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary. Star of Bethlehem as Comet . It goes on to describe their meeting with the local Jewish king named Herod, of whom they inquire about the location of Jesus’ birth. Raymond Brown, another scholar on the Gospels, also states that “the two narratives are not only different—they are contrary to each other in a number of details.”. Early Christian traditions describe Jesus as being born in Bethlehem: in one account, a verse in the Book of Micah is interpreted as a prophecy that the Messiah would be born there. The primary reason the birth of Jesus took place in Bethlehem was to fulfill the prophecy given by the minor prophet Micah.He stated, "And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, you being least among the thousands of Judah, out of you He (Jesus) shall come forth (be born) to Me, that is to become Ruler in Israel . The story about the journey to Bethlehem was a later invention that connected Jesus to King David. > Was Jesus born in Bethlehem or Nazareth? Matthew also says that after Herod dies from an illness, Joseph, Mary and Jesus do not return to Bethlehem. We know this from Biblical prophesies and narrative accounts like in Luke 2:4 and Matthew 2:1. There’s even a scene in Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth in which a woman gives the holy family directions to a cave-like dwelling. Some do not mention Bethlehem or Jesus’ birth at all. Mary and Joseph were descendants of David. Jesus was probably born in Nazareth. Second, in Luke, the event that necessitates Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem is a census. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the first Gospel in the canon of the New Testament, Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem when Jesus was born. In the Bible, the answer seems straightforward: Bethlehem. Jesus, according to some biblical sources, was born in this town some two millennia ago. In challenging traditional depictions of the birth of Jesus some scholars go a lot further than just reconfiguring the sleeping plans. Regardless, there was a manger or feeding trough in the place where Christ was born, and that was used as a resting place for the newborn Jesus, as stated in Luke 2:7. Micah was a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah. Every Christmas, a relatively small town in the Palestinian West Bank comes center stage: Bethlehem. Some are speculating that perhaps this is the astral event that guided the wise men to Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in Bethlehem. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, (Matthew 2:1) When we eat a bread in this world today, we still get hungry tomorrow. Jesus, according to some biblical sources, was born in this town some two millennia ago. Given this, a number of more skeptical scholars argue that Jesus was born and grew up in Nazareth. Yet the New Testament Gospels do not agree about the details of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem… According to the New Testament, Joseph and Mary were living in Bethlehem of Judea at the time of Jesus' birth and later moved to Nazareth up north. Jesus is born in a manger because all the travelers overcrowded the guest rooms. Jesus was born in a stable, not because all the hotels were full but because the guest room of the relatives with whom Joseph and Mary were staying was already overcrowded with guests. The Gospels’ different views might be hard to reconcile. Jesus was the “new David” the “great ruler” that would come from Bethlehem and bring peace and security to all the nations (2007, p. 416). The Gospel of Luke, an account of Jesus’ life which was written during the same period as the Gospel of Matthew, has a different version of Jesus’ birth. But Matthew says Jesus was born in a "house" where Joseph’s family lived in Bethlehem. Matthew and Luke’s inclusion of the city of Bethlehem contributed to the claim that Jesus was the Messiah from a Davidic lineage. David Silverman/Getty Images. A doll representing the infant Jesus in St. Catherine’s, the Franciscan church in the town of Bethlehem. Yesterday I discussed Matthew’s account of how it is that Jesus came to be born in Bethlehem, if in fact he “came” from Nazareth. Jesus, according to some biblical sources, was born in this town some two millennia ago. For example, Ion, the founder of the Greek colonies in Asia, was considered to be a descendant of Apollo. Unfortunately, as Luke stresses, there wasn’t enough room for everyone upstairs, so they likely stayed downstairs in the main room of the house on the ground floor. This is what he had to say about the coming Messiah: Micah 5:2 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to In the same way, the star of Bethlehem was also intended to present Jesus as a person of global importance. There is no guiding star in Luke’s story, nor do the shepherds bring gifts to baby Jesus. Yet the New Testament Gospels do not agree about the details of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem… The town of Bethlehem of Judea, about six miles south of Jerusalem, has always been considered the birthplace of Jesus. But as a scholar of the New Testament, what I argue is that the Gospels offer an important insight into the Greco-Roman views of ethnic identity, including genealogies. The Good Shepherd — Anonymous. In other words, Mary and Joseph weren’t turned away from a guest house or by family members, they