Christian Era Calendars Copyright: 1995
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Readers that delight in having knowledge of the Holy Bible will
supplement their understanding of the New Testament with the latest version of Christian
Era Calendars. The four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, were written between about 70 A.D. and 130 A.D. At the time
of writing, the apostle authors were primarily Jewish sectarians that used
traditional Jewish Calendar reckoning. The earliest
form of the Roman solar calendar likewise influenced New Testament scriptures.
Emerging Christianity would share a dual calendar system of time recording.
Consider that the Jewish Calendar is still in use in
our modern times and that the Roman solar calendar has evolved to become
universally applied as the calendar we use today. Comparing both the Jewish Calendar and the Roman Calendar discovers deeper insight for
Holy Bible study. Christian Era Calendars tracks some 2,000 years of
world history.
God ordained the Sabbath Day as a special day for all
Judeo-Christian heritage. Christianity celebrates the
sacred seven day week according to the solar calendar. Christian observance of
Sunday begins at Saturday
Contemporary Messianic Judaism respects both Jewish and Christian
philosophies regarding the sacred Sabbath day observance. The fact that either
faith repeats seven days of the week to uphold the Sabbath forms the spiritual
backbone of lunar and solar calendars. Religious direction for humanity stems
from early Biblical generations, customs, and traditions. Supporting the
Sabbath day as holy is mandatory in both theologies. The Sabbath was
established by the Ten Commandments. Work accomplished on that day should be
done for God, and humanity. Saturday is the Shabbat of Jewish culture, and
Sunday is the Sabbath of Christianity. The seven day week galvanizes religious
observation of the calendar year.
The idea of Sabbath was a continuance of Jewish lore. Final position of a
Christian Sabbath on Sunday arose from the growing movement and a series of
calendar modifications. Broader concerns of the calendar functions are visible
by surveying roughly 400 years worth of history. Christian Era Calendars
attempts to mix factual evidence about time recording with the spiritual,
supernatural realm that is made manifest in The Word. Seriously approaching aruva,
or the crossover transition from Old to New Testaments enlarges our view of
Messiah Christ. Calendar dates and years, and the numbers involved, are mere
fragments of the co-eternal time that subscribes to sovereign rule by our Lord.
Two main calendar identities were in service that lead
into the phase of the New Testament era. Upon the Roman calendar would be
impressed certain Christian based celebrations. The Roman solar calendar was
adjusted according to governmental controls and worship patterns of the
emerging Christian church. Feasts and festivals from the
Jewish Calendar were incorporated into the calendar of the
In the year 45 B.C., the Egyptian solar calendar was adopted by the
Christians that live by the New Testament will aid their understanding of
the gospels, and other works of the Apostles, by noting the Jewish Calendar was in effect for the writings of the early
Christian Church. The former Roman solar calendar had been based on 10 months
of 36 days each, plus 5 special festival days following the winter solstice.
The
Jesus fulfilled the scriptural prophecies of the Old
Testament in the New Testament. Among the many prophets were Hosea, Micah,
Zechariah, Malachi, and especially the 8th century B.C. prohet,
Isaiah. Christianity emphasizes the prophecies, and the steps to completion.
Many feel the predictions were totally independant of
calendar deployment. The Almighty could have chose any
time and any place for fulfillment. On the other hand, time is the critical
factor to any foretold event. The yardstick used to measure this phase of time
passing is, of course, the calendar.
For early Christians, the Jewish Calendar
sequence of lunar observation was the more familiar method for keeping track of
months and years. The sun, moon, and stars are natural timekeepers that govern
the Jewish Calendar. Based on the now traditional 19
year lunar - solar cycle, Judaism followers throughout the world agree on
specific worship times.
To fully realize the eternal nature of our heavenly Father, and the works
of his son: Messiah Christ, the revelations of the calendar must be addressed.
A thorough background of New Testament calendar reasearch
must underline elements of faith long since agreed to. Chiefly, the Jewish Calendar and Roman solar calendar were distinctly isolated,
parallel versions of time recording until the life of Christ. The scriptures
are the only means of bridging between the two forms of calendar usage.
Historical evidence also suggests that both types of calendars were partially
transitional. World time recording had reached an important impasse. Luni-solar calendar patterns, such as the Jewish and Greek,
had been predominant until the onset of Christianity. The Roman shift to a
strictly solar calendar under Julian Ceasar expanded
with the growing
At the time of Christ, most observant Jewish believers worshipped
according to a 19 year calendar pattern. Known as the 19 year Metonic Cycle, the Jewish Calendar
employs complete lunar months. Each lunar month began with the New Moon
Sanctification by recognition of the Sanhedrin (often referred to as Council,
Matthew
The Jewish Calendar below is the
most widely known luni-solar calendar still in
continuous use in our modern times. The fundamentals of the Jewish Calendar
year are simple when one understands the system used. Twelve complete moon, lunar months that average about 29.5 days each amount
to one regular lunar year. Twelve mature lunar months multiply by 29.5 days per
lunar month for 354 days to approximate the lunar year (Eqn.
1).
Eqn. 1
29.5 Days per Lunar Month X 12 Lunar Months = 354 Days per Lunar Year
Time differences between lunar and solar calendar years provide luni-solar calendar adjustments, or intercalations.
