dating jesus, historically speaking. ossuary of james, brother of jesus (circa 63 a.d.)

Dating Jesus, Historically Speaking


Ossuary of James, brother of Jesus

(circa 63 A.D.)


The Aramaic inscription reads from right to left, “James (lit.: Jacob), son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.”


•The first century Jewish historian Josephus recorded that “the brother of Jesus the so-called Christ, James by name,” was stoned to death as a Jewish heretic in A.D. 62. If his bones were placed in an ossuary the inscription would have occurred the following year, around A.D. 63.

•Until now, the oldest surviving artifact that mentions Jesus is a fragment of chapter 18 in John’s Gospel from a manuscript dated around A.D. 125. It was discovered in Egypt in 1920.


•Virtually all that is known about Jesus comes from the New Testament. No physical artifact from the first century related to him has been discovered and verified. The fact that Jews practiced ossuary burials only between 20 B.C. and A.D. 70, puts the inscription squarely in the time of Jesus and James, who led the early church in Jerusalem (see Acts 12:2).


Two dates which we know with Two dates which we know with certaintycertainty

1. Herod Begun the Temple Rebuilding

19 B.C. According to Josephus’ Antiquities XV 380


Two dates which we know with Two dates which we know with certaintycertainty

2. Death of Herod 4 B.C.

•Herod reigned from 37-4 B.C.

•Jesus was born before Herod died.Matt 2:1-18 (esp. 16) tell us that Jesus was no more than 2 years at the time.

If Herod died in 4 B.C. & Jesus was born 2 years If Herod died in 4 B.C. & Jesus was born 2 years earlier, his birth may be placed approx. 6 B.C.earlier, his birth may be placed approx. 6 B.C.


Adding Adding PassoverPassover information to these dates: information to these dates:

According to the Passover rules from Exodus 12, the Passover lambs were slain in the Jerusalem temple of the 14th day of (March/April). And the only years when the 14th of Nisan fell on Friday was April 7, A.D. 30 and April 3, A.D. 33.

A.D. 30 is the preferred date. (Otherwise Jesus’ ministry becomes 4-5 yrs rather than 3.


Adding Adding BiblicalBiblical information to these dates: information to these dates:

1.The Passover when Jesus began his public ministry, the temple had been under construction for 46 years

The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?”

(John 2:20).

If temple was begun by Herod in 19 B.C. If temple was begun by Herod in 19 B.C. this would put the beginning of Jesus’this would put the beginning of Jesus’ministry at 27-28 A.D.ministry at 27-28 A.D.



2. Luke says (3:21-23) Jesus was about 30 years old when he was baptized.

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too…Now Jesus himself was aboutabout thirty years old when he began his ministry.

This may put Jesus’ baptism at 26-27 A.D.This may put Jesus’ baptism at 26-27 A.D.



3. Three Passovers in John (2:13, 6:4, 12:1, plus the possibility of another unnamed festival in 5:1).

This may put Jesus’ death at 29 or 30 A.D.This may put Jesus’ death at 29 or 30 A.D.

dating jesus, historically speaking. ossuary of james, brother of jesus (circa 63 a.d.)

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