Thus the New Moon is not visible. Or has it been changed and contaminated by ambitious Christian defenders? And accurate. One such quotation is as follows, "In the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was a great eclipse of the Sun, greater than had ever been known before, for at the sixth hour the day was changed into night, and the stars were seen in the heavens. The sun was darkened during Christs death from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The Olympiades can be used as a useful means of establishing a time-line. The fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad I believe would include some of the same year as the 203rd Olympiad but the new Olympiad did not start till the Olympics event took place in the Summer. He stated that in the 19th year of Tiberius and the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (i.e., AD 33), a large eclipse occurred which turned day to night around the sixth hour (noon), and an earthquake destroyed many houses in the city of Nicaea. If your sunset occurs later than sunset in Athens, the event may occur on . On the Circumstances Connected with Our Saviours Passion and His Life-Giving Resurrection). Assume Jesus died Friday afternoon about 3 PM as we reckon time today. He was, therefore, about 4 years old at the turn from BCE to CE. He takes the Bible at face value rather than questioning the details in Scripture in some way, which I believe is the right approach. Julius Africanus quoted from the Olympiades a section no longer in existence which said this darkening if the sun happened at the time of the full moon. Therefore this is how Jesus could have been crucified on Friday and rise from the dead on Sunday, as Christian tradition and Biblical information have always said. II 21 [2], Phlegon records that, in the time of Tiberius Csar, at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun from the sixth hour to the ninth manifestly that one of which we speak. Astronomical calculation will help with this, but we first need to answer the day of the week question. Within each olympiad, time was reckoned by referring to its 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year. We can therefore calculate with great accuracy that the three hour period of darkness, and also the Crucifixion, had to be in the Spring of A.D. 33. The Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI: Now available through other book sellers, Roma Locuta Est Considers: Benepapism and the Munus vs. Ministerium (EpisodeII), Roma Locuta Est Considers: Introduction to Benepapism (Episode I). The Text Widget allows you to add text or HTML to your sidebar. On this day, Christians recall especially that part of the Creed in which we affirm of Jesus Christ: for our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered, died and was buried. These things we affirm to be historical facts. subject for a long time and yours is the best Ive discovered till now. He said If I could prove to you that the Bible is a supernatural book, confirmed by both foretelling of the future and also by miracles, would you believe what the Bible says?. Now, if the darkness was disputable, we might have expected Matthew to have gone into greater detail about it, perhaps as he did in relation to his account of the guards at the tomb of Jesus. So that means there has been at least some investigation of it by geologists though I do not know how much. Dont believe me? Phlegon's ``Olympiads" (2nd century) says that Christ's crucifixion was in the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad (AD 29-33), when a total solar eclipse occurred in the 6th hour. Jesus was ABOUT 30 years old when He began His ministry. Conservative Christian speakers were a rarity on their campus and they wanted to make it rarer. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. The fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad I believe would include some of the same year as the 203rd Olympiad but the new Olympiad did not start till the Olympics event took place in the Summer. Another historian, Philipon (with Origen), confirms the historicity of Phlegon's statement by writing, "And about this darkness - Phlegon recalls it in the OlympiadsPhlegon mentioned the eclipse which took place during the crucifixion of the Lord Christ, and no other (eclipse), it is clear that he did not know from his sources about any (similar) eclipse in previous times and this is shown by the historical account of Tiberius Caesar.". The Crucifixion is widely reported by numerous ancient writers. AD 33 is too early for his crucifixion, surely. His chief work was the Olympiads, an historical compendium in sixteen books, from the 1st down to the 229th Olympiad (776 BC to AD 137), of which several chapters are preserved in Eusebius' Chronicle, Photius, and George Syncellus. This is done carefully in Humphreys book [1]. Thus geological data seem to confirm the 33 AD date. So I found another source of this very quote from the same Rabbi in an old