Because of the Bible's overwhelming dominance in Western culture, and the ubiquity of the story of Jesus, it can be difficult to separate the actual text from its many interpretations. Even for those who read the Bible regularly, it's likely they're even more familiar with the retold and passed-along versions than the words themselves.
Jesus Was Born On December 25th
This is one of those inaccuracies that is simply an addition to the story. None of the Gospel writers record December 25 as the date of Christ's birth; in fact, none of them record a date at all. There is no indication Jesus was born in the winter, spring, summer, or fall. So, Why December 25?
For the first three centuries after the passing of Jesus, there was no such thing as Christmas. Christians celebrated a few religious feasts, such as Epiphany and Easter, but there is no mention of Christmas on a Roman calendar until 336 CE. December 25 was likely chosen to coincide with the Roman Saturnalia festival, to make the new religion more palatable to the Romans. Indeed, one of the great strengths of early Christianity was its willingness to remake itself in the image of local religions, allowing various peoples to convert more easily. There Were Three Wise Men At His Birth
The Three Wise Men, or the Three Kings, have become a major part of the Nativity. We see them every Christmas in window displays and Nativity pageants, but little of what we know about them is from the Bible.
Matthew 2:1 says: "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem...", but that's all we get by way of description. Scholars have often assumed there were three of them because Jesus receives three gifts, but the Bible doesn't say for sure. There may have been dozens, there may have been two. In addition, the idea that they were kings is a later addition. There's no evidence they followed a star, and absolutely zero indication they rode camels
Despite these additions, surely the wise men at least visited the newborn baby in a manger? Maybe not. Matthew tells us the wise men went "into the house" to meet Jesus. Not only that, the text says they came to meet "a young child." This would seem to indicate the visitation did not take place on the night of Jesus's birth, and that Jesus may have been several years old by the time he received those gifts. Jesus Was Born To A Sinless, Virgin Mother.
St. Augustine is responsible for this idea. The great theologian - who came up with the idea of original sin - determined that original sin was passed on through the act of intercourse to the newborn. Therefore, in order for Jesus to have been born pure, Mary must have been a virgin at the time of birth. This idea has become a cornerstone of many Christian sects.
There is little mention of this in the Bible. Paul never talks about it, and most of the Gospel writers entirely skip over it. The Gospels that do talk about it, Matthew and Luke, were written a century after Jesus's end, and draw heavily from similar accounts of holy conception in the Old Testament. Indeed, the idea of the virgin birth is part of a tradition of sanctifying Mary over time to increasingly great degrees. First, she gives birth as a virgin; then, she herself was born sinless; then, she is assumed into heaven rather than passing.
Jesus Was An Only Child.
The Bible clearly identifies James as the brother of Jesus and indicates Jesus had other siblings as well. So why does the Catholic Church maintain that Jesus had no siblings and lived as an only child? It has to do with what is called the Doctrine of Perpetual Virginity, which states that the Virgin Mary remained a sinless virgin to the end of her days.
Many Church thinkers have tried to resolve this contradiction, with the major response being that James must have been Jesu’s cousin.
Jesus Was Single.
In defending Jesus's celibacy, some Christian thinkers take the lack of any mention of a wife in the New Testament as proof that there wasn't one. But the text doesn't actually specify, and it would have been extremely unusual for a man of Jesus's age not to have taken a wife, even if he were a traveling prophet (of which there were many at the time).
In fact, there is little reference to Jesu’s celibacy until a man named Tertullian joined the church. This early church father shares credit with St. Paul for establishing the church's views on intimacy, and Tertullian vehemently argued that Jesus must have been celibate in order to remain sinless. While this question likely has no answer, it helps us understand how the church's attitudes toward celibacy developed over the years. Jesus Had Long Hair And A Beard.
For hundreds of years, Jesus has been identified by his long silky hair and flowing beard. The standard fashion of the time among men was to be beardless and short-haired. Certainly, Jesus may have worn a beard at certain moments during his ministry, especially during the times he was itinerant; but it's unlikely he maintained it that way, and even less likely he kept his hair long.
Long hair at that time was most closely associated with Jewish men who had taken a Nazirite vow. We know Jesus didn't take this vow because it forbade the drinking of wine, and Jesus liked his wine. More likely, he kept it closely cut, as was the standard.
Jesus Had White Skin.
Our dominant image of Jesus comes from the Italian Renaissance and depicts Jesus and other Biblical figures as mid-1500s Europeans. These artists made no efforts to accurately capture what Jesus looked like, and if they had, they would have been thrown out of town. Instead, they painted Jesus as a white-skinned man with European features.
Jesus was Middle Eastern and Jewish, and there's no reason to believe he didn't have features to match, including dark or olive skin. Jesus Wore A Long Robe.
