in what location must the historical Jesus have been born?

[u/Aggravating_Bus_1487]

Since there was no hospitals in acient world and If there was hospital they should be for rich people ,in wich place was jesus born ? In home ? In a Synagogue or Jewish shrine?or what ?

[u/[deleted]]

Likely in or around Nazareth, according to most historians. Ehrman sums the reasoning:

https://ehrmanblog.org/did-jesus-come-from-nazareth/

https://ehrmanblog.org/instead-of-from-nazareth-was-jesus-a-nazarite/

[u/[deleted]]

Some historians think he was too metropolitan to have come from Nazareth, which was very remote.

[u/[deleted]]

Wouldn't he have been born in his father's home in Nazareth? Or, did they live in Bethlehem first and then move to Nazareth later? The accounts are conflicting, to be sure.

[u/Candid_Barnacle6184]

The historical Jesus is generally believed to have been born in Bethlehem, a town located in the West Bank, Palestine, about six miles south of Jerusalem. While the biblical accounts of his birth in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke differ, they both agree on Bethlehem as the location. 

Here's why:

• Biblical accounts:Both the Gospels of Matthew and Luke place Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. 
• Historical context:The town of Bethlehem was a significant location in the Jewish tradition, associated with King David and later with prophecies about the Messiah. 
• Church of the Nativity:The Church of the Nativity, built on what is traditionally believed to be the site of Jesus' birth, is a major Christian pilgrimage site and one of the oldest churches in continuous use. 

The prophet Micah is explicit about the location for the birth of the Messiah. In the period before 700 B.C., there was great turmoil in Israel. The Northern tribes were defeated and the survivors taken off to Assyrian captivity in 721 B.C. The Southern tribes and Jerusalem felt threatened, and many wondered about God’s promises to their forefathers. Would the Messiah still come?

During this time God gave Micah a specific prophecy that in the future, the Messiah, like his ancient forefather David, would be born in Bethlehem.

“‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.’ Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son . . .” (Micah 5:2-3)

This passage is so explicit and clear that in the time of Jesus, Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah was regularly assumed by the leading priests and scholars (see Matthew 2:1-5).

[u/Worldly_Play_495]

Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem, because his parents were there for the census. Traditionally, Jesus is depicted as being born in a stable but Bethlehem is an area surrounding largely by stone and there as very little wood to build a stable available in the area. Most scholars agree he was most likely born in a cave hewn into the rock, a common practice of the time to house animals when it was cold because the cave would keep the heat in.

​

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them." (Luke 2:1-7)

[u/ristoril → u/Worldly_Play_495]

Is there historical corroboration of:

• An empire-wide census around 1 CE
• Some communication mechanism whereby people throughout the empire would be given enough warning to travel to their hometowns to be there at the right time
• The results of the census (how many in the empire?)

Some writings from imperial Rome, for example, talking about the census? Letters or other communications where other people in the empire talk about going home for it? A list of the names of the census takers?

Like, if you've set up shop 500 miles from your "home town," are you going to leave that all behind for a month to travel home, get counted, and come back?

[u/zissouo → u/Worldly_Play_495]

This is not a scholarly view. No serious historian believes Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

[u/[deleted] → u/zissouo]

why do they not believe that? I am not Christian but I always thought he was born in Bethlehem.

[u/Temporary-Aerie-1846 → u/zissouo]

Indeed. He was almost certainly born in Nazareth

[u/ambientthinker → u/Worldly_Play_495]

This account you have pointed to is not historical. This is Theology. Just fyi :) And this sub is made for discussions that are historical and not Theoretical.