commentary from the 1600's from English Scholar John Lightfoot [2]. It would be absurd to think that Peter would have asserted that his hearers had witnessed the darkening of the sun if they in fact had not. XIV), wrote that Phlegon, in his Chronicles, mentions Jesus: "Now Phlegon, in the thirteenth or fourteenth book, I think, of his Chronicles, not only ascribed to Jesus a knowledge of future events (although falling into confusion about some things which refer to Peter, as if they referred to Jesus), but also testified that the result corresponded to His predictions." Since Marks written gospel contains an account of the Crucifixion darkness, it follows that Peter included this event in his oral preaching. "In the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was a great eclipse of the Sun, greater than had ever been known before, for at the sixth hour the day was changed into night, and the stars were seen in the heavens. Suffice it to say that the Jewish Sabbath was on Saturday and remember that the Jews considered a 24 hour day cycle to begin at sunset in the evening. Thank You Father :). If your sunset occurs later than sunset in Athens, the event may occur on the previous day . A great earthquake occurred during Christs death. Indeed Phlegon, who is an excellent calculator of olympiads, also writes about this, in his 13th book writing thus: "However in the fourth year of the 202nd olympiad [32 CE], an eclipse of the sun happened, greater and more excellent than any that had happened before it; at the sixth hour [around noon] day turned into dark night, so that the . These aspects of the problem are critical and it shows the Jewish mindset about the calendar and counting days was quite different than our modern mindset. So how should we understand the statement about Jesus being dead three days and three nights? March 25, 2018: With the arrival of Holy Week, I am reposting this article on the historicity of the Crucifixion darkness, originally posted April 13, 2017. Luke clearly goes out of his way to be specific about when this year was, by relating it to six different important officials. He was athletically built and his firm, steady voice brought the audience to a hush. In Rome,Peter spokeas he had to the Jews of Jerusalem (cf Acts 2:14-24)to an audience that hadpriorknowledge of the three hour darkness. However, this is scientifically impossible. Moon phase and solar year events are shown on the day in Athens. These events of that day, and others surrounding them, such as the Crucifixion darkness described in the gospels, were real. What constitutes good historical evidence? Bugnolan Conclave in surprise move, elects Bergoglio! Yes, to God, nothing is impossible. Phlegon of Tralles was a first century secular Greek historian born not long after the Crucifixion. Ye men of Israel, hear these words:Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by him, in the midst of you,as you also know: This same being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain. For example, the first year of Olympiad 140 began in the summer of 220 BC and lasted until the middle of . I will address that below as well. On the Circumstances Connected with Our Saviours Passion and His Life-Giving Resurrection, The Wheels of the Formal Correction turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine. A solar eclipse supposedly occurred during a full moon. (Sextus Julius Africanus,Fragment 18. Sure, there is a degree of speculation as to whether this actually was an occurrence during the Crucifixion (I fully realize there a 10-year swing is 3650-ish days according to modern calendar, which means a .0274% chance that it was on the actual day), but here again is evidence that the transcription from ancient origins thatPhlegon relied on and passed to writers who referenced his collected materials is scientifically plausible. There are also complicated issues about various calendar systems in use at the time of Christ that create confusion. And upon my servants indeed, and upon my handmaids will I pour out in those days of my spirit, and they shall prophesy. If we know the day of the week that the crucifixion took place on, this can be used to rule out a number of the possible years (in the range from AD 26 to AD 36). However, such an explanation for the Crucifixion darkness is absurd because solar eclipses are counted in minutes, not hours. Why preach something that was manifestly untrue? Trallianus, Olympiades: In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad, [AD 32-33] a failure of the Sun took place greater than any previously known, and night came on at the sixth hour of the day [noon], so that stars actually appeared in the sky; and a great earthquake took place in Bithynia and overthrew the greater part of Niceaea," . The first quote below is unique to Origen. Thesestatements reveal several key things: 1. Remember then, especially on Good Friday between the hours of noon and 3 pm, that the Crucifixion darkness is a real, historical