Abbreviations Used in Ussher’s:~

• AM – Years of the world from Creation
• JP – Julian Year starting at January 1, 4713BC

After the year denoted by AM, one of four letters may be affixed

• a – autumn
• b – winter
• c – spring
• d – summer

4000a AM, 4709 JP, 5 BC

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of the most blessed virgin Mary at Bethlehem in the fullness of time. Matthew 1:25; 2: 1,5 Gal. 4:4 Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the inn. Luke 2:7

The birth of our Saviour was revealed by an angel of the Lord to shepherds who were waching their flocks by night in the neighbouring fields. They heard the words of a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill to men“. The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. They told everyone what they had heard concerning the child and came back praising and glorifying God. Luke 2: 8-20

4000b AM, 4710 JP, 4 BC

The child was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth and was given the name Jesus, as had been foretold by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:21

The wise men from the east were guided by a star and came to Herod at Jerusalem. When they were told that the birthplace of Christ was in Bethlehem of Judea, they went there and entered the house which was shown to them by the star that stood over it. They found the little child with his mother, Mary. They fell down and worshipped him and gave him their treasures of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They were warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, and so they departed into their own country by another way. Matthew 2: 1-12

On the fortieth day after her delivery, Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem to the temple, to present the child to the Lord according to the law of the firstborn. She offered a pair of turtle doves for herself, or two young pigeons, for she could not afford to offer a lamb. This was according to the Levitical law. Luke 2: 22-24, 27; Leviticus 12: 2-4, 6, 8

According to Ussher’s, when the wise men presented their gifts to the infant Jesus, Jesus was between eight and forty days old; Jesus was born in the autumn.

Leave a Reply