B. What’s the date today?
A. Today is December 22, 2020. (depending on when you see this)
B. Got it. What does the 2020 signify?
A. Short answer: 450+ years ago Pope Gregory instituted a new calendar system throughout the Western world. The new way of dating would begin with the [approximate] birth of Jesus. The Pope was – religiously – a Roman Catholic, after all. Technically then, 2020 represents 2020 years since Jesus was born. (2020 A.D. meant “anno Domini”, in the year of the Lord)
B. You saying Jesus was a real person?
A. As real as you and me. Whether or not people choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus, well, it did happen. History and the calendar witness to that.
B. I understand that the Bible is the holy Scriptures for people who follow Jesus. What does the Bible say about his birth, anything?
A. Of 89 chapters in the Bible that outline Jesus’ life fewer than 4 reference details of his birth. (There may be another 100 more brief references in other Bible chapters that predict his birth and life, but that’s another subject.)
B. I’m not much of a reader. Are there any reliable video accounts of Jesus’ birth? I mean, exactly what the Bible teaches about the birth of Jesus?
A. The video, “The Shepherd” is an accurate dramatization though not word-for-word from the Bible. Another well-regarded film of those events is “The Nativity”. It is longer 😊.
B. Got it. Maybe, I’ll watch it. I may have another question afterward – that ok?
A. Questions are welcome. Email us and we’ll do our best to point to a true and satisfying answer.