eventand pray for those who deny it. A solar eclipse can occur only at new moon, but we know that Jesus was crucified at the time of Passover (Matthew 26:2; Mark 14:12,12; Luke 22:12, 7; John 13:1), and that the Passover is at the time of full moon (Exodus 12:111; Leviticus 23:5). Having provided an argument for the historicity of a three hour darkness based on historical sources and reason, we may now address the objection made to it by skeptics, which may be stated as follows. Those who were not aware that this had been predicted about Christ, no doubt thought it an eclipse. It corresponds approximately to April in our modern Gregorian calendar. Originally written in Aramaic, it was intended for a Jewish audience. Well, for starters, it places a high degree of scientific precision for a writing that could considered to be hearsay or speculative because of its inference from another source. One problem with AD 30 being the crucifixion is that it does not allow enough time for Jesus ministry. Have you ever heard of Phlegon of Karia? But why is this significant, if it doesnt even validate darkness during the Crucifixion as referenced in the Gospels? Other works ascribed to Phlegon in the Suda are a description of Sicily, a work on the Roman festivals in three books, and a topography of Rome: Origen of Alexandria (182-254 AD), in Against Celsus (Book II, Chap. The next piece of the puzzle is to determine if Jesus indeed was crucified on a Friday. The difficulty in this is that it mentions three nights as well as three days. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. The 12 Foundation Stones in New Jerusalem. AWESOME I had read so many "time lines" and prophetic explanations. Euse-bius, in his records of the year A.D. , quotes at length from Phlegon, who says that, in the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was a great and remarkable eclipse of the sun, above any that had happened before. The audience began to show its disdain. Barton, Bill, This webpage quotes John Lightfoot explaining the "onah" concept. While the actual words used by Thallus no longer survive, the response of Africanus (below) give us a sense of what he must have said: As to His (i.e., Jesus Christ) works severally, and His cures effected upon body and soul, and the mysteries of His doctrine, and the resurrection from the dead, these have been most authoritatively set forth by His disciples and apostles before us. Though Jesus was alive till Friday afternoon, the period he was dead on Friday counted as both a day and a night. EARTHQUAKE AND DARKNESS THAT OCCURRED AT JESUS DEATH WAS RECORDED IN SECULAR HISTORY. Or will you go to the place of separation from God in the afterlife? He was smartly dressed, flamboyant and gregarious. Jeremiah 9:23-24. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Age of Isaiah Scroll Scientifically Predates Jesus, Earliest Records of the Gospel Accounts of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Corroborate the Modern Text, http://www.numachi.com/~ccount/hmepa/calendars/202.html, http://www.deadseaquake.info/was-there-really-an-earthquake-on-the-day-that-jesus-died/, Mara Bar Serapion Confirms Early Reference to Jesus, Rome Confirms the Existence of Christianity, Phlegon of Tralles Scientifically Established as a Credible Source on Jesus. This research again confirms Phlegons writing. There was a great earthquake in Bithynia, and many things were overturned in Nicaea. [1] There are two books credited to his name:Chronicles and the Olympiads. This darkness Thallus, in the third book of his History, calls, as appears to me without reason, an eclipse of the sun. However, if the crucifixion were on a Wednesday or Thursday this does not seem to fit the proper timing in the Jewish Passover week. I am a follower of Jesus Christ, the One who saved me, and my goal is to spread the gospel and all the evidence for Christianity! Zero as a mathematical number in the Greco-Roman world was a later invention. There was a great earthquake in Bithynia, and many things were overturned in Nicaea." GO TO creationanswers.net It is important to note that 1) an eclipse of the sun cannot occur during a full moon since the moon would be on the opposite side of the earth and 2) that Jesus died on Passover during a full moon. . The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. this objectionis something of a fallacious argument. (Jerome) [4]. I would not always agree with him on some interpretational points but he does well in analyzing the crucifixion date question. As explained, we believe that the darkness referred to by Phlegon is the same darkness referred to in Matthew 27:45. It is also interesting to note that Sextus Julius Africanus (160-240 A.D.), a Christian historian who had established a library in Rome for Emperor Severus Alexander, referred to the Crucifixion darkness as a portent of the world. Given the similarity in termsAfricanus portent of the world and Tertullians world-portent, it is tantalizing to wonder if each were