Nativity of Jesus#Place of birth
The birthplace of Jesus is given by Matthew and Luke in Bethlehem ( Judea ) (Mt 2,1 EU, Lk 2:4-7 EU). This view is shared unanimously by the Ancient Church; already in the 2nd century translated pilgrimages one to Bethlehem. More recently, it has been argued for Nazareth as place of birth.
Basics
There is no archaeological evidence for the birthplace of Jesus, which is not surprising. Traces of pilgrimage sites are available only from the 3rd century. The arguments for Bethlehem and Nazareth are literary and historical nature. They are often linked to considerations at the time and the circumstances of the birth of Jesus. Here in Syria, the governorship of Quirinius plays a prominent role. It is mentioned by Luke the Evangelist (2.2 EU) and is extra-Biblical occupied from AD 6. Since then, Judea was part of the province of Syria.
According to Matthew ( Ch. 2 ) Jesus was born in the time of Herod the Great who tried to kill him ( the Innocents in Bethlehem ) and already 4 BC died. Also according to Luke 1.5 EU birth of Jesus belongs to the time of Herod, which results in a contradiction if we assume that the information in Flavius Josephus is correct and complete.
Considerations for the chronological problem
To resolve the apparent contradiction between Luke and Matthew can be either another local census of Quirinius already take in the days of Herod, or a mix of Herod the Great by Herod Antipas by Luke.
Josephus reports that a certain Judas of Summer 4 BC a rebellion in Galilee. This could be identical with that Judas of Galilee, from the Josephus reports that he instigated a rebellion against the Roman tax collection. Theodor Zahn considers it possible that Quirinius to 4 BC by order of Augustus in Syria was already active in the years to perform the above-mentioned estimate was then governor of Syria. Mayer- Maly suspects a provincial census; there were many such census a total of Augustus, Luke had collectively spoken of a registration " of the entire inhabited earth." This first of Quirinius census conducted in Syria could have dragged on for several years, from about 7 BC to 7 AD
Maybe Quirinius was sent but also with imperial special mandate to even the reign of Herod perform a kind of " Vorzensus " in preparation for a later provincialism of Judea.
Arguments for Bethlehem
New Testament
The Evangelist Luke wants to explicitly provide a reliable history (Luke 1:1-4 EU). So he sees the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (in contrast to Matthew) no quotation from Scripture fulfilled, but a consequence of that tax collection, Joseph and Mary prompted to move to the hometown of David. Luke focused his presentation on Mary. He notes that they brought Jesus to the world and laid him in a manger " because there was no room at the inn for them " ( Lk 2:7). Where Jesus was born exactly, is not known. The Greek word katalüma (Greek: κατάλυμα ) can be used as " inn" or " guestroom " be translated. Some scholars have considered that Joseph and Mary would have rather tried to stay with their relatives than in a hostel, but met on an already full house, which she evaded on a shed with a manger.
Matthew focused his presentation on Joseph. He does not explicitly say that this 've lived before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. However, some scholars are convinced that after the text of Matthew Jesus obviously lived parents in Bethlehem before the birth.
Ben Witherington assumes that two independent sources respectively of Matthew. Lukas were used, specify Bethlehem as the birthplace. Many scholars agree that the representations of the two evangelists do not contradict but complement.
Thomas Söding keeps Bethlehem as the birthplace of " historically not improbable and theologically for highly significant ". Because the narrative shows " the roots of Jesus in Judaism. It combines the ancient healing history with the new Jesus story, the old and the New Testament. " This would make no sense without a real birth in Bethlehem.
Old Church
Middle of the second century is shown to Bethlehem revered as the birthplace of Jesus. Justin Martyr says ( about 155-160 AD ), Jesus was born in a cave outside the city. The Protevangelium of James (c. 150 AD ) in turn describes a legendary birth in a cave near the town. The early and unique worship in Bethlehem is considered as a strong argument.
In the Church of the Nativity, built by the Empress Dowager Helena, the birth cave is shown with the crib, which is traditionally venerated as the birthplace of Jesus. Origen, who traveled from about 215 AD to through Palestine, wrote about 247 AD about the birth cave in Bethlehem.
Arguments for Nazareth
Nazareth was the birthplace of his father Joseph and his family residence ( Mk 6,1 ff EU; Mt 13,54 EU, Lk 2,39 EU); Jesus grew up there.
For Nazareth as the birthplace of Jesus, there is no source. The only argument for believing Jesus was born at his residence, is the evaluation of narratives as a theological Seal: The birth stories wanted to show that Jesus was the son of David. Based on this assumption, the Location Bethlehem in recent times - especially from German theologians - classified as non- historical. This Erzählzug was a product of faith in Jesus as the Messiah of Israel. This argument is far from compelling. If Jesus was not born in Bethlehem, a piece of incomprehensible why the faith arose in him as the Messiah remains.
Some consider a general census as Luke reports for historical not credible: Emperor Augustus was known for its reasonable nature and would therefore not be forced by EP Sanders' view of every citizen of the kingdom return to the hometown of his ancestors, especially since many people would not have been able to trace their lineage far enough. Lewis and Reinhold, however, result in a font from the year 3 BC as evidence of such a general census on: The papyrus is about an oath of allegiance to the " citizens of Paphlagonia and the Roman merchants, who lived with them contributed, ". Accordingly, the Jewish people not only had to enter it in the tax rolls, but the Great afford even the Emperor Augustus and Herod an oath of allegiance.