Christian Worldview Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Prep

Dating Jesus' birth relies on historical anchors and how the calendar works. A key anchor is Herod the Great, who is said to have reigned and died around 4 BCE. Placing Jesus’ birth before or during his final years fits well with that timeline, so many scholars estimate the birth around 4 BCE. Another important calendar detail is that there is no year zero; the sequence goes from 1 BCE directly to 1 CE, so a date like 0 A.D. isn’t possible.

So, choosing around 4 BCE aligns best with the historical marker of Herod’s death and the overall timeline, even though the exact year is uncertain. Dates like 1 A.D. would be after Herod’s death and don’t fit the anchored timeline, while 6 BCE is plausible but not as tightly supported as 4 BCE.