Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that he should be holden by it. (Acts 2: 14-24)[Emphasis and formatting added]. As explained, we believe that the darkness referred to by Phlegon is the same darkness referred to in Matthew 27:45. With this principle in mind, let us now consider the evidence. 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. There are no surviving records after this date. The sedimentation rate puts this second earthquake about 65 years after the 31 B.C. In Wadi Zeelim, located above the southwestern shore of the modern Dead Sea exists an outcrop of laminated Dead Sea sediment. Properly working out the Jewish calendar shows this to work for AD 33 (see C. Humphreys). Now before the accusations fly about me ascribing random astronomical events to this writing, consider this: these are the only two solar eclipses that occur within the time frame reference by Phlegon, and from 20-40AD there are only 3 other eclipses that could even possibly have been seen by Rome or the Persian Gulf; one in 20AD and the other two occur after 36AD. In his book Chronicle of the Olympiad he records a miracle mentioned in the New Testament. Some events regarding the life of Christ and the life of Paul the Apostle, which are mentioned in the New Testament can be dated. Now consider if this were either all fake or unauthentic; Christian historians have used this writing to cite as an extra-biblical account of the Gospel accounts and opponents have used the writing to discredit the theory as contrived. What Was Achieved By Jesus At The Crucifixion? Second, though the Passover week celebrations of the Jews are well understood, no written records exist regarding the calendar and New Moon from the time of Christ, as the Jews used them. College Press Publishing Co. Joplin, Missouri. He asks for your prayers for his intentions. 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. Such is the difficulty of the argument from silence. Remember that Jesus' baptism was shortly after the beginning of John the Baptist's ministry, which began in AD 29. The website for this is the National Geophysical Data Center (http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov). If your sunset occurs later than sunset in Athens, the event may occur on . Dont Panic! April 3 would be the Julian Calendar date; the same day on today's Gregorian calendar is April 1, 33 A.D. Julian dates are usually used by historians and Bible scholars for events in this time in history. The Bible is Gods book of love and redemption. He can be contacted at StevenOReilly@AOL.com. Unfortunately, no one of those three pairs, that is, recorded event vs. eclipse, is a perfect fit or a harmonious pair. However, history provides a sufficient answer as to why such documentary evidence has not survived on these topics of great interest. Thus the New Moon is not visible. 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. Ten Years Ago: Benedict confirms I am no longer the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, Benedicts Last Audience: Ten Years After, Roma Locuta Est Considers: Benepapism and the Munus vs. Ministerium (EpisodeVI), Is the Culture of Death creating the Remnant? Jesus Christ's crucifixion is one of the most important events in the history of the world. 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." Nisan was the month the Passover was celebrated, a very important time for the Jews commemorating their deliverance out of slavery in Egypt. 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. The time from Friday 3 PM to sunset was counted as one day. We believe that the period of darkness referred to by Phlegon is the same period of darkness referred to in the New Testament, since the event is unique. The dramatic story recorded above is fictional but the facts presented, namely Bible prophecy, Phlegon and Thallius writings, etc., are very true. Thus, if the quote is accurate, and Phlegon's eclipse has . Each recounts a fantastical or paranormal event. The reader should note that Phlegons comment that an eclipse of the sun occurred during Jesus death was impossible (see Thallus) since the Jewish Passover occurs during a full moon. 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. This information would be every unlikely to have been added at a later time due to its specificity in time. This argument is sufficient to diffuse the skeptics argument with regard to Pliny. 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. Some Christian scholars argue Jesus was crucified on Thursday and some even hold to a Wednesday crucifixion. 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 Jews counted days and nights as if a portion counted like the whole, they did not think in terms of ellapsed time as we do today. (Julius Africanus, Chronography, 18.1) [4]. whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. An earthquake occurred in Bythinia and overthrew a great part of the city of Nicaea" Otto Keller, Rerum Naturalium Scriptores Graeci Minores, 1 (Leipzig Teurber, 1877), p. 101., 2 Julius Africanus, Extant Writings, XVIII in The AnteNicene Fathers, ed. Phlegon, born about A.D. 80, was a secular historian who lived in the second century. For example, the first year of Olympiad 140 began in the summer of 220 BC and lasted until the middle of . 