Why is December 25th celebrated as the birth of Jesus? Was it a date chosen to overshadow pagan festivals like Saturnalia or Sol Invictus, or does it have deeper Christian roots? While the Bible doesn’t provide a specific birthdate for Christ, it may offer more clues than you think!

Just in time for the holiday season, historian and author Bill Federer returns to unpack the fascinating origins of the Christmas story and its rich Christian heritage. One of our most popular topics, this episode dives deeper into the history, theology, and traditions surrounding the incarnation of Christ—a moment that forever changed the course of human history. Join Frank and Bill as they explore questions like:

• How do the Dead Sea Scrolls provide evidence for Jesus’ actual birthday?
• Why do some Christians celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6th?
• When did Christians start celebrating Dec. 25th as the birthday of Jesus?
• What is one of the most overlooked pro-life passages in the Bible?
• What’s the story of King Herod and was he really capable of being a baby killer?
• Why was there strife between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and how did Rome get involved in Jewish politics?
• How many wise men brought gifts to Jesus and when did they visit Him?
• Why are the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus so vague?
• What’s the origin of the “12 days of Christmas”?
• How does the history of the entire world center on the birth of Christ?

Tune in as Bill dispels some of the common myths surrounding the Christmas holiday and uses his gift of storytelling to connect the historical and biblical pieces together. This episode will be both enlightening and entertaining as it also lays out the message of the Gospel, so be sure to share it with a friend! Merry Christmas from the CrossExamined team and please check out our earlier conversation with Bill where he shares even MORE history behind some of today’s most beloved Christmas traditions with visuals included!

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Resources mentioned during the episode:

VIDEO PODCAST: Is There Any CHRISTIAN Truth to Our CHRISTMAS Traditions? – CEevents.org
BILL’S WEBSITE: https://americanminute.com/
BILL’S BOOK: ‘There Really is a Santa Claus‘