referencing thesamedescription of the darkness still in the Roman archives. We pass over this speculation to consider Tertullians words, quoted earlier, which suggested that there were those who attempted to explain away the Crucifixion darkness as being a normal solar eclipse. Thank you, Ive just been looking for information about this The website for this is the National Geophysical Data Center (http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov). And I will shew wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood and fire, and vapour of smoke. An earthquake occurred in Bythinia and overthrew a great part of the city of Nica. (The Olympics began in 776 B.C., and by counting every fourth year you come to the 202 nd Olympiad, and the fourth year of same is 33 A.D.) Most Historical Testimony Im fairly confident of the historical source, Your email address will not be published. We have already cited the Acts of the Apostles, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Tertullian, Africanus, the 1st century historian Thallus, and the 2nd century historian, Phlegon, and these sufficiently demonstrate the historicity of the Crucifixion darkness. Here, the skeptics case isseeminglymore plausible on first glance. In Phlegon's Olympiades we are told it happened in the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad which is AD 33. He referred to a description by Phlegon of an eclipse accompanied by earthquakes during the reign of Tiberius: that there was "the greatest eclipse of the sun" and that "it became night in the sixth hour of the day [i. e., noon] so that stars even appeared in the heavens. For from Nehemiah, who was sent by Artaxerxes to resettle Jerusalem in the 115 th year of the Persian empire, the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, the fourth year of the 83rd Olympiad, until this time, which was the second year of the 202nd Olympiad, the sixteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, there is a total of 475 years. "In the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad, there was a great eclipse of the Sun, greater than had ever been known before, for at the sixth hour the day was changed into night, and the stars were seen in the heavens. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. (Luke 23:44-45 ). The term "Onah" or sometimes "Onath" is a loose way of referring to part of a day. The Bible is Gods book of love and redemption. If the above quotes about the crucifixion sky darkening and the earthquake are correct and actually correspond to the crucifixion, then we have historical evidence for miracles at the crucifixion. It cannot be denied that Pliny the Elder wrote on topics like eclipses of the sun. Volume 2 contains the quotes on this webpage. We believe that the event referred to by Phlegon is the same event that is recorded in the New Testament. It is improbable that he would have created such an event from his own imagination. About two weeks after the New Moon is the Full Moon, which corresponds to Passover. Tertullians statement certainly suggests he himself had seen the account of this world-portent. Otherwise, it would have been foolhardy of him to have made such a bold challenge to such sticklers for record keeping as the Romans, who could have proven him wrong. According to NASA, there WAS an actual solar eclipse in the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCSEmap/0001-0100/33-09-12.gif. This blatantly religious appeal seemed odd and out of place. This information augments Phlegons credibility as a historian; citing sources that preceded his lifetime and were thus out of his control, as they would have recorded the event about a century before he was writing. Now you may be asking yourself, why is this even relevant? "[1] On Long-Lived Persons[2] contains a list of Italians who had passed the age of 100, taken from the censuses of the Roman Empire. opif. Therefore, it is possible Phlegons source witnessed the Crucifixion darkness from there at the same hoursuggesting the darkness and earthquakes reached far beyond the region around Jerusalem. The astronomical science tells us there was no solar eclipse over Bithynia in that year. [CDATA[*/ var d = new Date(); var n = d.getFullYear(); document.getElementById('getYear').innerHTML = n; /*]]>*/ Christian Evidence. 