We're Published...Again!

A Chronology of the Life and  Ministry of Jesus Christ with Emphasis upon Epiphany and the  Nativity Kurt Simmons, JD The purpose of this article is to rehabilitate the historical, faith-based position of the church by providing a chronology, based upon scripture, of the major events in the life and ministry of Christ, with an emphasis upon Epiphany and the Nativity. As it happens, the traditional dates of these events turn out to have a greater claim to scriptural and historical authenticity than is popularly supposed, such that scripture and tradition offer a far superior explanation of their origin than other prevailing theories.  Read  >>>

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We're Published...Again!

Revisiting the Fathers An Examination of the Christmas Date in Several Early Patristic Writers   Kurt M Simmons, JD     The article that is redefining the debate about the origin of the Christmas date

“In the East” or “In Its Rising?”

The Star of the Magi and How Trendy New Versions Distort Matthew’s Gospel

Colin R. Nicholl's The Great Christ Comet - Academic Folly in High Places -   In this article, we examine the claim of Colin R. Nicholl that he has discovered the “true star of Bethlehem,” in his recent book, The Great Christ Comet: Revealing the True Star of Bethlehem (Wheaton, 2015). We conclude instead that the book, although long in cometary science, is short on fact and Bible, and stands as the latest example of failed attempts to identify what God has deigned should remain undisclosed.  Read  >>>

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We're Published!

The Origins of Christmas and the Date of Christ's Birth The first article since the Reformation to be published in a peer review academic journal defending the Dec. 25th birth of Christ!          Read >>>

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“Unto You Is Born This Day"

The Biblical Case for the December 25^th Birth of Christ

We often hear it said that Jesus was not “really” born December 25th; that this date is a mere fiction, surreptitiously appropriated by church authorities in an attempt to off-set and Christianize the pagan solstice; that, in fact, Jesus was probably born in September, 6 or 7 B.C.  However, such charges are relatively recent.  For most of church history, December 25th was received as the actual date of Christ’s birth, handed down from earliest times.  Questions regarding Christmas were first raised during the Reformation by Puritans and Scottish Presbyterians, who attempted to outlaw its celebration in England, Scotland the Colonies, and other places where they came into political power.  The objections we hear today to Christmas are echoes of these ghosts from the past.  Read>>>

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The Priestly Courses Testify to Jesus' Dec. 25th birth

Zechariah the father of John the Baptist was serving in the course of his priestly ministration when told his wife would conceive a son.  John was six months older than our Lord.  By identifying when Zechariah was serving and when John was conceived, we can determine when Jesus would have been born 15 months later.
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Bethlehem in December

Would Shepherds be watching their

flocks by night Dec. 25th in Bethlehem?

 

We often hear in objection to the Dec. 25th birth of Christ, that shepherds would not have been watching their flocks by night in the fields near Bethlehem as reported by Luke (Lk. 2:8). This is probably true of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where snow and bitter cold drive men indoors (picture below), but in Bethlehem, Judea, the story is very differnt indeed. Scripture tells us that the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived in tents year-round. 

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Christmas day, 1890

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Star of Bethlehem or Nazareth?

In this article we look at attempts to identify the star seen by the Magi in the east, and show that the star led them, not to Bethlehem, but to Nazareth forty-odd days after Christ’s birth.

Johannes Kepler

Attempts to identify the “star of Bethlehem” have come and gone down through the ages. Various phenomena and astrological occurrences have been proposed and served to corroborate the date of Christ’s birth. Among the earliest and longest standing attempts was that made by Johannes Kepler (1571-1630). Read »

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Kurt Simmons Interviewed on YouTube Regarding Dec. 25th Birth of Christ

 

Part One https://youtu.be/ZEUSYs8kptc

 Part Two - Part Three

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The Virgin Birth and Divine Heir of the Davidic Throne

Time and eternity met in Bethlehem Dec. 25th

Our first ancestors were made in the image and likeness of God and stood in no need of a Savior. However, with the fall the race became “carnal, sold under sin” (Rom. 7:14). That is, whereas God made man to be a partaker of his goodness and innocence, the fall morally estranged man from his Maker, the source of eternal life. To thus restore him to a condition of fellowship with himself and free him from bondage, God promised a “kinsman redeemer” who would vanquish sin and death, and enable men to share in eternal life. Read >>>

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EXCERPT OF THE PANARION EPIPHANIUS OF CYPRUS BOOK IV The Chronology of Christ's Baptism, Nativity, and Ministry

In the present work, Epiphanius argues that Jesus' birthday fell on the day of Epiphany, January 6th, sixty days after his baptism November 6th. Belief that Jesus was born January 6th long prevailed in the Eastern church, but was abandoned toward the end of the fourth century in favor of December 25th, as we read in John Chrysostom.  According to John of Nice, before the close of the fourth century, Epiphanius also adopted the view that December 25th was the correct date. The same source also gives November 8th (Heshvan 15) as the date Epiphanius settled on for Christ's baptism, probably reckoned backward 3 1/2 years (42 lunar months) from Jesus' death Nisan 15, A.D. 33. Because January 6th is only 12 days from the received date of Christ's birth, Epiphanius' chronology is valuable for establishing the chronology of the early ministry and nativity of Christ.
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Gregory Thaumaturgus'

Early Witness of the Christmas Date

Gregory Thaumaturgus (A.D. 205-265) was born to pagan parents, and was a native of Neo-Caesarea, the first city of Pontus. He became a student of Origen in Palestinian Caesarea, where he was instructed in logic, geometry, physics, philosophy, and ancient literature. Under Origen’s influence, Gregory soon converted to the faith. After about five years of remaining with Origen, Gregory returned to his native Neo-Caesarea, where he became bishop and served with great distinction. The passage in question has to do with the annunciation and conception, which Gregory places at Passover, which occurs at the full moon in the month of Nisan (Abib). Since Gregory almost certainly equated Passover the year Christ was conceived with March 25th, the nativity nine months later would have been December 25th, making this one of the earliest evidences of the traditional date of Christ’s birth:

