(Editor’s note: The first Christmas was openly celebrated in Rome in about 323 when Emperor Constantine the Great declared himself a Christian, as noted by the author.)
By Romeo V. Pefianco
BONAPARTE was probably an agnostic in 1808 (now an emperor) when he met the German scholar Wieland. He did not discuss politics or war, but did Wieland believe in the historicity of Christ?
Attacks on the 4 Gospels
The most far-reaching activities of the modern mind have been the "Higher Criticism" of the Bible — the mounting attack on its authenticity and veracity. This was countered by the heroic attempt to save the historical foundations of Christian faith. The results prove as revolutionary as Christianity itself.
What evidence is there for Christ’s existence? Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews (A.D. 93?) provides the earliest non-Christian reference.
Pagan literature and Christ
The oldest known mention of Christ in pagan literature is in a letter of the younger Pliny (Roman senator and consul, ca. A.D. 113) asking the advice of Trajan on the treatment of Christians.
The Christian evidence for Christ begins with the letters ascribed to Saint Paul before A.D. 64. So far no one has questioned the existence of Paul, or his repeated meetings with Peter, James and John. He envied them that these men had known Christ in the flesh.
Surviving document
The four Gospels present no simple matter, since the four have come down as survivors from a much larger number that once circulated among the Christians of the first two centuries.
The oldest extant copies of the Gospels go back only to the third century, whose original compositions were apparently written between A.D. 60 and 120, 30 to 90 years after the Crucifixion in about 30 A.D. They were therefore exposed to two centuries of errors in transcription, and to possible alterations depending on the copyist’s sect or time.
It is said that Christian writers before A.D. 100 quoted the Old, but never the New, Testament. About the year 135 references reported an unidentified "John the Elder" as saying that Mark had composed his version from memories conveyed to him by Peter.
‘Genuine history’
Criticism generally agrees in giving the Gospel of Mark priority, and in dating it between 65 and 70. His gospel was apparently circulated while some of the apostles, or their immediate disciples, were still alive. According to the brilliant but judicious Schweitzer, the Gospel of Mark is in essentials "genuine history."
The "Higher Criticism" has applied to the New Testament tests of authenticity so severe that by them a hundred worthy writings by Hammurabi, David, Socrates, etc. would fade into legend.
No mere ‘inventions’
The prejudices and theological preconceptions of the evangelists aside, they still record many incidents that "mere inventors would have concealed."
Historian Will Durant concludes: "After two centuries of Higher Criticism the outlines of the life, character, and teaching of Christ, remain reasonably clear, and constitute the most fascinating feature in the history of Western man."
Birth dates
Both Matthew and Luke assign Jesus’ birth to "the days when Herod was king of Judea" — consequently before 3 B.C. Other dates based on historical notes place Christ’s birth year in 2-1, 4 and 7 B.C. As to his birthday some chronologists report April 19, May 20 and Nov. 17, 3 B.C.
In the second century, the Eastern Christians celebrated the Nativity on Jan. 6. In 354 some Western churches, including those of Rome, commemorated the birth of Christ on Dec. 25 and by the end of the fourth century Dec. 25 had been adopted also in the East.
Place of birth
Critics suspect Matthew and Luke of choosing Bethlehem (5 miles south of Jerusalem) to strengthen the claim that Christ descended, as Jewish prophecy required, from David whose family had dwelt in Bethlehem — but the suspicion falls far short of proof.
According to historian Michael Grant the birthdate "should be reassigned to 6 or 5 or 4 B.C."
First Christmas in Rome
The Christmas that we know today was openly and joyously celebrated in Rome more than 300 years after the birth of Christ when Christianity was proclaimed the state religion by Constantine the Great, who declared himself a Christian upon becoming sole emperor in 323. (Comments are welcome at rvp@fastmail.ph.inter.net)
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