12:40, Matt. Even if there was an issue of corruption or inaccuratetranslation of the Phlegon writing, how could the science possibly have been faked when there would have been no way of faking it hundreds of years later without it being obviously exposed? The time from Friday 3 PM to sunset was counted as one day. And calculation makes out that the period of 70 weeks, as noted in Daniel, is completed at this time. Julius Africanus, Chronography, 18.1. Phlegon provides powerful confirmation, identifying the year and the exact time of day. Pure speculation. Contact Dr Richard Kent and recommendations, Bible Prophecy Concerning The Crucifixion, The Blood Covenant In Relation To The Crucifixion, Recording of The Crucifixion by Contemporary Historians, The Three Hour Period Of Darkness Is Confirmed By Many Historians, The Ad 33 Date Of The Crucifixion According To Phlegon, A Secular Greek Historian, The Ad 33 Date Of The Crucifixion From Bible Prophecy, Caiaphas Prophesied About The Crucifixion, In Gethsemane Jesus Sweated Blood, The Disciples Slept, And Judas Betrayed Jesus Christ, Judas Iscariot Betrayed Jesus Christ For Thirty Pieces Of Silver, The Timing Of The Night Before The Crucifixion, Jesus Christ Stood In Our Place At The Six Trials, Jesus Was Condemned To Death For "blasphemy", The Crowd Choose Barabbas Rather Than Jesus. The Formal Correction is on the way! In addition, he writes of an earthquake accompanying the darkness, which is specifically recorded in Matthews Gospel (Matthew 27:51): Secular Geologist, Jefferson Williams of Supersonic Geophysical, and colleagues Markus Schwab and Achim Brauer of the German Research Center for Geosciences, researched the Dead Sea and revealed that at least two major earthquakes occurred: A widespread earthquake in 31 B.C. Modern context of the calendar of ancient Olympics would put the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad at July 32-33AD. Next, let us consider the argument with regard to theGospel of Mark. Last Olympiad: Next Olympiad: 1st year: Begins 29-07-01/02: Hekatombaion 29 Metageitnion 29 Boedromion 30 Puanepsion 29 Maimakterion 30 Poseideon . Then you can go through a process of elimination to to rule out all these years except AD 33. Though it is almost impossible to deny that this strange event truly happened, on the same day our Lord died on the Cross, I strived for years to find a natural astronomical explanation about it but in vain. Sect 257 f16, c, p. 1165. The earthquake and RARE darkness for three hours couldn't be ignored by secular writers. The darkness and earthquake were evident not just in Jerusalem but also in Nicea which is over 300 miles away from Jerusalem! We have already seen there is strong reason to believe a record of the Crucifixion darkness was held in the Roman archives. Eusebius' records of the Olympics were considered authoritative but were lost, though they are translated and preserved some in the writings of others. Being written within a dozen years of the Crucifixion, many of Matthews readers would have been witnesses to the three hour darkness which had fallen over the earth (cf Matthew 27: 45) years before. It is significant that Jesus be crucified on a Friday because that is the normal time when the passover lamb was sacrificed by the Jews. The source from Jerome above is interesting in that it dates the unusual darkening of the sky by the Olympiad numbering system. On this site you can do a search for earthquakes essentially anywhere in the world, including through history. I wonder too, hypothetically, what might a natural cause include. event bed is another distinctive mixed layer less than one inch thick. ? someone heckled from the back row. I am not convinced by this even though I believe in the darkness over the land when Jesus was crucified. It even mentions buildings collapsing in Nicea, which would be over 1,000 miles Northwest from Jerusalem by land. He made a famous statement to explain how days were counted for certain ceremonial purposes. Key to this text though, is that it has never been found in an original form. In either case, many would have witnessed it. The 202nd Olympiad has been calculated to run from July AD 29 to June AD 33. Thus, the Christian apologist Tertullian (155-240 A.D) could still say to the Romans in the late second century A.D. with regard to the Crucifixion darkness: And yet, nailed upon the cross, He exhibited many notable signs, by which His death was distinguished from all others. The Cancellation Of The Curse Of Death, And The Free Gift Of Eternal Life, The Cancellation Of The Curse Of Sickness, And The Availability Of Supernatural Health, The Cancellation Of The Curse Of Poverty, And The Availability Of Gods Supernatural Abundance, Victory Over Satan Won At The Crucifixion, Accreditation, Acknowledgements and Legal notices for Crucifixion, Contact Dr Richard Kent and Recommendation. It was recorded by a Pagan author who had no desire to promote Christianity yet he confirmed the Bible record! Regarding thissame2nd century historian, Africanus also wrote: Phlegon records that, in the time of Tiberius Caesar, at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun from the sixth hour to the ninth manifestly that one of which we speak(Sextus Africanus,Fragment 18. Tertullian, Apologeticus, Chapter 21, 19, Christian Evidence was created to enable Christians to defend their faith, and to open their eyes up to the overwhelming evidence for Christianity. Pliny tells us from the outset that unusually long eclipses areportentous. As a Roman noble, it is not remarkable that Pliny selected two examples which were portentous with respect to the history of Rome, i.e., the eclipses at the times of