Christmas Isn’t What You Think – John Nelson
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– VIDEO NOTES
John Nelson earned a PhD in New Testament and Christian Origins from the University of Edinburgh in 2023. His thesis is the first book-length study of Jesus’ physical appearance in the Gospels. He runs a weekly Substack called “Behind the Gospels” which aims to make Biblical studies accessible to all.
– LINKS
John’s Substack, “Behind the Gospels”: https://www.behindthegospels.com/
Buy John’s PhD Thesis: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/jesus-physical-appearance-9780567723208/
– TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Was Jesus Really Born on Christmas Day?
2:51 – Are the Birth Narratives Attempts at History?
6:34 – Where Was Jesus Actually Born?
16:19 – Were the Birth Narratives Added Later?
22:21 – Was Mary Really a Virgin?
34:24 – Why Does Nobody Else Mention the Virgin Birth?
39:06 – Was Jesus a Product of Adultery?
43:49 – Was Jesus Born in a Manger?
49:34 – Who Are the Magi?
55:32 – Was the Star Really a Star?
1:01:30 – Did Herod Really Order a Slaughter of Infants?
1:07:54 – Is the Christmas Story Anti-Imperial?
1:14:40 – Are Christmas Trees a Pagan Idol?
1:17:39 – John’s Book and the Upcoming Tour
– CONNECT
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——————————————

@CosmicSkeptic
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Get all sides of every story and be better informed at https://ground.news/AlexOC – subscribe for 40% off unlimited access.
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@ALavin-en1kr
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Being born in a staple next to animals is a polite way of expressing that Christ or Cosmic Consciousness comes from a transmutation of sexual energy into Christ or Cosmic Consciousness. That where it starts, not in the head instead with the energy used for procreation. This makes the monastic life understandable. It is personal and universal as well; the earth was void, virginal when creation began. This discussion is clueless. Does anyone out there teach how to interpret the symbol; it is sorely needed. This discussion is gag worthy.
@matt5347
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Santa told me my parents are not real
@matt5347
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Please tell John Nelson to get a YouTube channel please!
@glennwilkinson345
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Fascinating – I quite enjoyed this video. I wonder if more can be said about the Three Wise Men or Magi. They could be ancient astronomers as they kept their eyes to the stars and 'followed' a star. They could also be alchemists, as gold has alchemical properties of purity (Jesus and his parents prob don't need gold to buy stuff). And, they might be physicians as they broght frankincense and myrrh, both having medicial qualities used to induce birth, prevent blood loss, and relieve the pain of childbirth.
@llxqzs-t5l
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Why did bro pit himself as the thumbnail 😭
@calebjohnson9740
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
The only word to properly describe this guy is "delightful"
@ChibiSteak
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
1:08:06 fin
@JohnBarr-r5b
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
The Quirinius census (which Luke correctly reported in Acts) was motivated by mismanagement by Herod Archelaus, which dates the census 10 years after the death of Herod the Great. Attempts to fit the Quirinius census during Herod the Great's life are misguided, for this reason and others.
@JohnBarr-r5b
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Great video, but @5:27 – that is a mistranslation. It says the 'origin' of Jesus took place in this way, not the birth.
@pivotguydc1149
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
1:03:30 Then perhaps there WAS a census, but it was orchestrated by Herod when he learned of Jesus's birth so that he could take note of all the babies he needed to slaughter. Then it would make sense why a census would cause Joseph and Mary to move cities – so that they could flee one, rather than to comply with one.
@binyoung7297
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Beautiful accents from these two intelligent Englishmen.
@das_it_mane
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
No mention of Persian influence?
@Lado0817
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
The title of this YouTube video is odd since the person you (Alex) are talking to is Dr. Brant Pitre, a Catholic theologian. Not sure who John Nelson is, but your listeners seem to think that’s who you’re talking to. That being said, I’m very happy you have found this man who is one of the smartest, most enthusiastic and humble scholars I’ve ever encounter in my 74 years of searching for truth. Also “Christmas…”?
@knowliege
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
38:00 of course adult life expectancy wasn't as good. No vaccines. Nothing really in the way of antibiotics. Medicine and technology isn't that close to today. I'd say there were probably more wars but I wouldn't be confident that's true…
@xKessa
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Alex is really making Bible looks like fantasy book. Which it is… good job.
@세야애리-c1z2m
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
so when really was jesus born?
@THEMASKEDMASTER
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
0:12 Nope… The true holiday is on the 21st & it’s the longest night of the year. 1st day of winter. Xmas is a rip off.
@craigwalker1339
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
This is just a personal observation, not written in stone. Alex born in the southern US would be ugly imho. Born with his british accent and mind, he scores like a 7/10 (conservatively). So superficial of me, I know. Just saying….and more of an academic comment and curiosity of myself (living through the Trump years) than a diss or like. Enjoyed the viewpoints, learned a bit, thank you.