This is another example of painters taking artistic license. Jesus was not a wealthy man, and it is unlikely he ever would have worn the long robes in which he's often depicted. Robes were generally worn by the rich during special occasions, and Jesus actually condemned the wearers of such robes in Mark 12:38. Besides, the robes depicted in classical paintings wouldn't have existed in ancient Judea. The Renaissance artists were dressing Jesus up like a wealthy Medici in rich colors.
So what did Jesus wear? Most likely a simple knee-length tunic and a mantle called a himation. According to the fashions of the time, and befitting Jesus's status as a carpenter, these were probably simple and undyed. It is true, however, that Jesus wore sandals. Jesus Taught In Greek.
Translation of the Bible is always a delicate issue. While the first version of the Bible was written in Greek, it is not likely that Jesus conducted most of his teachings in the language.
We know that Jesus spoke Aramaic in at least some of his teachings. This was probably the language he used day-to-day. It is certainly likely that Jesus spoke at least a little Greek conversationally, just as it's almost certain that he spoke Hebrew. However, the important point is whether the teachings that have come down to us were originally spoken in Greek. Given that Jesus's audiences were largely Aramaic-speaking people of his own social class, it's most likely Jesus rarely, if ever, taught in Greek. Jesus Wanted People To Pray In Groups.
For much of its history, Christianity has been all about growth. There are massive churches all across the world in which tens of thousands of people gather to pray together. However, according to Matthew 6:5-6, this may be the opposite of what Jesus intended. The verse states:
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
Does this mean a good Christian should never pray in a church, where other people can see them? That's up to every individual's interpretation. However, many churches posit Jesus didn't mean to ban public prayer, but rather that he hated arrogance and the ostentatious performance of piety.
Jesus Is Part Of The Trinity.
The word "trinity" never appears in the Bible. Like many finer theological distinctions, it was hashed out in a long series of contentious councils and occasionally vicious conflicts between the early church fathers. The word trinity was first used by the early church father Tertullian and was only refined into a central tenet of the church during the Council of Constantinople in 381 CE, centuries after the Gospels had been completed.
The trinity was developed as a human attempt to understand the unknowable nature of God. That it was true in itself, rather than an intellectual construct, eventually became a central plank of the Catholic Church.
Jesus Was A Carpenter.
English versions of the Bible abound with contentious translations, but perhaps the most pervasive is the translation of the Greek word tekton. In Greek, it referred to a class of impoverished workers who got by doing odd jobs: laying brick for walls, building furniture, clearing land. It was equivalent to the modern concept of a day laborer, someone who ekes out a living doing whatever is required.
In English, however, it has been translated as "carpenter." This has given rise to an image of Jesus as a builder of houses, as a carpenter in our modern sense. Based on the text, it is more likely he was an itinerant laborer.
Jesus Was Pierced Through The Hands During Crucifixion.
Pick any painting of the crucifixion and you're likely to see Jesus with two nails driven through his palms. These wounds, which are part of the stigmata, have become a central part of Christian iconography. But they aren't specifically referenced in the Bible.
If someone was pierced through the hands, it would only take about 88 pounds of weight for the nails to eventually tear through the hands, causing the person to fall from the cross. This method would have left him lying on the ground, not hanging from the cross.
Jesus Was Born In A Manger.
Rather than being born in a manger, Jesus was likely born in a private home. While the word kataluma is sometimes translated as "inn," it actually refers to a reception room in a home rather than a public inn as many assume. Additionally, Joseph and Mary were likely traveling to join their family for a Roman census, meaning they may have been staying with relatives.
The image of a baby born to forlom, outcast parents thrown out by an innkeeper and forced to sleep in a manger is potent; however, no evidence for the reality of this image exists within the Bible, and conflicting evidence is found elsewhere.
Mary Arrived In Bethlehem The Night She Gave Birth.
The notion that Mary arrived at the manger the very night she gave birth is likely an invention of storytellers attempting to build drama. Jesus's seemingly humble beginnings also make his eventual "Savior" status even more noteworthy by contrast.
However, there is zero indication that Mary gave birth the night she arrived in Bethlehem. The Gospel of Luke simply says, "And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."Jesus Was Born On December 25, 1 AD.
December 25 was chosen as the date of Jesus's birth long after the fact to make conversion seem more palatable to pagans. A December 25 celebration of Christmas easily replaced the annual winter festival (or Saturnalia, in the case of the Romans) and carried over some of its traditions. The Bible makes no mention of December 25.
The actual date of Jesus's birth is unknown. Scholars have attempted to pinpoint the month and day based upon the date of King Herod's passing, after which there was a supposed mass elimination of infants. However, based on a lack of evidence, researchers have determined this tragic event never took place.
