Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Experts now question the traditional belief that Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, citing inconsistencies in historical and biblical evidence.
Scholars suggest Jesus may have been born in his hometown, Nazareth, as there’s no strong evidence linking his birth to Bethlehem.
The Bethlehem story may have been added later to align Jesus' birth with the Old Testament prophecy of the Messiah coming from the city of David.
The Roman census mentioned in Luke’s Gospel likely didn’t happen, challenging the narrative of Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem.
Archaeologists like Aviram Oshri propose a second Bethlehem in Galilee, closer to Nazareth, as a potential birthplace of Jesus.
Excavations in Bethlehem of Judea and Nazareth reveal pottery and artifacts dating to Jesus' time but offer conflicting evidence about his birthplace.
Credit: Felix Bonfils/Wikimedia Commons
Excavations in Nazareth suggest a deeply religious and anti-Roman community, shaping Jesus’ upbringing and possibly influencing his teachings.
The earliest Gospel, Mark, omits Jesus' birth, and Paul, who knew his family, never mentions Bethlehem, fueling doubts about its historical accuracy.
Professor Helen Bond suggests the Nativity story may serve as poetic symbolism to emphasize Jesus’ significance rather than historical fact.