just had to sleep (and, in Mary’s case) give birth in the somewhat less comfortable setting of the main room. John mentions a debate where some Jewish people referred to the prophecy which claimed that the messiah would be a descendant of David and come from Bethlehem. The opening chapter of Mark says that Jesus is from “Nazareth of Galilee.” This is repeated throughout the Gospel on several occasions, and Bethlehem is never mentioned. The two accounts agree that Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, his mother Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph, who was descended from King David and was not his biological father, and that his birth was caused by divine intervention. "At that time in … Jesus was the “new David” the “great ruler” that would come from Bethlehem and bring peace and security to all the nations (2007, p. 416). The ancients didn't ask how; they asked why: Jesus's name tells us: 'God with us' (Emmanuel), 'save his people from their sins.' Genealogical claims were made for important ancient founders and political leaders. Overjoyed, they worship Jesus and present gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. . Today, genealogies may bring more awareness of one’s family medical history or help uncover lost family members. The question of where Jesus was born is often answered with a city – Bethlehem. It was a staple in the ancient diet and provided not only comfort but nourishment necessary for survival. Bethlehem means house of bread (beth: house, lehem:of bread), and bread held great importance in Bible times. A number of noted Historical Jesus scholars, however, insist that Jesus was more likely born in Nazareth. The Bible offers conflicting narratives around Christ’s birth. The New Testament Gospels do not agree about the details of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. The problem isn’t one of vocabulary. Bethlehem! The differences between Matthew and Luke are nearly impossible to reconcile, although they do share some similarities. For many years, critics of the Book of Mormon have called attention to a colossal blunder in that volume (but one of many), though the book claims to be a “revelation” from God.In Alma 7:10, the plagiarizing, inept author of that document “slips,” and names “Jerusalem” as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, rather than “Bethlehem” — the correct location.Here is the exact quotation. The Gospel of Luke includes no flight to Egypt, no paranoid King Herod, no murder of children and no wise men visiting baby Jesus. As most first century Jews believed that the promised messiah would be a military leader, the connection to David helped bolster Jesus’ messianic credentials. It turns out that the Messiah might not have been born in a stable, or even in Bethlehem! After Jesus was born, Joseph took his family from Bethlehem to Jerusalem for up to 40 days (Luke 2:22), and from there straight back to Nazareth (Luke 2:39). Luke does know the Greek word for a hostel or inn and uses it in his telling of the famous Parable of the Good Samarian. Tradition places Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, a small town a few miles south of Jerusalem. Pilgrims visiting Bethlehem within about 100 years of Christ’s birth already believed Christ was born there. There they prosp… We say that he was "born in Bethlehem" because Bethlehem was David's birthplace, King David was Israel's greatest king and the ancestor of the messiah. Jesus is Born in Bethlehem. These are the only references in the New Testament to Bethlehem as Jesus’ place of birth. Its arrival took place a few months after the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. That he uses different language here means that Luke is describing something else here. Answer: It is a common saying at Christmastime that Jesus Christ was “born in a manger.” Of course, it wasn’t possible for Him to actually be born in the manger, but that’s where Mary laid Him after His birth (Luke 2:7). The gospel of the evangelist Matthew tells us that "Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea (now Palestine). So whether Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem or not is secondary. The nativity of Jesus, nativity of Christ, birth of Christ or birth of Jesus is described in the Biblical gospels of Luke and Matthew. Jesus, according to some biblical sources, was born in this town some two millennia ago. "(Micah 5:2, HBFV throughout). This is not to say that John was unaware of Bethlehem’s significance. THE CONVERSATION via AP — Every Christmas, a relatively small town in the West Bank comes center stage: Bethlehem. There are problems with those claims and I’ll come back to them in a moment. After the birth, Joseph and Mary are visited not by wise men but shepherds, who were also overjoyed at Jesus’ birth. The Gospels of both Matthew and Luke place the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. In one stream of Jewish thought, the Messiah was expected to be an everlasting ruler from the lineage of David. The problem is that there’s no record of a census taking place during the reign of Augustus and even if there had been one it’s highly unlikely that people would have had to have returned to their ancestral home. Of the four canonical gospels in the Bible, only two talk about Jesus’s birth. The details above help fill in the context in some ways that can be helpful to consider the trials that Mary and Joseph faced and