Jesus Was Not Born in a Barn or Stable but a House 

What evidence strongly suggests that Jesus was born inside a Jewish home in Bethlehem, not a stable? Why was it necessary for Mary to be with Joseph to be registered? Were shepherds (as we often are told) looked down upon as untrustworthy in the 1st century? What is the significance of the manger? No animals are mentioned at Jesus' birth, so why is it common for an ox or donkey to be pictured there? These and other questions, Chad Bird will address in this week's Christmas edition of "Reading the Gospels through Hebrew Eyes," on Luke 2:1-14.
As an additional resource, see Ian Paul's article: www.psephizo.c...