Subtraction yields 11 days of luni-solar separation
time between the lunar year of 12 moon months, and the solar year of about 365
days (Eqn. 2). Eleven days of difference every year
were the staple for luni-solar calendars. During 19
years, 11 days of luni-solar separation time every
year multiply this division between lunar years and solar years (Eqn. 3). Luni-solar separation
time measures 209 days of difference after 19 years have passed. Therefore, any
19 year lunar-solar calendar cycle had to incorporate these remaining 209 days
of separation as intercalary days in order to catch up the lunar side of the
calendar, with the solar side of the calendar. Intercalary systems varied
between cultures to compensate calendar recording.
Eqn. 2
365 Days per Solar Year - 354 Days per Lunar Year
= 11 Days of Lunar - Solar Separation Time per Luni-Solar
Calendar Year
Eqn. 3
11 Days of Separation per Luni-Solar Calendar Year x
19 Years per Luni-Solar Calendar Cycle
= 209 Days of Separation per 19 Year Luni-Solar Cycle
and Approximates to 210 Days of Separation per 20 Year Luni-Solar
Calendar Cycle
The Jewish Shabbat begins just before sunset of the evening before the
day of celebration. Shabbat commences on Friday evening. Proper religious
tradition toward Shabbat and other holidays within the Jewish Calendar is maintained by following service obligations.
Shabbat repeats once every seven days, although each Shabbat is uniquely
different. Lunar sequences are the mainstay of the Jewish Calendar,
and are the foundation of Judaism.
The four seasons are an important aspect of the Jewish calendar. The
solar calendar year of about 365 days was proven by trail and error over many
years. Time differences between lunar and solar calendar years were the basis
for luni-solar calendar adjustments, or
intercalations. Early people had to know planting and harvesting times for the
crops they raised in order to survive. The Jewish Calendar
was anchored at the time of Moses. In preparation for the Exodus, Jehovah
directed Moses to commence the Jewish calendar (Exodus 12:2). The calendar
served the emerging slaves.
Since the beginning of recorded chronology, the Jewish Calendar
has been in effect. Minor changes, modifications, and intercalations have
caused slight variations in the Jewish luni-solar
calendar since earliest days of the Creation. The concept of a 19 or 20 year
cycle involved with a luni-solar calendar branched
many times over thousands of years. Religion and governmental rule always
compromised to manage society. While other civilizations, kings and dynasties,
and empires, rose and fell, the Jewish Calendar was
consistent in basic format.
The Jewish Calendar is dated
according to the Creation. Accepted tradition begins the Jewish Calendar at 3,761 years before the present Christian era
(BCE), or from the time of Adam. Given in chapter 5 of Genesis, exact ages of
Adam and his descendants are added in order. Comparatively little calendar
information remains to suggest this starting date some 5757 years ago.
Agricultural tasks once marked certain seasons within the Jewish Calendar. Beginning in the fall: sowing, barley harvest, and
the gathering of fruits were seasonal examples of feasts and festivals that
would embrace the oldest calendar mechanics in existence.
Sacred calendar periods describe natural motion of the sun and moon. God
divided, separated, or was coming between day and night. Complete lunar months
and seven day weeks were the prime instruments of time keeping. Since the early Israelites depended upon crop production for
survival, planting and reaping times had to fall nearly the same time every
solar year. Intercalations were, and still are, necessary to keep the
lunar year of twelve months on track with the 365 day solar year.
In the very ancient Bible times of Genesis, the Jewish Calendar
shared common traits with other calendars. Lunar - solar calendars abounded
throughout the Holy Lands. Luni-solar calendars were
used by the ancient Greek, Sumerian, and Babylonian cultures. In the Orient,
the ancient Chinese utilized 19 year luni-solar
calendar cyles. South and Central American groups
such as the Aztec, Inca, and Maya societies practiced variations of sister luni-solar calendars. Similar to later calendars, the
Jewish Calendar was in service at the time of Adam.
The Jewish Calendar measured the ages written for Adam
and his descendant family. The flood of Noah, and the
first five books of Moses likewise used the Jewish Calendar. The most basic
time recording procedures are entrenched throughout world history.
Click for more about the Jewish Calendar.
New Testament reckoning is predominently
measured according to Passover festivals. Beginning just after sunset, the
Passover is an entire week long Sabbath holiday. Jesus and the apostles were
observant according to the customary Jewish feast and festivals. Luke 2:41
mentions that Christ was raised by his parents, Joseph and Mary, in a traditional
Jewish family setting. Most references indicate the following story took place
during years 7-8 in A. D. reckoning.
Luke
As a boy about 12 years old, Christ tarried behind at the temple to
"...be about my Father's business". The story begins a direct
affiliation with the Jewish Calendar, namely the
festival of Passover, for life of Christ. The annual pilgramage
journey to
New Testament chronlogy is also dependant on
another scripture that identifies the beginning of ministry. Following Baptism
by John the Baptist, and descent from heaven by the Holy Spirit, Luke
Luke
To see this verse in a brighter light, several interesting points need to
be commented upon. The Christian date, 26 A.D. is usually given for the start
of public ministry. Differering translations have
drawn conclusion from Numbers 4:47, that have
saturated Christian thinking at large. Finally, Matthew
Numbers
Levites undertook their service at the age of thirty, which was also
considered to be the age of maturity. Aligning the beginning of public ministry
is the harmony of the gospels. The Baptism of Jesus was immediately followed by
the decent of the Holy Spirit, in bodily form - like a dove.
A voice booming out from heaven then said: "Thou art my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased" Matthew
One of the most important scriptures dealing with Christian chronology is
the binding announcement of Jesus.
Matthew
John 10:22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of
the dedication, and it was winter.
Continue Christian Era
Calendars with the Origins of Easter and
Christmas.
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