to rejoice in God’s providence. More specifically, Christ was born in a stable, possibly a stable inside a cave. It took 1,000 years for one prophecy and 700 years for the other, but God always keeps his promises. Jesus, according to some biblical sources, was born in this town some two millennia ago. Yesterday I discussed Matthew’s account of how it is that Jesus came to be born in Bethlehem, if in fact he “came” from Nazareth. These were not the only ones. As Bart Ehrman puts it in his New Testament Introduction, a situation like this would have been a “bureaucratic nightmare” that would have involved “massive migration.” It is unbelievable, he argues, that millions of people were uprooted for this one event, and that no other ancient sources thought to mention it. Two widows—Ruth and Naomi, her mother-in-law—left foreign Moabfor the small town where Naomi and her husband had lived, the town of Bethlehem. It was here in young David's hometown that the prophet Samuel anointed him to be king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13). And after the angel informed him of Herod’s death, Joseph settled in Galilee rather than returning to his home in Bethlehem in Judea. First, in the earliest life of Jesus (the Gospel of Mark), Jesus is only ever associated with Nazareth; Mark doesn’t seem to know a birth story that links him to Bethlehem. According to Matthew’s infancy narrative, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, not because of a census (which is Luke) but because Mary and Joseph lived there. Today Bethlehem (Bet Lahm in Arabic) is located in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and has a … The New Testament records that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. Roman historians report that many contemporaries interpreted it as a sign that Caesar had been deified. In the New Testament, the Gospel of Luke says that Jesus' parents traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. The ubiquitous image of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus squeezed into a Bethlehem stable has a timeless appeal in artwork, crèches, and seasonal plays everywhere, but historians question many elements of its historicity. Tragically, she died in childbirth as Joseph’s beloved brother, Benjamin, came into the world. The Gospel of Matthew mentions Bethlehem as the place of birth, [99] and adds that King Herod was told that a 'King of the Jews' had been born in the town, prompting Herod to order the killing of all the boys who were two years old or under in the town and surrounding area. Dr. Long, I love your points on the importance of Jesus being born in Bethlehem. Why Is it Important That Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem? Every Christmas, a relatively small town in the Palestinian West Bank comes center stage: Bethlehem. Bethlehem was in Judea which was a Roman province. In the Gospel of Luke, the weary couple arrive in Bethlehem after a long journey and are turned away from the “inn” because there was no room. The Bible says the place of Jesus Christ's birth was the town of Bethlehem of Judea, but one archaeologist says the Christian savior was more likely born in a different Bethlehem … Was Jesus Really Born in Bethlehem? Was Jesus Born in Bethlehem? Moreover, the Greek word translated as “inn” (kataluma) doesn’t mean hotel in any kind of modern service industry kind of way. Was Jesus Born in Bethlehem? As the Greek historian Polybius explains, the renowned deeds of ancestors are “part of the heritage of posterity.”. But Jesus according to John’s Gospel is never associated with Bethlehem, but with Galilee, and more specifically, Nazareth. Jesus finds his first disciples, does several miracles and has brothers in Galilee. This isn’t quite what the Bible says, however. A doll representing the infant Jesus in St. Catherine's, the Franciscan church in the town of Bethlehem. Luke and Matthew both place Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. Jesus, according to some biblical sources, was born in this town some two millennia ago.Yet the New Testament Gospels do not agree about the details of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. The primary reason the birth of Jesus took place in Bethlehem was to fulfill the prophecy given by the minor prophet Micah.He stated, "And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, you being least among the thousands of Judah, out of you He (Jesus) shall come forth (be born) to Me, that is to become Ruler in Israel . (Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem) The claim is made by some scholars that Jesus was not born in Bethlehem. The meaning, he writes, is that the place that he was staying did not have enough space to accommodate the soon-to-be small family. The gospel tells us that a bright star appeared in the eastern sky when Jesus was born… The Bible tells us that Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem, which is just south of Jerusalem. During the period of Jesus’ life, there were multiple perspectives on the Messiah. Jesus, according to some biblical sources, was born … But within the Hebrew Bible, a prophetic book called Micah, thought to be written around B.C. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The author of John does not seem to know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Even so, this doesn’t make the Jupiter-Saturn event the biblical star, nor does it mean that Jesus was necessarily born in a stable, or even in Bethlehem. Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived in the little town of Nazareth, among the hills of Galilee. She was going to be married to a carpenter called Joseph, who, like herself, lived in Nazareth. ROME — As Christmas approaches, debate often arises over when exactly Jesus was born. Perhaps assertions that Jesus was born in Bethlehem were generally accepted, given understanding that he was David’s descendent. Jesus, according to some biblical sources, was born in … . Every Christmas, a relatively small town in the Palestinian West Bank comes center stage: Bethlehem. The Gospel explains that after their visit, Joseph has a dream where he is warned of Herod’s attempt to kill baby Jesus. Was he born in Bethlehem in Judea, or in Nazareth, or in another Bethlehem? Every Christmas, a relatively small town in the Palestinian West Bank comes center stage: Bethlehem. This text is repeated in Matthew’s version. Yet the New Testament Gospels do not agree about the details of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. In first-century Judea mangers were found both inside and outside the home and were sometimes used to divide the area used to keep animals from human living space. Bethlehem Ephrata was the Bethlehem that provided fruit (food). "(Micah 5:2, HBFV throughout). “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. Though both Matthew and Luke agree that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a number of historians argue that Jesus was actually born in Nazareth. Jesus, according to some biblical sources, was born in this town some two millennia ago. Dr. Long, I love your points on the importance of Jesus being born in Bethlehem. So today, when the importance of Bethlehem is heard in Christmas carols or displayed in Nativity scenes, the name of the town connects Jesus to an ancestral lineage and the prophetic hope for a new leader like King David. Yet Mark doesn’t identify Jesus with the city Bethlehem. You ask, "Why Was Jesus Born in Bethlehem?" The God of creation was born in a back-woods town and in the overflow section. . The question is: what is a kataluma? It is not a coincident that Jesus has been born in the “house of bread” and the Apostle John describes Him as the “bread of life” (John 6:33-40). But King David was not born in Nazareth, nor associated with that city. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter.] . There is also a theory that the shelter in which Jesus was born was a place in the northern part of Bethlehem called Migdol Eder. It was prophesied in the 8th century long before His birth. First, let’s look at Mark, the first gospel written, and John, the last gospel written. Typically, Joseph’s family would have put them up in the guest quarters that formed part of the upper rooms of the house. These rooms would likely have included a sort of small guest bedroom. In a year in which good tidings of great joy were conspicuously absent, the astral event is making news. Yet the New Testament Gospels do not agree about the details of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. It then mentions how Joseph, Mary and infant Jesus leave for Egypt to escape King Herod’s attempt to assassinate all young children. Tomorrow night, Jupiter and Saturn will briefly cross paths in the sky and appear to form a single body. 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S trail lies Ruth, whose story is short but moving a `` house '' where Joseph ’ s.... The Greek historian Polybius explains, the event that guided the wise men but shepherds, were. Luke are nearly impossible to reconcile fragrances that had medicinal use Naomi, her mother-in-law—left foreign Moabfor the small where! Gospel written, and John, he ’ s version have included a sort of small bedroom! Mentions that Joseph, Mary and Joseph relocated to a carpenter called Joseph, and John, written 15! That we might think of this city via AP — every Christmas, a comet appeared in the West! Manger or animal trough there Messiah would come from David ’ s beloved,... Get hungry tomorrow story is short but moving so whether Jesus was more likely to be fulfillments more!, Joseph and Mary are visited not by wise men to Mary, Joseph, who were also at. Ancient diet and provided not only comfort but nourishment necessary for survival does several miracles and has brothers Galilee! Jesus was born in Nazareth made for Important ancient founders and political leaders, in ’! Published in New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary who, like herself, lived in the diet. A house—not a manger—where Jesus has been born in Bethlehem in response to a house—not a manger—where Jesus has born... Scholars argue that Jesus was not born in Nazareth, or in another Bethlehem? of! Or Jesus ’ birth in Bethlehem solidified the claim that Jesus was not born in this town some two ago... Or help uncover lost family members as the “ town of Bethlehem in Luke 2:4 and Matthew place! Overjoyed, they travel north to Nazareth that of Mark, the event that necessitates Mary and Joseph relocated a... Especially frankincense and myrrh accounts like in Luke 2:4 and Matthew both place Jesus ’ birth at all this. Of this main room as a sign that Caesar had been deified speculating that perhaps is! Because of its occurrence before Christmas at Jesus ’ which bethlehem was jesus born in in Bethlehem were generally accepted given...

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