JOSEPHUS IS A HISTORIAN THAT PROVIDES US WITH DETAILS OF EVENTS OTHERWISE FORGOTTEN. Not Only Is The Roman Demolition Of Jerusalem Recorded, But Also Crucial Details That Permit Us To Get A Grip On The Dates For The Birth And Death Of Jesus of Nazareth. There are numerous debates over this but let's narrow down the facts.

How do we begin harmonizing the 46 years in John 2:20 with a crucifixion in AD 31, based upon the evidence from the coin stamped with Tiberius' regnal year 17 = AD 31 (i.e., his reign began in AD 14).

The contradicting view from a traditional mindset has Herod dying in 4 BC and Jesus birth in 6 BC, making Him about 30 in AD 24/25, with His crucifixion supposedly occurring in AD 29/30, after a 3.5 year ministry.   This view throws out the narrative for John 2:20 being spoken just after Jesus' baptism.  This timeline conflict needs to be addressed.

When did Herod actually begin building the Temple? Was it in 20 BC — or later, such as early 17 BC?

Let’s break it down with historical, textual, and archaeological evidence.

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📜 1. What Josephus Says (Primary Source)

Josephus, Antiquities 15.11.1 (§380–421):

Herod made plans in the 18th year of his reign to rebuild the Temple.

Herod began this project after gaining the people’s consent, offering incentives, and assembling materials.

• Herod’s reign began in 37 BC (by Roman appointment), but he didn’t conquer Jerusalem until 36/35 BC.

• Counting from 37 BC, his 18th year is 19/18 BC.

• Counting from 35 BC, the 18th year is 17/16 BC.

But crucially — Josephus distinguishes planning from execution and points out the magnitude of the works.

He writes:

“The work itself was of such a magnitude that it was not finished in less than eight years for the sanctuary itself, though the surrounding buildings and additions went on for decades.”

Further, he says:

• The actual rebuilding began in the 18th year of his reign.

• He began by removing the old structure after preparing the new stones and materials.

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🔨 2. Possible Timeline Based on Josephus

Event	Approximate Year
Announcement / Planning	Late  20 BC
Material gathering and preparation	Late  20 BC – 18 BC
Actual reconstruction begins	Late 18 BC
Sanctuary completed	~10 years later (by ~8/7 BC)
Outer courts and adornments continue	Until ~AD 63 (finished by Agrippa II)

So we could say that:

There is a valid historical basis to distinguish between “planning” in 20 BC and “building” in 18 BC.

This distinction makes it possible to synchronize:

• 46 years of construction by AD 29

• Ministry beginning in AD 29 (15th year of Tiberius)

• Crucifixion in AD 31

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📅 3. Math Check: AD 29 minus 46 Years = 18 BC

Event	Year
Temple construction begins	mid to late 18 BC
+46 years	AD 29 — matching John 2:20
Jesus' baptism (Luke 3:1)	AD 29
Crucifixion	April 25, AD 31 (17th year of Tiberius)

This harmonizes everything — the Temple statement, Tiberius’ regnal years, and the AD 31 crucifixion.

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🧱 4. Is There Archaeological Confirmation?

Archaeology confirms Josephus’ account in key ways:

• The Western Wall foundation and massive Herodian stones align with a construction beginning in the late 1st century BC.

• The Court of the Gentiles, Royal Stoa, and massive retaining walls are Herodian in style and technique — these require years of preparation and foundational work.

• The scale and engineering required would easily justify a multi-year preparation period before visible vertical construction.

So while archaeology doesn’t date the exact start to 18 BC, it fully supports Herod’s construction beginning in that timeframe.

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✅ Final Synthesis

Key Marker	Traditional View	Harmonized View
Herod begins Temple	Late 20 BC (announcement)	18 BC (actual work begins)
46 years complete	AD 27	AD 29
Tiberius Year 1	AD 12 (co-regency)	AD 14
Tiberius Year 15 (Luke 3:1)	AD 26	AD 29
Crucifixion	AD 30	AD 31 (April 25)

Here is an example: born on 2nd April, 18 BC, still 46 years of age in AD 29.

🎉 Born 1st January, 18 BC celebrates 47 years old on 1st January, AD 30

Here’s why:

There is no "year 0" between 1 BC and AD 1 — the calendar transitions directly from:

• 1 BC → AD 1

So, to calculate:

1. From 18 BC to 1 BC = 17 years

2. From AD 1 to AD 30 = 30 years

Total = 17 + 30 = 47 years

The Harmonized View is not a stretch — it's a natural reading of the historical sources:

Herod announced and planned the project late in 20 BC,
but actual construction began until in 18 BC allowing the Jews in John 2:20 to say “It has taken 46 years to build this temple…” in AD 29. This would also fit in with an actual mid to late 18 BC date because of the way people speak, indicating that 46 years had passed but not yet 47 years, if the work had begun June 18 BC.

Josephus says that work began in the 18th year of Herod (37/36 -18 yrs = 19/18 BC as the first year of Herod was the twelve months that were part 37 BC and part 36 BC expressed 37/36 or 36/37 BC). Thus, someone born 1st April, 18 BC would turn:

        🎂 47 years old on 1st January, AD 30, the person having lived 46 years during the year 29AD.

When it comes to John 2.20, had work on the Temple begun June or later in 19 BC, saying prior to the Passover of AD 29 that it has taken 46 years so far to build the temple would be correct.