Chapters 1 & 2

DEFINITELY NOT DECEMBER 25th

Early Christians did NOT universally agree on December 25 as the date of Jesus’ birth.¹
Some scholars suggest that the Church deliberately selected December 25 to attract pagans by permitting them to keep their traditional holidays, but with Christian significance. This December date was later adopted as part of Roman culture. It aligned with pagan festivals such as Saturnalia and the “Birth of the Unconquered Sun.” The Nativity account itself does not indicate winter as the time of year.²

CONSTANTINE

In 336 AD, the church in Rome officially designated December 25 as the celebration of Christ’s birth during the reign of Emperor Constantine.³ The reasons behind this choice remain debated. One prominent theory is that it was intended to replace or align with existing pagan festivals, particularly the Festival of Sol Invictus (the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun), which was celebrated on the same date.⁴

Key Details of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti

• Date: December 25 (Roman calendar) 
• Significance: It symbolized the “rebirth” of the sun after the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, when daylight hours begin to increase again
• Institution: In 274 AD, Emperor Aurelian officially designated the feast as a state cult day
• Traditions: The festival featured feasting, games, and the lighting of candles or lamps to symbolize the return of light and warmth—customs that closely resemble modern Christmas practices⁵
   

COMPETING THEORIES

     Several explanations have been offered for why December 25 was chosen:

Pagan Influence

     A widely held theory suggests the Church chose this date to Christianize existing pagan festivals celebrating the winter solstice and the rebirth of the sun. In 274 AD, Emperor Aurelian had already established a feast honoring the sun god Sol Invictus on December 25.⁶

Calculation-Based Reasoning

     Another theory proposes that early Christians calculated the date based on Jesus’ conception. Some believed Christ was conceived on March 25, thought to coincide with both the Spring Equinox and the date of His crucifixion. Nine months later would place His birth on December 25.⁷

Political and Symbolic Reasons

     Constantine’s promotion of Christianity as the dominant religion of the empire may have been politically motivated. Aligning Christianity with existing pagan customs would have made conversion easier for Roman citizens. At the same time, early Christians may have viewed the symbolism as fitting, identifying Jesus as the “Light of the World” emerging as daylight increased after the solstice.⁸

POPE JULIUS I

     The Christian Church in Rome formally designated December 25 as the date to celebrate Jesus’ birth in the 4th century. Pope Julius I is commonly credited with declaring December 25 as the Feast of the Nativity around 350 AD.⁹

Historians debate why this date was selected, but two primary explanations are cited:

Theological Calculation

     Early Christian chronographers, such as Sextus Julius Africanus (c. 221 AD), proposed that Jesus was conceived on March 25—a date associated with both the creation of the world and the crucifixion. Counting forward nine months placed His birth on December 25.¹⁰

Pagan Festival Influence

December 25 already carried significance within Roman culture:

• Saturnalia, observed from December 17–23, involved feasting, gift-giving, and public celebration 
• Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, the Birthday of the Unconquered Sun, was established by Emperor Aurelian in 274 AD
   

By choosing the same date, Church leaders may have offered a Christian alternative to these popular celebrations, easing conversion for Roman citizens.¹¹

CLARIFYING THE TIMELINE

These closely timed events can be confusing, so clarification is important:

• 336 AD (Constantine’s reign):
  The earliest documented celebration of Christmas on December 25 in Rome appears in the Philocalian Calendar, a Roman historical record. This reflects formal recognition by the Roman church, likely with imperial influence.¹²
• Pope Julius I (c. 350 AD):
  Pope Julius I later established December 25 as the definitive date for celebrating the Nativity, solidifying its use within the Western Church.
   

Although the date appears first during Constantine’s era, it was Pope Julius I who standardized it. Over the following centuries, December 25 gained widespread acceptance throughout the Western Roman Empire.

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Many well-known Christmas traditions originate from ancient pagan festivals, particularly Roman Saturnalia and Germanic Yule, both centered on the winter solstice. The early Church incorporated these customs to encourage conversion and increase the holiday’s appeal.¹³

