A: No. But a lot depends upon what you are celebrating.

If you are celebrating the birth of Saturn then it is. If you are focused upon Santa Claus and his reindeer then it is something else. But if you are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ then it is Christian, no matter what day it is celebrated on.

The Bible doesn’t really tell us what day Jesus was actually born on.  The only scriptural clue is that there were shepherds in the fields tending their sheep that night. That means the first Christmas Eve happened sometime during a span from May to early October. So we can be somewhat certain that it did not happen on the 25th of December.

Nevertheless, anytime is a good time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. One thing for sure, the traditional Christmas season brings the first coming of the Son of God into the cultural mainstream at least once a year regardless of all of the commercialism and the myth of Santa which has also become part of the holiday.

Here’s links to all of the Christmas related Q & A’s from our archives:

1.  First the Christmas story itself:

The Christmas Story: Where is it in The Bible?

2.  There seems to be a lot of interest in the ‘Wisemen’ (Magi) that visited Jesus:

-Re: The Wisemen and the First Christmas

-Who Were the Wisemen?

-Are the Wisemen Really Buried in Cologne?

-Were There Really Four Wisemen?

(-Shrine of the Three Magi via Wikipedia)

Q:  Is it true that the bones of the Three Wise Men are buried or supposedly buried in the cathedral in Cologne?  Thanks, Don

A:  Yes, a Cathedral in Cologne, Germany does claim to be the final resting place for the Wisemen– Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral. However, the origin and disposition of the relics can only be traced back to 344 AD at Constantinople, therefore the historicity can not be verified. It is an unlikely possibility since the first mention of the relics is in the 4th century and the real Wisemen undoubtedly would have died in the first century.

Bottomline- This tradition is uncertain at best with the lack of earlier documentation.

<Here is our previous article about the Wisemen>

Q:  Who were the three Wisemen who gave the first Christmas presents?

A:  We have written on the Wisemen before. The Story of the Wisemen is found in Matthew 2:1-12. Notice that the Bible really doesn’t tell us how many there really were, only that they brought three different gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It was a later Christian tradition that settled on three.

Who were they?–we really don’t know. The scriptures identify them simply as ‘magi’.

However, hundreds of years later a number of different traditions rose up about the Wisemen, where they came from and even what their names were. The Eastern churches had different names and traditions than the Western churches.  None of the traditions can be traced back before 300 AD.

They were identified as ‘magi’, so all sorts of traditions have risen up about their possible Babylonian, Persian, or Parthenian origins. By the Middle ages in the West they came to be known by the names of:  Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar–and identified as kings from the three known continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa.  A Cathedral in Germany even claims to be the final resting place for the Wisemen– Shrine of the Three Kings at Cologne Cathedral. However, the origin and disposition of the relics can only be traced back to 344 AD.          *Top

  (Nativity Scene via Wikipedia)

Here’s links to some great Christmas Q & A’s from our archives:

1.  -The Christmas Story: Where is it in the Bible?

2.  -Re: The Wisemen and the First Christmas?

3.  -Were There Really Four Wisemen?

A:  The Story of the Wisemen is found in Matthew 2:1-12. Notice that the Bible really doesn’t tell us how many there were, only that they brought three different gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It was an early Christian tradition that there were three.

Years ago, I remember seeing a TV story about a 4th wiseman who got lost and spent his whole life searching for the Christ child only to find him on the cross. That was a fictional story however.

Here is a link to a previous Q & A about the wisemen:  -Re: The Wisemen and the First Christmas

A Good Question For The Christmas Season:

Q: Did the three Wisemen really visit baby Jesus in the stable on Christmas? Some say that they didn’t show up till later.

A: Matthew 2:1-12 contains the answers. First, it is clear from the text the ‘Magi’ were still in the east when they saw the Christmas star the night that Jesus was born. So all of those Christmas nativity scenes that display the three Wisemen are not completely accurate. Nevertheless, the Magi are part of the traditional events associated with the birth of Christ.

They probably showed up in Jerusalem some months later. Then they found their way to the house (*note- house not stable) where baby Jesus was living, by following some kind of supernatural light that reminded them of the star that they originally saw in the east.

Notice that the text does not really tell us how many magi there really were. It only mentions three different gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

*Top

Q: Where is the whole Christmas story in the Bible, I only found part of it in Matthew?

A: Most of the Christmas story that we are familiar with is found in Matthew (Mt 1:18-2:18) and in Luke (Lk 1:26-56, 2:1-40). However, Isaiah should never be ignored:

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Is. 7:14)

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Is. 9:6)

Matthew gives us the story largely from the perspective of Joseph, including the dreams that he had and his family genealogy. In this gospel the ‘Kingship’ of Jesus is the major topic. Starting with the Davidic Kingly genealogy through Joseph and the coming of the Magi (Wisemen) who are looking for the new king. Also King Herod’s reaction is in Matthew.

The events in Luke are given to us from Mary’s view. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and announces the coming of the child. Mary’s genealogy is also given in Luke ( Lk 3:23-38), she was also a descendant of David, but not in the ‘Kingly’ line. Chapter 2 begins with the Christmas story that everyone is familiar with:

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

*Top

Q:  Did the three Wisemen really visit baby Jesus in the stable on Christmas?  Some say that they didn’t show up till later.

A:  Matthew 2:1-12 contains the answers.  First, it is clear from the text the ‘Magi’ were still in the east when they saw the Christmas star the night that Jesus was born.  So all of those Christmas nativity scenes that display the three wisemen are not completely accurate.  Nevertheless, the Magi are part of the traditional events associated with the birth of Christ.  They probably showed up in Jerusalem some months later.  Then they found their way to the house where baby Jesus was living, by following some kind of supernatural light that reminded them of the star that they originally saw in the east.

Notice that the text does not really tell us how many magi there really were.  It only mentions three different gifts:  gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

*Top