The Incarnation
The Census and Quirinius:
Luke 2:2
Wayne A. Brindle
The name of Quirinius, the governor of Syria, appears in the birth narrative of Luke 2:1–2. The context suggests that Jesus was born in the midst of this census.
Christ’s Incarnation: The Foundation of Christianity
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Spurgeon’s Sermons on the Incarnation (100-page book).
The Manger and the Inn
Kenneth Bailey, ThD
Upon examination of the Biblical references, archaeological evidence and 1st century cultural context, the details surrounding Jesus’ birth may be quite different than we think.
King Herod the Great
Various Authors
King Herod the Great ruled Judea from 37 BC until his death in 4 BC. Outside of Judea, the Greeks and Romans found his charm (and his extravagant benefactions) irresistible. He generously endowed the Greek Olympic Games, sponsored building projects in prestigious cities such as Athens and Rhodes, and erected public buildings, palaces, and even entire cities, some of which still astonish visitors.
At home, Herod was despised for his ruthless oppression and cruelty. He may be most well-known by biblical scholars for his order to kill all boys under the age of two in and around Bethlehem shortly after the birth of Jesus.
The Timeline of the Visit of the Magi
Dennis A. Wright, DMin
The Magi, likely Persian astrologers and priests, traveled from the East to worship Jesus, the newborn King of the Jews, guided by a celestial phenomenon they interpreted as a sign of a royal birth in Palestine. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the late summer or early fall of 5 BC, shortly before the death of Herod the Great in 4 BC, aligning with historical and astronomical evidence.