Key Elements Incorporated into Christmas

• Decorating with Greenery
  Evergreen trees, holly, and mistletoe were widely used in pagan winter festivals as symbols of life during darkness.
• Christmas Tree
  Early Germanic tribes brought evergreen trees indoors to symbolize the return of life and light. This practice was later refined in Germany during the 16th century. 
• Holly and Wreaths
  Romans exchanged holly wreaths during Saturnalia as symbols of good fortune. 
• Mistletoe
  Sacred to Druids and Celts, mistletoe symbolized peace and fertility. Norse mythology associated it with the goddess Frigg, and kissing beneath it likely originated from fertility or truce rituals. 
• Feasting and Merriment
  Saturnalia and Yule emphasized large meals, drinking, and joyful celebration. 
• Yule Log
  A Norse tradition involving the burning of a large log for up to twelve days, symbolizing new life and prosperity. 
• Gift-Giving
  Romans exchanged small gifts such as wax candles (cerei) and figurines (sigillaria) during Saturnalia to bring good fortune. 
• Christmas Caroling
  Originated from Anglo-Saxon wassailing, in which groups sang to bless households and ward off evil spirits. 
• Santa Claus and Stockings
  The modern Santa figure blends the Christian Bishop St. Nicholas with pagan imagery, particularly the Norse god Odin, depicted as an elderly, bearded figure who rode through the sky. Children left offerings for Odin’s horse, Sleipnir—customs that evolved into hanging stockings.
• The Date — December 25
  The date itself was likely chosen to align with Dies Natalis Solis Invicti and widespread winter solstice celebrations, giving Christian meaning to established midwinter festivals.¹⁴
   

References — Chapter 1

1. Clement of Alexandria, Stromata 1.21 
2. Matthew 1–2; Luke 1–2 (NKJV) 
3. Chronography of 354 (Philocalian Calendar)
4. Eusebius, Life of Constantine
5. Roman historical accounts of Sol Invictus
6. Emperor Aurelian, establishment of Sol Invictus (274 AD)
7. Sextus Julius Africanus, Chronographiai
8. John 8:12 (NKJV)
9. Catholic and early church historical records regarding Pope Julius I
10. Early Christian chronographers, 3rd century
11. Roman Saturnalia records
12. Philocalian Calendar (336 AD)
13. Historical studies of Saturnalia and Yule
     

INSTITUTION OF THE CALENDAR

THE FIRST MITZVAH

On Nisan 1, God issued the first commandment (mitzvah) to the Jewish people, instructing them to begin their calendar with this month.¹ This command was given just prior to the Exodus from Egypt, at the moment God was about to redeem Israel from slavery.

Exodus 12:1–2 —
*“Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, ‘This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.’”*²
 

God Establishes New Beginnings on Nisan 1

In Exodus 12:2, God explicitly declares Nisan to be the first month for Israel. This establishes the biblical New Year, not merely for agricultural purposes, but for God’s redemptive timeline.

• Exodus 12:2 — “This month shall be the beginning of months for you.”
• Nisan marks the biblical New Year for sacred observances 
• Nisan marks the start of the redemption cycle.
• This is the month of Passover, introducing the lamb, deliverance, and covenant.
• Because God begins redemption on Nisan 1, the ultimate new beginning—the arrival of the Messiah—would necessarily align with that same appointed time.
   

This commandment is not incidental. It is the first mitzvah given to Israel as a nation, establishing how time itself would be measured going forward.

Theological Significance of the First Mitzvah

God did not begin His covenant with Israel by giving laws about behavior, worship, or morality. He began by redefining time.

By resetting the calendar, God was teaching Israel that redemption would no longer be measured by Egyptian cycles or pagan systems, but by His appointed order.

Time itself became a theological statement.

Supporting Points for This Pattern

• Symbolism
  Nisan is widely regarded in Jewish thought as the month of new beginnings, symbolizing renewal, redemption, and divine intervention. 
• Messianic Parallels
  Some believe that Jesus’ birth on the first day of the year would symbolize the ultimate “new beginning” associated with the Messiah’s arrival. 
• Month of New Beginnings
  Exodus 12:2 designates Nisan (also called Aviv) as the first month of the year, directly linking new beginnings with redemption from Egypt. This thematic pattern aligns with Jesus being described as the beginning of the new creation:
   *“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”*³ 
• Redemption Pattern
  Just as Israel’s national identity began with redemption on Nisan, the Messiah’s arrival represents the beginning of humanity’s ultimate redemption.
   

Modern Messianic Interpretation

Some contemporary teachers have argued for a Nisan 1 birth of Jesus based on biblical patterns and historical alignment.

• Jonathan Cahn’s perspective
  Author and speaker Jonathan Cahn has argued that Jesus was born on Nisan 1 in 6 BC, based on his interpretation of biblical chronology and historical events.⁴
  This view is presented as part of a broader discussion on God’s appointed times and redemptive patterns, rather than as a universally accepted doctrine.
   

Conclusion

The first commandment given to Israel was not about behavior—it was about time.

God established Nisan as the beginning of months because redemption was about to begin. From that moment forward, Israel would measure life, worship, and history according to God’s calendar, not man’s.

If God begins redemption on Nisan 1, then the arrival of the Messiah—the final and complete redemption—naturally belongs to that same appointed beginning.

References — Chapter 2 (NKJV unless noted)

1. Jewish tradition regarding the first mitzvah; Exodus 12:1–2
2. Exodus 12:1–2 (NKJV)
3. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
4. Jonathan Cahn, interview When Was Jesus Born? (2012), Joseph Smith Foundation