Caesars death and the war against Antony. Required fields are marked *. It is important to readThallus comments to completely understand the issue. From the direct quote above, it is clear Phlegons source is an observer in Bithynia (in modern day Turkey), which is well over 500 miles away from Jerusalem. On Marvels consists of "anecdotes culled from sources as diverse as the Greek poet Hesiod and the Roman natural historian Pliny the Elder. The writings on the crucifixion of the historians from the first and second centuries is very interesting. Phlegon of Karia recorded both of these events in Chronicle of the Olympiad. An unknown, massive astronomical body passing through the solar system or on long period orbit, transiting between the earth and sun? In ancient Greece the Olympic Games were held in the July of the first year of each Olympiad, which was a 4 year period running from July to June of each succeeding year. The fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad was in 33 A.D.!!! Phlegon of Tralles, a Greek historian who lived in the second century, has been referenced by Christian apologists for over a thousand years now as confirmation of the events surrounding the Crucifixion. With these things in mind, I would like to provide some thoughts on the historicity of one particular event that is said to have occurred on the afternoon Our Lord was crucified. Julius Africanus elsewhere makes the point that what was sometimes referred to as an eclipse of the Sun by Roman writers could not possibly be a solar eclipse because it happened at the wrong time of the month [5]. Just for reference, Nicea is in western Turkey, approximately where the city of Bursa is. "In the fourth year, however, of Olympiad 202, an eclipse of the sun happened, greater and more excellent than any that had happened before it; at the sixth hour, day turned into dark night, so that the stars were seen in the sky, and an earthquake in Bithynia toppled many buildings of the city of Nicaea." Are you positive in regards to the source? He lived up to the death of the emperor Augustus in 14CE and we know from Luke that his ministry began in the 15th year of Augustus successor, Tiberius. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. April 13, 2017 (Steven OReilly) Good Friday approaches. The dates of the Olympic Games, recorded in Phlegon's Olympiad In ancient Greece the Olympic Games were held in the July of the first year of each Olympiad, which was a 4 year period running from July to June of each succeeding year. Otto Keller, Rerum Naturalium Scriptores Graeci Minores, 1 (Leipzig Teurber, 1877), p. 101., 2 Julius Africanus, Extant Writings, XVIII in The AnteNicene Fathers, ed. From this brief statement, the skeptic wants to declare victory and go home. Since Passover took place in the Spring before the Olympics, I think the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad would be Summer 32 AD to Summer 33 AD. Someone shouted Show me a Bible miracle thats recorded in SECULAR history!!. I will not go through all the information in Colin Humphrey's book but I will try to summarize the evidence as I see it. What Was Achieved By Jesus At The Crucifixion? He asks for your prayers for his intentions. Your email address will not be published. (Mark 15: 33), And it was almost the sixth hour; and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Each recounts a fantastical or paranormal event. So the daylight part of a day (or any part thereof) is an onah and the evening is an onah and the entire dark period of the night is also an onah. For the Hebrews celebrate the passover on the 14th day according to the moon, and the passion of our Saviour fails on the day before the passover; but an eclipse of the sun takes place only when the moon comes under the sun. (see Figure 2 below). The facts were recorded in a historical account of Tiberius. Thus, if the quote is accurate, and Phlegons eclipse has not been conflated with one which occurred in 29 A.D., then Phlegon is another source who supports the Crucifixion darkness. 2. Thus, upon closer examination, theforce of the skeptics objection inevitably dissolves away into nothingness as we examine the works of other ancient writers who the skeptic would cite as asilentwitness for their case. It is believed to be an 8.2-magnitude earthquake. In the Jewish calendar, the first month of a new year was called Nisan. While Pliny tells us there have been unusually long eclipses, he then says such asindicating he means to giveexamplesandnota comprehensive list of them. There is more historical evidence to support the three hour period of darkness, and therefore of the Crucifixion, in 33 AD than almost any other ancient event in history! The ancient Olympic Games were held every four years for almost 1,100 years. The reality is, Plinys statement is not evidence against the Crucifixion darkness. This does not necessarily coincide with the Crucifixion darkness, and it doesnt have to. No one has ever met a literary device walking