Nativity Of Christ

From BibleEncyclopedia.Net

The birth of our Lord took place at the time and place predicted by the prophets (Gen_49:10; Isa_7:14; Jer_31:15; Mic_5:2; Hag_2:6-9; Dan_9:24, Dan_9:25). Joseph and Mary were providentially led to go up to Bethlehem at this period, and there Christ was born (Mat_2:1, Mat_2:6; Luk_2:1, Luk_2:7). The exact year or month or day of his birth cannot, however, now be exactly ascertained. We know, however, that it took place in the “fulness of the time” (Gal_4:4), i.e., at the fittest time in the world's history. Chronologists are now generally agreed that the year 4 before the Christian era was the year of Christ's nativity, and consequently that he was about four years old in the year A.D. 1