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
He died on Friday, and then Saturday was Sabot and so everyone was basically a Jew who stayed to bury him. All the Christians fled. So he had some like 15 min. funeral. His corpse would still be rotting up there.
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
I am not being persecuted, We believe in LITERALLY everything except that he died up there
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Bathsheba is in the Quran, Isa ( Jesus ) is in the Quran we celebrate his birth.
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
See people feel scared
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
OK well let me talk about Islam, let me challenge you. Jesus did not rise again.
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Speaking of accents, John Nelson has a certain accent. It'd alot like America, someone can have a New York Accent, then there is Minnesota, then Georgia. You just think how can people have accents when there is all this modern communication.
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
I often wondered if Mary Magdalene after fleeing for her safety as king Herod began to kill John the Baptist by having his head brought on a platter at a dinner party made her run to a far off land. I believe maybe somewhere in London. I think she began to speak out against the Christian faith. She just seemed like some rich woman from the levant/Middle East who couldn't decide what religion she was going to be. Was she into fortune telling, was she a Jew, was she a Christian ???
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
I didnt realize that my daughter being Catholic, Mary Magdalene and the Divini code was an attack on the Catholic faith. I think it was a Pope or Bishop that said she was a prostitue. They said Rehab was a prostitute also, She helped the spy in Jericho. She ended up Marrying one of the Spys. This is not to be confused with the 12 spies during Moses time. This was the second set of Spies.
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Chalking the door, with the three Magi first names. Christmas is celebrated to differently around the world.
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
I am protestant by birth, protestant upbringing. I am not Catholic and the wedding at Canna might be a Catholic thing. Da Vinci code was written by a Pennsylvania Dutch. What Elon Musk is said to be. They are Schwenckfeld. I have heard of Quackers, Shakers, Methodist, Mennonites, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptist ( I was born 50 % Baptist / 50% Church of England) Baptist Church of England. Which is why I am probably on this channel. I have hear of Amish. Apparently they were the first to bring Saffron. It's that flower stem/bud thing from Iran that turns rice and ice cream yellow in Iran. There is a Tehran + LA California U.S.A. called Tehrangeles. Witches used Saffron alot in there spells. They think this is them feeling from religious persecution to the Ottoman Empire where witches were free to live and do magic. This is an interesting discovery. Cheifs know alot about history. Historians could consult with them.
@charbelkhoury7936
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Am I crazy to say your guest today is a slightly overweight Nick Fuentes with glasses?
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
There is the wedding cat Canna, that was one of Jesus first miracles. This is Marys relatives and she is humiliated that they ran out of wine. He turns the water into wine. Alot of magic is done where people turn coke into a sprite. I think this was done to do away with magic. It's also to say that alcohol is permissible during the holidays. Muslims dont drink at all during this time period. All of the 12 apostles people at the last supper were have said to be there or maybe like 10 of them I never counted. He was about 30 at this time period.
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
18 years of Jesus life is missing or a mystery. The same goes for Prophet Muhammad ( Peace and Blessing be upon him). One began preaching Jesus at age 30 after his baptist by John. Muhammad (PBUH) age 40. One was a merchant, the other a fisherman. One an orphan the other born of a virgin. Muhammad ( PBUH) life has alot of missing details and is fragmented documentation of his life.
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
So Luke 2 talks about Birth of Jesus
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Magdelene was a jewish town near Galilee. She was possessed with 7 demons. People possibly removed this from the Bible early scholars. Jews believe Lilith was 1 of them. Do you think they were removed why does it not lost which 7? Anyway she had deep pockets, and so she was like this Jew who accidentally dabbled in witch craft and then become someone who witnessed his resurrection and was a close follower.
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
What about the three Marys, and witches use anagrams alot. Da Vinci Code says she could be someone Jesus took as a sex partner and he had a son. What I love about the Irish is the songs three Marys. Mary was a common name for converts. Mary was the sister of Moses. This is why. I always got her confused with Mary the Virgin wife of Joseph.
@bopitmaster2017
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Matthew and Luke, I didn't know about Luke cool to know
@Nunya7211
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Nobody spends more time with annoying voices and mutant faces than Alex
@Gamechecker6745
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
On the segment on the Star of Bethlehem, this documentary shads a fascinating light on the topic:
https://youtu.be/FJeLOuvJkoA?si=te5XqE8GvEhpRVpg
@CheyneTrammell
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
59:23 Mormonism gives a basis to a fascinating theory that: the Seer Lehi & his family were Messianic/Christians through divine visions and unadulterated scriptures and traditions pre-dating the Josianic reforms.
Upon leaving the holy land hundreds of years BC, they might have met the predecessors of the Magi who visit the Christ-Child and given them special knowledge, signs, and prophecies.
@NoorZanib-z8g
October 8, 2026 at 2:44 pm
Hazrat Isa (Jesus) was miraculously born to Mary (Maryam) in Bethlehem (Bayt al-Lahm), near Jerusalem, under a date palm tree by a stream, likely in the spring or summer.