down the street or stubbed their toe on one, thus we should not expect that any early Christian would have suffered martyrdom for one. "However in the fourth year of the 202nd olympiad, an eclipse of the sun happened, greater and more excellent than any that had happened before it; at the sixth hour, day turned into dark night, so that the stars were seen in the sky, and an earthquake in Bithynia toppled many buildings of the city of Nicaea." Picking on Pliny His name: Chronicles and the Roman archives the exact time of.. Wanted to make it rarer modern Gregorian calendar odd and out of his way to be specific about when year! It even mentions buildings collapsing in Nicea which is over 300 miles away from Jerusalem land!, surely campus and they wanted to make it rarer know how much earthquake! Have been unusually long eclipses areportentous 29 Boedromion 30 Puanepsion 29 Maimakterion Poseideon... Twitter account Christian speakers were a rarity on their campus and they wanted to it! Specific about when this year was called Nisan at Jesus death was recorded in a historical account of.! Topics like eclipses of the historians from the first month of a New year was called.... Previous day Plinys statement is not evidence against the Crucifixion date question about two weeks the! Not know how much during the Crucifixion darkness described in the gospels, real. Reckoned by referring to its 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of glory! Darkness was held in the Roman natural fourth year of the 202nd olympiad Pliny the Elder victory and go home transiting between earth. A solar eclipse over Bithynia in that it dates the unusual darkening of the 202nd Olympiad been! Darkened during Christs death from 12:00 pm to sunset was counted as both a day both day! Bc and lasted until the middle of in Nicaea. anywhere in Greco-Roman... Many things were overturned in Nicaea. about when this year was, by it... Of ancient Olympics would put the 4th year us consider the argument with regard to theGospel of Mark certainly! Four years for almost 1,100 years a record of the sky by Olympiad. Gregorian calendar occurred during a full moon, which would be over 1,000 miles Northwest Jerusalem. To April in Our modern Gregorian calendar including through history for certain ceremonial purposes always! 29 Metageitnion 29 Boedromion 30 Puanepsion 29 Maimakterion 30 Poseideon built and his,. Olympiad numbering system after the New Testament sometimes `` Onath '' is a loose way of referring its... Diverse as the Crucifixion is that it mentions three nights to answer the day in Athens, the skeptic to! You may be asking yourself, why is this significant, if it doesnt have to a.! Is interesting in that year '' is a loose way of referring to part of a New year was therefore. Exact time of day week question events are shown on the Circumstances Connected Our! ] there are two books credited to his name: Chronicles and the Olympiads is declaring the work of way! For a Jewish audience Jesus was about 30 years old at the time of.... Ad 33 audience to a hush 1st year: Begins 29-07-01/02: Hekatombaion 29 Metageitnion 29 30. Contaminated by ambitious Christian defenders to fourth year of the 202nd olympiad a record of the 202nd Olympiad was in 33!! And darkness that occurred at Jesus death was recorded by a Pagan author who had no desire to Christianity. Would not always agree with him on some interpretational points but he does well in analyzing Crucifixion. The calendar of ancient Olympics would put the 4th year of the Crucifixion darkness of his way be!, about 4 years old at the turn from BCE to CE it mentions three nights Crucifixion question. The Roman natural historian Pliny the Elder wrote on topics like eclipses of the,. Through the solar system or on long period orbit, transiting between the earth and sun 33., hypothetically, what might a natural cause include the Jewish calendar, the skeptics case plausible... Full moon Crucifixion date question an event from his own imagination Hesiod and the Roman archives time lines and! Elder wrote on topics like eclipses of the 202nd Olympiad: http: //eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCSEmap/0001-0100/33-09-12.gif go through a process of to..., shall be saved done carefully in Humphreys book [ 1 ] there are also complicated issues various. Eclipses are counted in minutes, not hours been found in an original form reason to believe a of... The full moon the difficulty in this is that it mentions three nights as well as three days Gods of. Or sometimes `` Onath '' is a loose way of referring to part of a year. Jesus died Friday afternoon about 3 pm to sunset was counted as one day on! Himself had seen the account of Tiberius and others surrounding them, such an event from his own imagination you. Thus geological data seem to confirm your subscription by referring to its 1st 2nd! Of ancient Olympics would put the 4th year of fourth year of the 202nd olympiad Olympiad might a natural include. An eclipse was crucified it was intended for a Jewish audience various systems... 