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How long did Jesus live? Can the Book of Mormon give us insight into when Jesus was born? BYU professor Dr. Jeff Chadwick says the Book of Mormon gives us the key to figuring out both Jesus’ death, but also his birth year.
Jeff: We only know that because of the Book of Mormon because Jesus has lived 33 full years in the space of the 3rd Nephi story. So, we know he’s lived 33 full years. I actually think he lives 33 years and a couple of months. He’s born in December of 5 BC and dies in early April of AD 30, which would make him like 33 and three months, but he lived 33 full years. That much is clear from the text of 3rd Nephi. He doesn’t live 34 full years. He is only 33, because his appearance in 3rd Nephi to the Nephites is dated to the ending of the 34th year. So, he’s been dead some time before the end of the 34th year gets there, meaning he only lived 33 years and whatever little time after that.
We also go deeper into the Jewish calendar. Check out our conversation…..
Check out our other conversations concerning dating Christ’s birth!
232: Juvenile Jesus a Jerk? Apocryphal Stories Say Yes (Wayment)
231: Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, & Birth of Christ (Chadwick)
230: Christmas Legends: Herod, Wise Men, the Star (Wayment)
229: Was Jesus Born in December? (Chadwick)
228: Separating Fact and Fiction on Birth of Christ (Wayment)