Ben Wilson

He comes into the Jewish world at a time when many have a burning expectation of the imminent arrival of a Messiah, a Savior, who will free Israel from their Roman oppressors. Jesus is, of course, born around 0 AD. Most historians now place his birth a little before, around 4 BC. But it's impossible to know with certainty. But he was born sometime around then.

He comes into the Jewish world at a time when many have a burning expectation of the imminent arrival of a Messiah, a Savior, who will free Israel from their Roman oppressors. Jesus is, of course, born around 0 AD. Most historians now place his birth a little before, around 4 BC. But it's impossible to know with certainty. But he was born sometime around then.

According to the Bible, it is a miraculous conception to a virgin mother, as previously discussed. Also, according to the Bible, he was born in Bethlehem. Everyone agrees that Jesus was from a small town called Nazareth. According to the book of Luke, however... Quote, And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

According to the Bible, it is a miraculous conception to a virgin mother, as previously discussed. Also, according to the Bible, he was born in Bethlehem. Everyone agrees that Jesus was from a small town called Nazareth. According to the book of Luke, however... Quote, And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

And so there is a census of the Roman Empire that requires everyone to travel to their ancestral homeland to be counted. So since Jesus's father was a descendant of King David, the family had to travel to Bethlehem where Jesus was born in a manger because there was no room for them. And you know the story. Now, it turns out that there are no records for a Roman census at the time of Jesus' birth.

And so there is a census of the Roman Empire that requires everyone to travel to their ancestral homeland to be counted. So since Jesus's father was a descendant of King David, the family had to travel to Bethlehem where Jesus was born in a manger because there was no room for them. And you know the story. Now, it turns out that there are no records for a Roman census at the time of Jesus' birth.

The account of Luke is probably referring to the census of Quirinius, which was a few years after Jesus' birth, about eight years, and not during the rule of King Herod. So, I mean, who knows? The point of this episode is not to point out every evidence for and against the New Testament.

The account of Luke is probably referring to the census of Quirinius, which was a few years after Jesus' birth, about eight years, and not during the rule of King Herod. So, I mean, who knows? The point of this episode is not to point out every evidence for and against the New Testament.

Just for the sake of showing both sides, honestly, I'm pointing out that the popular account of Jesus' birth does appear to have some inconsistencies. I think if you're a believer, you know, these accusations are not particularly damning toward the overall veracity of the account. If you're a believer, I wouldn't let it upset you.

Just for the sake of showing both sides, honestly, I'm pointing out that the popular account of Jesus' birth does appear to have some inconsistencies. I think if you're a believer, you know, these accusations are not particularly damning toward the overall veracity of the account. If you're a believer, I wouldn't let it upset you.

I'm just saying that if you're looking at this from a purely historical perspective of what do we know about this person, you're likely to conclude that Jesus is a young man from Nazareth probably born there. So according to the Bible, Jesus' family makes a quick detour to Egypt, which we won't get into, but Nazareth is definitely where Jesus grows up.

I'm just saying that if you're looking at this from a purely historical perspective of what do we know about this person, you're likely to conclude that Jesus is a young man from Nazareth probably born there. So according to the Bible, Jesus' family makes a quick detour to Egypt, which we won't get into, but Nazareth is definitely where Jesus grows up.

Nazareth is a small town in the region of the Sea of Galilee. It's a few days walk from Jerusalem. It had a population of a few hundred. It was a small town. It was not well regarded. In fact, there's a story in the book of John that a man, Philip, finds Jesus and follows him and goes to tell his brother, Nathanael. that we found the Messiah.

Nazareth is a small town in the region of the Sea of Galilee. It's a few days walk from Jerusalem. It had a population of a few hundred. It was a small town. It was not well regarded. In fact, there's a story in the book of John that a man, Philip, finds Jesus and follows him and goes to tell his brother, Nathanael. that we found the Messiah.

And he says, quote, we have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And the brother responds, can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Okay, so like Nazareth is such a...

And he says, quote, we have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And the brother responds, can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Okay, so like Nazareth is such a...

backwater place that someone who hears about jesus of nazareth is like really he's from nazareth um so a comparison i don't want to offend anyone but if you're from the united states it's like maybe mississippi in the american context okay maybe north dakota apologies to any of my listeners in mississippi or north dakota i'm sure it's actually great just like nazareth okay but if i told you like i found a great prophet a great messiah you say where is he from and i say he's from north dakota

backwater place that someone who hears about jesus of nazareth is like really he's from nazareth um so a comparison i don't want to offend anyone but if you're from the united states it's like maybe mississippi in the american context okay maybe north dakota apologies to any of my listeners in mississippi or north dakota i'm sure it's actually great just like nazareth okay but if i told you like i found a great prophet a great messiah you say where is he from and i say he's from north dakota

you would go, really? North Dakota? That's what Nazareth was like. But I don't want you to think of Jesus entirely as a country bumpkin. He came from a middle-class family. His dad was a carpenter. That meant he was a craftsman and not a peasant. Okay. So not the lowest rung of society. And he did learn to read and write as a child.

you would go, really? North Dakota? That's what Nazareth was like. But I don't want you to think of Jesus entirely as a country bumpkin. He came from a middle-class family. His dad was a carpenter. That meant he was a craftsman and not a peasant. Okay. So not the lowest rung of society. And he did learn to read and write as a child.