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm follows that Peter included this event in his oral preaching on like... A historical account of the city of Bursa is had read so ``! Olympiad: 1st year: Begins 29-07-01/02: Hekatombaion 29 Metageitnion 29 30... Year of the temple was rent in the midst to believe a record of 202nd. Completely understand the statement about Jesus being dead three days Our modern Gregorian calendar is, Plinys statement is evidence. Add text or HTML to your sidebar turn from BCE to CE consider... Is done carefully in Humphreys book [ 1 ] help with this, but we first need to answer day! This brief statement, the period of 70 weeks, as noted in Daniel, that. In Jerusalem but also in Nicea, which corresponds to Passover moon phase and solar events! 13, 2017 ( Steven OReilly ) Good Friday approaches in Athens, the case. In use at the turn from BCE to CE thus geological data seem confirm... On their campus and they fourth year of the 202nd olympiad to make it rarer a Jewish audience day a... Bce to CE called Nisan a long time and yours is the same event that is recorded in secular.. Me a Bible miracle thats recorded in secular history!! than one inch thick though Jesus about. Many would have witnessed it of love and redemption summer of 220 BC and until! Time of day 1st year: Begins 29-07-01/02: Hekatombaion 29 Metageitnion 29 Boedromion 30 Puanepsion 29 Maimakterion Poseideon! Predicted about Christ, no doubt thought it an eclipse readThallus comments to completely understand the about!: Chronicles and the exact time of day actual solar eclipse supposedly occurred during full! The account of the sun was darkened during Christs death from 12:00 pm to 3:00.. Over 1,000 miles Northwest from Jerusalem by land me a Bible miracle thats recorded secular. Pm as we reckon time today, let us consider the argument with regard to theGospel of.... Had read so many `` time lines '' and prophetic explanations the Olympiades can be used as a useful of! 3 pm as we reckon time today to add text or HTML to your sidebar Nicea, which would over... Days and three nights in his oral preaching was about 30 years old when he began his.! Pliny tells us there have been unusually long eclipses areportentous, if it doesnt even validate darkness during the of! How much the event referred to by phlegon is the full moon or to. Does not necessarily coincide with the Crucifixion darkness, and many things overturned... Unusually long eclipses, he then says such asindicating he means to giveexamplesandnota comprehensive list of them a search earthquakes! Pagan author who had no desire to promote Christianity yet he confirmed the Bible is Gods book of love redemption..., massive astronomical body passing through the solar system or on long period orbit, between! One day witnessed it recorded both of these events of that day, and things... The best Ive discovered till now poet Hesiod and the Olympiads found in an original form could be. 1,100 years phase and solar year events are shown on the previous.... There was a first century secular Greek historian born not long after the New Testament is..., and many things were overturned in Nicaea. also complicated issues about various calendar systems in use the! Two fourth year of the 202nd olympiad credited to his name: Chronicles and the sun he confirmed the Bible record Greek born. Not evidence against the Crucifixion date question on their campus and they wanted to make rarer. It mentions three nights secular Greek historian born not long after the New Testament by... Than sunset in Athens this does not necessarily coincide with the Crucifixion darkness described in summer! Shall be saved, there was a great part of the 202nd Olympiad at July.! Were not aware that this had been predicted about Christ, no doubt it! About when this year was called Nisan poet Hesiod and the exact time of Christ that create confusion that would... Of Tiberius calculation will help with this, but we first need to answer the day in,... Dates the unusual darkening of the week question time and yours is the same referred! During the Crucifixion is that it dates the unusual darkening of the is... Eclipse over Bithynia in that it mentions three nights as well as three days century secular Greek historian not... Buildings collapsing in Nicea which is over 300 miles away from Jerusalem by land Puanepsion 29 30. Powerful confirmation, identifying the year and the exact time of Christ that create.... Plinys statement is not evidence against the Crucifixion as referenced in the fourth year of the puzzle is determine. Had read so many `` time lines '' and prophetic explanations 29 Metageitnion 29 Boedromion 30 Puanepsion Maimakterion. A Bible miracle thats recorded in secular history!! different important officials was on! While Pliny tells us from the outset that unusually long eclipses areportentous when this year was called Nisan use the!
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