Similarly, astronomers have tried to align the Star of Bethlehem with the date of Jesus's birth, but no evidence exists to suggest that the star is anything more than a biblical invention. Despite this murky evidence, general consensus holds that Jesus was born sometime between 6 BC and 4 BC.Three Wise Men Were Present.
More than any other aspect of the Nativity, the three Wise Men are a result of falsified mythology. The Bible mentions the Wise Men only on a few occasions. In Matthew, they speak to King Herod and are sent to follow the Star of Bethlehem to find Jesus. The entirety of their interactions with Jesus are contained within a few lines:
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”
Additionally, the word "three" never appears in the chapter. Many have commonly assumed there were three Wise Men because Jesus received three gifts, but the actual number is unknown.
Animals Surrounded Jesus At The Nativity.
Pope Benedict XVI (formerly Cardinal Ratzinger) asserted in 2012 that there were no animals present during the Nativity. In his book Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives, Benedict XVI simply says, "In the gospels, there is no mention of animals."
He acknowledges that even the Vatican includes a donkey in its Nativity scene, but ever the. literalist, he insists there is no biblical evidence to support this image.
The Wise Men Were Eastern Kings Who Rode Camels.
Many additions to the Nativity story have catered to a European audience. For example, the notion that the Wise Men rode camels during their pilgrimage paints them as "exotic" travelers from distant, Eastern lands. However, at this point in history, camels were used as pack animals by all but the poor. Wealthy men, such as the Magi, would have ridden more comfortable Arabian horses.
While there are grounds to assume the Wise Men were rich, there is no indication that they were kings - certainly not of places such as Persia, India, or Arabia. If three such kings made a pilgrimage to Bethlehem, comprehensive records would exist of their journey. There is no evidence that they were anything more than educated men from distant lands.
Even 16th-century theologian John Calvin said of those who believed the Wise Men were kings, "Beyond all doubt, they have been stupefied by a righteous judgment of God, that all might laugh at [their] gross ignorance."
The Baby Was Named Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ was not given his most popular moniker at birth. In fact, Christ is not a surname, but a title given to him by his followers many years later. Properly speaking, his title was Jesus the Christ.
According to standard naming conventions of the time, Jesus's birth name would likely have been Yeshua ben Yosef, meaning Joshua son of Joseph. Through translation and retranslation, Yeshua became Jesus, and "Christ" was added many years later.
Mary Rode Into Bethlehem On A Donkey.
In virtually every depiction of Mary's entrance into Bethlehem, she is seen riding a donkey. One source does, in fact, claim she rode upon one: "The day of the Lord shall itself bring it to pass as the Lord will. And he saddled the [donkey], and set her upon it; and his son led it, and Joseph followed."
However, this source is the Protoevangelium of James, a gospel that isn't actually part of the holy text. This gospel is believed to have been written 150 years after Jesus's passing. The canonical gospel writers mention nothing about Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem.
Angels Sang To The Shepherds.
According to the Book of Luke, an angel appears to local shepherds at the birth of Jesus, and "...suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
Many artists - and most casual readers - have assumed this praise was in the form of song. Even Pope Benedict XVI wrote, "According to the evangelist, the angels 'said' this. But Christianity has always understood that the speech of angels is actually song, in which all the glory of the great joy that they proclaim becomes tangibly present."
However, in the strictest sense, there is no biblical indication that the angels sang to the shepherds.
The Holy Family Was Blond And White.
Though the myth of a white Jesus has been debunked countless times, the image often persists. When Renaissance painters were commissioned to paint biblical scenes, they often used models, most of whom were European. Many thousands of paintings later, much of the world was convinced of Jesus's whiteness.
This misrepresentation was even used as a tool for white colonizers and missionaries who wished to convince various indigenous peoples that Earth's savior was also European.
Jesus was Jewish with Arabic roots. While the Arab world was a cross-section of African, Arabic, Asian, and European influences at the time, Jesus likely had dark olive skin, brown or black hair, and brown eyes. Joseph and Mary likely shared this coloring.
The Wise Men Arrived On The Night Of Jesus's Birth.
In the first verse of Matthew 2, the author says, "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem."
The text doesn't mention how old Jesus was when the Wise Men arrived, but it does clearly state that some time had passed. Indeed, when the travelers meet Jesus, he's described as a “young child,” not an infant. These facts seem to indicate that Jesus was already at least one or two years old during the Wise Men's visit.
Jesus Didn't Cry.
One of the most popular Christmas songs, "Away In A Manger," paints an idyllic portrait of Jesus's birth:
“The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes”
Despite this lovely imagery, the gospel writers failed to indicate whether or not Jesus cried. The official position of the Catholic Church and of most other modern churches is that Jesus was born with both the full nature of God and the full nature of man. If that truly was the case, there were likely a few tears the night of his birth.
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