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Commentary on

Matthew Chapter Two

The Nativity of Christ and Death of Herod the Great AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT PROOF OF CHRIST'S DECEMBER 25TH BIRTH YET! Read>>>

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The Calendar, The Nativity, and the Kingdom of Christ   In this article, we investigate many interesting facts from scripture relative to dating time, and look at the religious and civil facets of the calendar, and its testimony to the nativity, kingdom and coming of Christ.   Read >>>

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Ghosts of Christmas Past Puritan England 1641-1660 A Vindication of Christmas Day or the Solemnity of the Nativity of Christ London 1659 Read

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- Christmas-Day -

Primitive Christianity

OR THE

RELIGION

OF THE 

Ancient Christians

In the first ages

OF THE

GOSPEL

WILLIAM CAVE, D.D.

LONDON

A.D. 1676 

Epiphany...was of old promiscuously used either for the feast of Christ’s Nativity, or for that we now properly call by that name: afterwards the titles became distinct; that of Christ’s Birth (or as we call it Christmas -day) was called the Nativity, and Theophania, the appearances of God in the flesh, two names importing the same thing as Nazianzen notes.  For the antiquity of it, the first footsteps I find of it are in the Second Century, though I doubt not that it might be celebrated before, mentioned by Theophilus Bishop of Caesarea, about the time of the Emperor Commodus: but if any credit might be given to the Decretal Epistles, it was somewhat elder than that, Pope Telesphorus, who lived under Antonius Pius, ordaining divine Service to be celebrated, and an angelical Hymn to be sung the night before the Nativity of our Saviour. 

However, that it was kept before the times of Constantine, we have this sad instance. That when the persecution raged under Diocletian, who then kept his Court at Nicomedia, amongst other acts of barbarous cruelty done there, finding multitudes of Christians young and old met together in the Temple, upon the day of Christ’s Nativity, to celebrate that Festival, he commanded the Church doors to be shut up, and fire to be put to it, which in a short time reduced them and the Church to ashes.  I shall not dispute, whether it was always observed upon the same day that we keep it now the twenty fifth of December; it seems probable that for a long time in the East it was kept in January, under the name, and at the general time of the Epiphania, till receiving more light in the case from the Churches of the West, they changed it to this day; sure I am S. Chrysostom in an homily on purpose about this very thing affirms, that it was not above ten years since in that Church (i. e., Antioch) it began first to be observed upon that day, and there offers several reasons to prove that to be the true day of Christ’s Nativity.

To Consult Original Book, Click Here

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The Nativity Poem

Kurt Simmons

Simple chronology places the nativity of Christ in the closing weeks of the Julian year

Did Mary travail, was our Lord born,

While yet it was night, before it was morn?

Whilst shepherds flocks watched, but other men slept,

This day that men long centuries have kept?

Do we well the Lord’s birth to remember,

Year by year the twenty-fifth of December?

Fear not, good Christian men, be not afraid,

It was surely this night when it was said,

“Unto the sons of earth is born this day,

He whom prophets foretold and saints did pray.

And, lo, this a sign unto you shall be,

The babe in a manger in David’s city.”

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English Christmas Pudding

One of the great joys of Christmas is the wonderful traditions which have so many fond memories and tender associations. One of our family's favorites is Old English Christmas pudding.  This is a simple "fail safe" recipe for this exquisit, traditional desert.

10 slices white bread       ¼ cup butter  1 cup scalded milk   3 tablespoons brandy ½ cup sugar   1 teaspoon nutmeg 4 eggs, separated ¼ teaspoon cinnamon 1 1/3 cups raisins                                                                      lightly floured      ¼ teaspoon cloves ½ cut finely chopped dried figs  ¼ teaspoon mace 3 tablespoons finely chopped candied citrus rind 1 teaspoon salt

Butter and flour a 2-quart steam pudding mold.  Heat water in a pot large enough to hold the mold.  Crump the bread, and soak it in the hot milk.  Cool and add the sugar, the well-beaten egg yolks, raisins, figs, and citrus rinds, and butter.  Add to the crumb mixture, then stir in the brandy, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, mace, and salt.  Beat until well blended. Beat the egg white until they are stiff but not dry. Stir a third of the whites into the pudding mixture, then gently fold in the remaining whites. Spoon the mixture into the mold and cover.  Put in the large pot and steam for six hours. Remove and let cool for 10 minuets before unmolding. Serve warm with Hard Sauce. 

Hard Sauce: There are different flavored sauces.  Our favorite is lemon/brandy.  5 tablespoons butter  - 1 cup confectioners sugar - 1 tablespoon lemon - 1 tablespoon brandy  -  Cream the butter, then slowly add the sugar, beating well with an electric beater or by hand until creamy and pale yellow. Add the lemon and brandy.  Cover and refrigerate until needed.

Homemade Candied Rind: We recommend homemade rinds, rather than the ghastly store-bought kind used in fruitcakes.  Once you uses these, you will never go back.  Blanch 1 part orange to 2 parts lemon rinds in boiling water.  Remove. Let cool, and finely dice.  Add 2 cups of sugar to 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Add rinds. Remove from heat; let sit overnight. Repeat once or twice more until rinds obtain desired degree of candying.  Store in sugar surup in refridgerator.

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Adoration of the Shepherds

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