This page is part of our Christian holidays in the Bible series and follows the season of Advent. For a step-by-step retelling, read the nativity story; to check what you remember, try the Christmas Bible quiz.
Is Christmas in the Bible?
The birth of Jesus is; the holiday is not. The New Testament never commands a celebration of his birth or says on what day it happened. Christians in Rome were celebrating it on 25 December by the fourth century, and the date spread from there. Most churches celebrate on 25 December; Orthodox churches that follow the older Julian calendar celebrate on 7 January.
Where is the Christmas story in the Bible?
Only two of the four Gospels describe Jesus’ birth, and each tells it from a different angle. Mark begins with Jesus as an adult; John opens with a reflection on who Jesus is rather than a birth narrative.
| Matthew 1–2 | Luke 1–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Point of view | Joseph | Mary |
| Opening | A family tree from Abraham to Joseph (1:1-17) | The birth of John the Baptist foretold (1:5-25) |
| Announcement | An angel to Joseph in a dream (1:20-21) | Gabriel to Mary in Nazareth (1:26-38) |
| Visitors | Magi from the east, following a star (2:1-12) | Shepherds told by angels (2:8-20) |
| Afterwards | Escape to Egypt; Herod’s massacre; settling in Nazareth (2:13-23) | Presentation in the temple; Simeon and Anna (2:21-38) |
| Prophecies cited | Several, e.g. Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2 | Fewer; songs by Mary, Zechariah and Simeon |
What happened, in order
- Gabriel tells Mary she will bear a son, Jesus (Luke 1:26-38).
- An angel tells Joseph in a dream to take Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:18-25).
- A Roman census takes Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-5).
- Jesus is born and laid in a manger (Luke 2:6-7).
- Angels announce the birth to shepherds, who come to see (Luke 2:8-20).
- Jesus is named and presented at the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 2:21-38).
- Magi arrive, guided by a star, and bring gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:1-12).
- Warned in a dream, the family escapes to Egypt, later settling in Nazareth (Matthew 2:13-23).
Note that the Magi are not at the manger in either Gospel. Matthew places them at a house (Matthew 2:11), probably some time after the birth, and never says how many there were. The number three is a tradition based on the three gifts.
Key Christmas verses
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!”
Luke 2:10-11 (BSB)
“She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).”
Matthew 1:21-23 (BSB)
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 (BSB)
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 (BSB)
John 1:14 is the shortest summary of what Christians celebrate at Christmas, often called the incarnation: the eternal Word becoming a human being.
How do Christians celebrate Christmas?
- Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches often hold a midnight or late-evening service on Christmas Eve and keep the twelve days of Christmas until Epiphany on 6 January, which remembers the Magi.
- Many Protestant churches hold candlelight services with carols and the readings from Luke 2 on Christmas Eve.
- Orthodox churches end the Nativity Fast with services on the eve and day of the feast, on 25 December or 7 January depending on the calendar.
- Many families read Luke 2 aloud before opening presents or set up a nativity scene.
A family Christmas Bible study
Four short sessions for the days around Christmas. Each takes 15–20 minutes and works with children aged about seven and up.
| Session | Read | Talk about |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The promise | Isaiah 9:2-7; Micah 5:2 | What did people hope for? Which names in Isaiah 9:6 do you like best? |
| 2. Two surprised people | Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25 | How did Mary and Joseph each respond to the news? |
| 3. The night of the birth | Luke 2:1-20 | Why might God announce the birth to shepherds first? |
| 4. Visitors from far away | Matthew 2:1-12 | What did the Magi give, and what can we give? |
Readings for the twelve days of Christmas
From Christmas Day to the eve of Epiphany, one passage a day: Luke 2:1-20, Luke 2:21-40, John 1:1-18, Matthew 2:1-12, Matthew 2:13-23, Galatians 4:4-7, Hebrews 1:1-4, Colossians 1:15-20, Philippians 2:5-11, Titus 2:11-14, 1 John 1:1-4, Isaiah 60:1-6.
In summary
- The birth of Jesus is told in Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2; Mark and John do not describe it.
- Matthew follows Joseph and the Magi; Luke follows Mary and the shepherds.
- The Bible gives no date; 25 December (or 7 January for churches that use the Julian calendar) is church tradition.
- The Magi visited a house, and the Bible does not say there were three.
- Key verses: Luke 2:10-11, Matthew 1:21-23, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:14.