Die geboortedatum van Christus as 'n historiese probleem

Pogings in die verlede om die geboortedatum van Christus vas te stel, het daartoe gelei dat datums so vroeg as 20 v.C. maar ook so laat as 2 n.C. voorgestel is. In hierdie artikel word die beperkte primêre historiese bronne noukeurig ontleed en kontemporêre interpretasies daarvan krities in oënskou geneem. Sterrekundige aspekte rakende die sogenaamde "ster van Betlehem" word ondersoek ten einde vas te stel in watter mate dit kan bydra tot 'n akkurater vasstelling van Christus se geboortedatum. Hierdie ondersoek lei tot die gevolgtrekking dat die geboortedatum van Christus in 5 v.C. of 6 v.C. (tussen Maart en November) vasgestel moet word. The date of Christ's birth as a historical problem In the past attempts to establish the date of birth of Jesus have led to proposed dates as early as 20 BC but also as late as 2 AD. In this article the limited primary historical sources are carefully examined and contemporary interpretations of these sources are critically reviewed. Astronomical information concerning the so-called "star of Bethlehem" is examined to determine to what extent it can contribute to a more accurate pinpointing of the date of birth. This examination leads to the conclusion that the date of birth of Jesus should be placed in 5 BC or 6 BC (between March and November).