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. Thank you, Ive just been looking for information about this In fact, PlinysNatural Historyincludes a chapter entitled Of Unusual Long Eclipses of the Sun. Therefore, it seems atfirst glancethatthe skeptic is on to something when he points out that a three hour long darkness is nowhere to be found in this chapter. There are also complicated issues about various calendar systems in use at the time of Christ that create confusion. . Then you can go through a process of elimination to to rule out all these years except AD 33. 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. Read more . You yourselves have the account of the world-portent still in your archives. (Tertullian, Apologia 21) (Emphasis added). The span of distance between Bythnia and Jerusalem would have put the earthquake in a cataclysmic category, and the evidence confirmed by science supports that conclusion. 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. There is only one period of darkness lasting for three hours in the history of the world. There were Jewish, Christian, and Roman writers from the first and second centuries that refer to Christ and the crucifixion. Thus, a solar eclipse, which happens when the moon passes between the earth and sun cannot be a valid explanation for the Crucifixion darkness. This may seem hard to accept for some. Thus geological data seem to confirm the 33 AD date. But in the Jewish calendar the Jews would recognize the start of the new month by watching for when the new crescent Moon appeared in the evening, which would be after the conjunction. This year would be AD 29 from Roman historical sources. You can be sure that faith in God is not blind faith. While Pliny tells us there have been unusually long eclipses, he then says such asindicating he means to giveexamplesandnota comprehensive list of them. First, is what I would call deduction from all available information. 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. The facts were recorded in a historical account of Tiberius. 3: 32-07-28/29: Athene : 4: 32- . This earthquake did not center near Jerusalem exactly but it was strong enough to be very noticable in effects at Jerusalem if it did damage in Nicea. Last month: Next month: new 18:49 33/01/19 UTC : 1: 33-01-20/21: Noumenia kata Selene : 2: 33-01-21/22: Agathos Daimon : 3: 33-01-22/23: Athene : 4: 33- . But what has an eclipse in common with an earthquake, the rending rocks, and the resurrection of the dead, and so great a perturbation throughout the universe? This earthquake would have been massive to be felt in Israel and Turkey at the same timethink of the catastrophe! At His own free-will, He with a word dismissed from Him His spirit, anticipating the executioners work. Bursa is approximately 600 miles from Jerusalem. 12:40, Matt. In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (i.e., AD 33), 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. Though historical data may be sketchy on some issues sometimes, regarding Christ's crucifixion, the evidence we have confirming the New Testament is I think very persuasive. The earthquake on the other hand was a natural process miraculously timed to occur at the crucifixion. Someone shouted Show me a Bible miracle thats recorded in SECULAR history!!. Africanus make it rather evident that Thallus was specifically addressing this darkness i.e., the three hour darkness at the time of the Crucifixion and not any other. Phlegon provides powerful confirmation, identifying the year and the exact time of day. Thus says the LORD, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me . The New Testament in Matthew 27:45 records that while Jesus was on the cross there was darkness over all the land for three hours. Thesestatements reveal several key things: 1. The fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad was in 33 A.D.!!! Two short works by him are extant. Your email address will not be published. The maximum duration for a total solar eclipse is seven minutes, not three hours, and at the latitude of Jerusalem the maximum duration is even less. However, unlike the New Testament, of which there are 25,366 early copies, many of these ancient writer's manuscripts are fragmented. Therefore, the reason the apostles could confidently mention a three hour darkening of the sun is because it was an actual occurrencealready knownto many in their audiences either by firsthand experience or by word of mouth. And finally, if the crucifixion was on 3rd April AD 33 (Julian) then it is 490 years (70 . The gospel references where Jesus predicted he would rise in three days are Matt. Among these is a very interesting quote below from a Christian scholar quoting an earlier Roman historian named Phlegon (first and second century). Note that