On Monday, December 23, 2019 at 7:46:05 AM UTC-8, James wrote:   
   > Christmas myths vs Bible truths   
   >   
   > Christmas myth #1   
   >   
   > #1myth: Jesus was born on December 25.   
   > #1truth: The Bible doesn't give any date.   
   >   
   > The actual time of Jesus birth could not have been in the cold  month   
   > of December since there were shepherds living outdoors. (Lu 2:8-11.)   
   > Jews living there will tell you it would have been between April and   
   > October.   
      
   Shepherds would probably not be adverse to being outdoors in the cold. However,   
   it is likely the birth was in the spring since they were watching the flocks by   
   night. They do that during lambing season. That also fits with the town being   
   so full that the holy family had to stay in a stable. It may well have been   
   Passover which would bring a lot of people to the area near Jerusalem. Not   
   definitive of course but possible.   
      
   ...   
      
   >   
   > #2 myth: The 3 wisemen visited the baby Jesus in the manger.   
   > #2 truth: They visited the CHILD Jesus in a HOUSE.   
      
   Almost certainly true.   
      
   ...   
      
   > #3 myth: A star from God led the 3 wise men to the baby Jesus.   
   > #truth: A star led the unnumbered astrologers first to Herod, so Herod   
   > could kill Jesus, then later to the young child Jesus at a house.   
      
   Actually they had guidance from both Herod and the star. "lo, the star, which   
   they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the   
   young child was." (Matt 2:9) And contrary to some Christmas carols, there is   
   no biblical evidence the the Shepherds saw the star, or that the wise men heard   
   the angels sing.   
      
   There are other Christmas myths, eg. Mary on the donkey, etc. I discuss several   
   of them in Chapter 1 of my book, "The Bible Doesn't Say, What Biblical   
   Misconceptions do You Have." I also discuss a lot of other biblical   
   misconceptions.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)