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15 unique facts about the birth of Jesus
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Jesus' birth in Bethlehem fulfilled a
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700year-old prophecy.
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Source Bible Micah 5:2 foretold the
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Messiah would come from Bethlehem long
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before Jesus was born.
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Joseph and Mary were both descendants of
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King David through different family
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Source: Bible. Matthew 1 traces Joseph's
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line. Luke 3 traces Mary's lineage. Most
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scholars agree Luke's genealogy reflects
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Jesus was likely born during a census
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that required Joseph to return to his
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Source: Bible plus history. Luke 2 1-3.
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Roman censuses regularly required
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registration in ancestral homes.
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The inn mentioned in Luke was likely a
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guest room of a family home, not a
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Source: History plus Bible. The Greek
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word cataluma means guest room. Luke
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2:7. Commonly found in first century
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Jesus was probably born in a lower level
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room used for animals, not a wooden
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Source: History plus tradition. Judeian
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homes often kept animals indoors at
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night. Feeding mangers were built into
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stone or clay structures.
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Shepherds were the first to hear of
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Jesus' birth. Symbolic because shepherds
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were considered low status.
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Source: Bible plus history. Luke 2:8-14.
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Shepherds were often seen as outcasts
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and ceremonially unclean in first
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The manger was likely a stone feeding
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trough, not wooden as commonly depicted.
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Source: history. Archaeological evidence
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from Judea shows stone troughs were the
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There is no record in the Bible of three
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wise men, only three gifts.
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Source: Bible plus tradition. Matthew
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2:11 names the gifts gold, frankincense,
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myrr, not the number of travelers.
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The star of Bethlehem may have been a
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planetary conjunction, comet, or
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Source: History plus Bible, Matthew 2:2.
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Historical records note rare
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conjunctions around 7 to2 BC, eg Jupiter
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Jesus was likely born between 6 to 4 BC
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based on Herod's death. Source: history.
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King Herod died around 4 BC. Jesus had
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already been born before Herod ordered
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the massacre. Matthew 2:16.
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The wise men did not visit Jesus on the
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Source: Bible. Matthew 2:1 describes
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Jesus in a house, not a stable,
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indicating a later visit, possibly
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months or up to two years later.
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Mary and Joseph were legally married
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before Jesus' birth, though still living
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in the betroal stage.
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Source: Bible Plus History, Matthew
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Jewish betroal was legally binding,
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requiring divorce to break. The early
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church did not celebrate Jesus' birth
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for almost 300 years.
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Source: history. The earliest strong
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evidence of Christmas being celebrated
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is around AD 336 in Rome.
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December 25th was chosen partly because
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it aligned with Roman and Jewish
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symbolism of light overcoming darkness.
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Source: history plus tradition. Early
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Christians associated Jesus as the light
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of the world with winter solstice
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The angel's announcement echoed Old
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Testament phrases used for God,
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signaling Jesus divinity from birth.
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Source: Bible, Luke 2:1, Savior, Christ,
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Lord, mirrors titles used for God in
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Isaiah and the Psalms.
