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It was Hippolyltus who first established with certainty, in his commentary on Daniel, written around A.D. 204 that Jesus was born on December 25. Bo Reicke, the early exegete from Basel, pointed moreover to the calendar of feasts, according to which, in Luke’s gospel, the accounts of the birth of the Baptist and the birth of Jesus are related to each other. It would follow from this that Luke in his Gospel presupposes December 25 as Jesus’ day of birth. On that day, the feast of the Dedication of the Temple, introduced by Judas Maccabeus in 164 B.C., was celebrated. At the same time, the date of Jesus’ birth was symbolized, so that with him, who arose as God’s light in the winter night, the true dedication of the Temple - the arrival of God in the midst of the world might take place. Pope Benedict XVI....

What time of the year does the course of Abia fall? That date is required knowledge to know when the conception took place. Now John was 6 months in the womb when the conception took place and 6 months from the course of Abia is right around December 25th. Further the literal flesh birth of Christ was NOT in the dead of winter, it was at the end of harvest, tax season and head counting.

For an interesting theory on the actual date see http://www.bethlehemstar.net/

They give a June of 2 BC date for the birth with a December 25, 2 BC date for visitation by the Magi. I don't know if they are correct, but the actual date is not important to me. Christmas is when the "Christ Mass" is held to celebrate His birth.

Further the literal flesh birth of Christ was NOT in the dead of winter, it was at the end of harvest, tax season and head counting.

Technically, it DURING tax season (the Roman census (for taxes) was the reason Joseph had to go to Bethlehem in the first place. Born there, then grew up in Nazareth. So the murder of the innocents could be in both Bethlehem (where discovered) and (maybe) Nazareth. Though they fled Bethlehem under word from the angel (gee - does this Archbishop believe in miracles and angels even?) without leaving word who they were and where they were going ...So Nazareth might have been spared.

Odd that this Anglican HEAD of his church would quibble and denigrate his own Bible with these messages right before Christmas, since the entire Church year goes through Jesus’ ENTIRE life each year: What?

Does he somehow think that there are 33 years between Christmas and Good Friday?

Further, the 12 days of Christmas represent that travel and celebration time between the birth and the arrival of the Magi/wise men/kings. January 6 is what’s celebrated as their arrival. Then, 12 years later, Christ’s appearance in the temple - again, represented by only one week.

This dolt IS what is wrong with many/most Euro-bureacractic churches. No faith. And their god is in Brussels.