the path of this eclipse was over present-day Russia. Here, the skeptics case isseeminglymore plausible on first glance. An earthquake occurred in Bythinia and overthrew a great part of the city of Nica." [4] 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. Fr. We have already seen there is strong reason to believe a record of the Crucifixion darkness was held in the Roman archives. It is improbable that he would have created such an event from his own imagination. [3]. I am not convinced by this even though I believe in the darkness over the land when Jesus was crucified. The darkening of the sky I suspect was just a pure miracle, not caused by any natural phenomena. About two weeks after the New Moon is the Full Moon, which corresponds to Passover. He was athletically built and his firm, steady voice brought the audience to a hush. "In the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (i.e., AD 33) 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. They were not myths or literary devicesas skeptics or modernist biblical scholars might now suggest. Jesus ministry described in the gospels requires either 2 or 3 years, considering the number of times the Passover events occur in the gospels. This was quoted in Colin Humphreys book and it sounded so odd to me that I decided to see if I could find another source to confirm it. Jesus was born whilst Herod, the Great, was still alive; we know he died in BCE and on 1st April 4BCE. 3) the 4th year of the 202nd Olympiad; being commonly associated with the March 19, 33 CE solar eclipse. To God nothing is impossible. Next, let us consider the argument with regard to theGospel of Mark. This is done carefully in Humphreys book [1]. What constitutes good historical evidence? Adding these figures up, we find that Jesus began proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of heaven when he was 33 years old. Check Huffpost. April 13, 2017 (Steven OReilly) Good Friday approaches. The Crucifixion darkness could certainly have been one of these excluded eclipses. However, whether there was or was not a Crucifixion darkness, it can not be proven from Pliny. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. (Luke 23:44-45 ). 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. Jesus baptism was apparently not long after the beginning of John the Baptist's ministry. The gospel of Luke mentions that John the Baptist began his ministry in the 15th year of Ceasar Tiberius (Luke 3:1-3). Unfortunately for the skepticand a sign of his desperation as wellthe argument from silence is, perhaps, one of the most difficult types of arguments to make. Required fields are marked *. Here, too, we see an Apostle feared not to mention the event precisely because it was already widely known among his readers. It was recorded by a Pagan author who had no desire to promote Christianity yet he confirmed the Bible record! The Crucifixion is widely reported by numerous ancient writers. Historical Testimony He was dying as the newborn infant was being brought back from Egypt by his parents. Within each olympiad, time was reckoned by referring to its 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year. Solar eclipses during this time frame that were visible to that part of the world were rare, which puts obvious delimiters on when they occurred. (below) says it took place in the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad, which was 33 A.D. - which can be verified by clicking on the link following Phlegon's quote in red below. The first of the two speakers stepped forward again. This research again confirms Phlegons writing. 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 comes from how Jewish scholars would interpret passages such as in Jonah where Jonah was in the belly of the fish for 3 days and also in Esther where Esther prayed and fasted for 3 days when she went to speak with King Xerxes. Unfortunately, Africanus does not quote Phlegon directly. Phlegon was a Greek historian who wrote an extensive chronology around AD 137. "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." 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. Or has it been changed and contaminated by ambitious Christian defenders? The year given by Phlegon for this eclipse is the fourth year of the 202nd Olympiad (i.e., 33 A.D.), which is consistent with one of the possible dates of the Crucifixion (i.e., April 3, 33 A.D.). Even with the loss of the original writing, if the transposition of the original to the copy were to be altered, there would be significant doubt as to when the event occurred, or if, it even occurred. What miracles!!? AD 33 is a generally accepted year of His crucifixion. I did a search for the years 25 through 35 AD for the nation of Israel. It was calculated in four-year intervals. The evidence also shows it likely to have been a magnitude 5.5. 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. ", Africanus quoted a section of Phlegon's work as follows: "During the time of Tiberius Csar an eclipse of the sun occurred during the Full Moon.". /*