When was the Savior really born? By carefully tracking the details in the Word of God, in history, and in the field of astronomy, we can certify the time of his birth to within an hour and a half: the year, the date, and the hour. December 25, 1 A.D. is far off the mark.
In order to discover the truths regarding the subject, we must be willing to lay aside tradition, and honestly approach the subject with rational objectivity, as an honest scientist approaches an experiment. We must allow the Scriptures, the Word of God, to speak for themselves. We must also know and understand figures of speech, Eastern customs, and the study of ancient Biblical manuscripts. Sometimes it is interesting to note that our minds have interpreted God'sWord from presumptions that we ourselves are not even aware we are making. When we question these presumptions, we immediately see that our mental pictures do not accurately reflect what is stated in the written Word. We must permit the Scriptures to interpret themselves and block out private assumptions and interpretations from our research study.
In Biblical research we study the Scriptures with the understanding and believing that they are God-inspired and, therefore, perfect and without contradiction when the original revelation is accurately known. Biblical research recognizes that no record in one Biblical account may contradict a passage in another record on an identical subject. As products of God's inspiration, all records will complement or supplement, and enhance each other as they enable us to see an overall view of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Secular sources of information from the fields of science, history, and ancient literature should also be utilized as tools of study when they shed light on the testimony of Scripture. However, such information or sources dare never be permitted to have more credibility than the Word of God itself. At best, secular sources will simply corroborate and give illuminating detail to truths already revealed in Scripture. All these above-mentioned methods have been employed in this work.
When was the Savior really born? By carefully tracking the details in the Word of God, in history, and in the field of astronomy, we can certify the time of his birth to within an hour and a half: the year, the date, and the hour. December 25, 1 A.D. is far off the mark.
In order to discover the truths regarding the subject, we must be willing to lay aside tradition, and honestly approach the subject with rational objectivity, as an honest scientist approaches an experiment. We must allow the Scriptures, the Word of God, to speak for themselves. We must also know and understand figures of speech, Eastern customs, and the study of ancient Biblical manuscripts. Sometimes it is interesting to note that our minds have interpreted God'sWord from presumptions that we ourselves are not even aware we are making. When we question these presumptions, we immediately see that our mental pictures do not accurately reflect what is stated in the written Word. We must permit the Scriptures to interpret themselves and block out private assumptions and interpretations from our research study.
In Biblical research we study the Scriptures with the understanding and believing that they are God-inspired and, therefore, perfect and without contradiction when the original revelation is accurately known. Biblical research recognizes that no record in one Biblical account may contradict a passage in another record on an identical subject. As products of God's inspiration, all records will complement or supplement, and enhance each other as they enable us to see an overall view of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Secular sources of information from the fields of science, history, and ancient literature should also be utilized as tools of study when they shed light on the testimony of Scripture. However, such information or sources dare never be permitted to have more credibility than the Word of God itself. At best, secular sources will simply corroborate and give illuminating detail to truths already revealed in Scripture. All these above-mentioned methods have been employed in this work.
- from pages xii- xiv, Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed