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Old 02-24-2012, 11:56 AM   #1
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Default Bethlehem
Was there a town of Bethlehem in Judea in the period in which Jesus could have been born there?
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Old 02-24-2012, 12:00 PM   #2
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Yes, but Jesus was probably born in Nazareth, not Bethlehem, though it was in the explicit interest of Christians for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. Have you been arguing with the Nazareth-mythers?
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Old 02-24-2012, 12:08 PM   #3
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Yes
So why is it incorrect to say that Bethlehem did not exist in this period?

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it was in the explicit interest of Christians for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem.
It was in the interests of those who opposed Christianity that he wasn't.
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Old 02-24-2012, 12:12 PM   #4
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Yes
So why is it incorrect to say that Bethlehem did not exist in this period?

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it was in the explicit interest of Christians for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem.
It was in the interests of those who opposed Christianity that he wasn't.
If Bethlehem did not exist in the time of Jesus, then it probably would not have existed in the time of the writings of the gospels, and the gospels would not have claimed the existence of such a town. And I am guessing that there is archaeological evidence for Bethlehem existing around the time of Jesus, though of course that is only a guess.

"It was in the interests of those who opposed Christianity that he wasn't."

I agree. Historical claims must always be analyzed in the light of the interests of those who made the claims.
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Old 02-24-2012, 12:13 PM   #5
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Abe is confused, I think. This is not about Nazareth.

The standard view is that there was no settlement in Bethlehem of Judea around the year 1 CE.

The case that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Galilee

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But while Luke and Matthew describe Bethlehem in Judea as the birthplace of Jesus, "Menorah," the vast database of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), describes Bethlehem as an "ancient site" with Iron Age material and the fourth-century Church of the Nativity and associated Byzantine and medieval buildings. But there is a complete absence of information for antiquities from the Herodian period--that is, from the time around the birth of Jesus.
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Old 02-24-2012, 12:15 PM   #6
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... And I am guessing that there is archaeological evidence for Bethlehem existing around the time of Jesus, though of course that is only a guess.

....
And thus more misinformation is posted on the interwebs...

:banghead:
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Old 02-24-2012, 12:17 PM   #7
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...

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it was in the explicit interest of Christians for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem.
It was in the interests of those who opposed Christianity that he wasn't.
No, those opposed to Christianity don't care.

Most Christians these days think Jesus was born in Nazareth, and the Bethlehem story is just derived from prophesy historicized from the Hebrew Scriptures.
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Old 02-24-2012, 12:20 PM   #8
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... And I am guessing that there is archaeological evidence for Bethlehem existing around the time of Jesus, though of course that is only a guess.

....
And thus more misinformation is posted on the interwebs...

:banghead:
Excuse me?
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Old 02-24-2012, 12:21 PM   #9
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Abe is confused, I think. This is not about Nazareth.

The standard view is that there was no settlement in Bethlehem of Judea around the year 1 CE.
Who made the standard view? Is there such a thing?

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The case that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Galilee

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But while Luke and Matthew describe Bethlehem in Judea as the birthplace of Jesus, "Menorah," the vast database of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), describes Bethlehem as an "ancient site" with Iron Age material and the fourth-century Church of the Nativity and associated Byzantine and medieval buildings. But there is a complete absence of information for antiquities from the Herodian period--that is, from the time around the birth of Jesus.
Archaeological evidence in Jerusalem is estimated to be a small fraction of all that exists, because people are living on it. Similar may be true elsewhere. Archaeology may not be the most reliable indicator in this endeavour.
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Old 02-24-2012, 12:24 PM   #10
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...

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it was in the explicit interest of Christians for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem.
It was in the interests of those who opposed Christianity that he wasn't.
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No, those opposed to Christianity don't care.
Why is that?

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Most Christians these days think Jesus was born in Nazareth
How does one know this?
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