A Matter of Days

A Matter of Days

Paul Taylor and Bodie Hodge

Biblical Authority Ministries, March 20, 2026 (Donate)

[This was an old response that Paul and I had put together to an email asking us about an alleged extra sabbath day surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection—an oldie but a goodie!].

All verses NKJV

There are all sorts of alleged difficulties with determining the dates of the crucifixion, and we would certainly not want to insist on Jesus’ crucifixion being on a Friday for traditional reasons—but rather for biblical reasons and our hope here is to explain this in more detail, but also understand that we are not being dogmatic about such a stance either.

Empty Grave; Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

Extra/Special Sabbath?

For many years, one author held to the view similar to that which you have expressed. However, Scripture is actually silent on there being an “extra” Sabbath at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. The text says:

John 19:31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

This is not to be confused with the “High Sabbath” in John 19:31, which is a Sabbath that falls during the Passover week or other Jewish festival. Jesus died the day before the Sabbath, i.e. the Preparation Day, which is the day before the Sabbath (Mark 15:42). Jesus died and was placed in the tomb on the Preparation Day (John 19:14; 42).

This Preparation Day happened to be the first day of Passover as well. Therefore, a more plain reading of the texts suggests that Jesus was indeed crucified on the day before the Sabbath, i.e. Friday. As the English word Friday was not used, we think this is as plain an indication that the traditional timescale is, in fact, the biblical timescale as we can get. There should be agreement that Jesus rose on the first day of the week, i.e. Sunday (Mark 16:9; Luke 24:1).

Some have suggested alternative timings, to “allow” Jesus to have died on the Wednesday or Thursday rather than the Friday. Holders of such a position have sometimes criticized the Friday–Sunday position as following a “tradition” of men, rather than Scripture, because the Scripture does not explicitly say that Jesus died on a “Friday”.

However, to have Jesus dying on a Wednesday requires the postulation of an extra Sabbath day on the Thursday, though nothing is mentioned in the Gospels. There is nothing in the text that leads us necessarily to suspect that the Sabbath was anything other than the regular Day Seven Sabbath. We want to emphasize that this is not, to us, a major point of doctrinal concern. The “Special Sabbath” analysis is certainly a valid analysis, maintained by people whose commitment to the authority of Scripture is sound. We would want to maintain that our own timescale is scripturally sound—and we believe it is to be preferred, as it does not require assumptions extra to the text.

Some have tried to push for an extra Sabbath by appealing to John 18:28 saying the Jews were looking to celebrate the Passover after Jesus was crucified. A friend suggested to us:

“In light of John 18:28, this would seem to indicate a Thursday crucifixion. This verse seems to indicate that the Jewish leaders were planning to celebrate the Passover following the crucifixion of Jesus – the next day, which began 3 hours after His death.”

A major problem appears with the Thursday crucifixion scenario by appealing to the Jewish leaders wanting to eat the Passover after Christ’s death…that would be saying that Jesus didn’t eat the Passover on the correct day, who ate the evening before. We doubt Jesus erred!

Leonardo Da Vinci's "The Last Supper" painting; Open source

It is true that they were planning on eating the Passover, but not the next day. John 18:28, is indicating they were wanting eat later that day, which was still the same day Jesus ate, but Jesus ate at the beginning of the day (evening in the Jewish calendar), whereas the others were wanting to eat later in the day.

Sir Robert Anderson in “The Coming Prince” calculated which days would have been Passovers for various years.[1] For example, AD 30 was a Thursday, AD 31 was Tuesday, AD 32 was a Monday, AD 33 was a Friday, AD 34 was a Tuesday, AD 35 was a Monday and AD 36 was a Friday.

If one wants a Wednesday Passover, they need search a while as AD 27 is the closest day they will find. One thing that seems overlooked too often is that John 2:20 establishes that Jesus’ first Passover was 46 years after Herod began building the temple, which was 17 BC. So, Jesus first ministry Passover would have been AD 30.

Jesus celebrated 2 more Passovers (John 5:1 and John 6:4) then the next Passover was His Crucifixion, AD 33, which occurred on a Friday. So, the beginning of the Friday (which is Thursday evening in our modern sense) is when Jesus ate the Passover, then was betrayed, beaten, put on trial and ultimately crucified.

This occurred on the Preparation Day, which was also the Passover that year immediately before the Sabbath, which was a High Sabbath because it fell during Passover week.

Significance Of The Passover

God has always been very strict about the Passover. When the firstborns of Egypt were struck down, the Lord gave specific instructions that were to be followed to the letter by the Israelites in Exodus 12. Throughout Israelite history, the Passover was among the most honored and sacred times of sacrifice. Recall that even Jesus, during his recorded 3 prior years of ministry diligent regarded Passovers (John 2:13; John 5:1; John 6:4). Even Jesus parents celebrated the Passover each year (Luke 2:41).

It would make little sense for God to be so strict with the Israelites to perform sacrifices on the Passover, and yet not have Jesus, who is the ultimate sacrificial Lamb, not be sacrificed on the Passover:

1 Corinthians 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Matthew 26:2 "You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."

Such leads to the conclusion that Jesus was sacrificed later the same day He ate the Passover. The great scholar Archbishop James Ussher affirms that Jesus was crucified on the Passover[2].

“Three Days And Three Nights” Or “The Third Day”?

This leads us to the seeming problem of reconciliation with the counting of “three days and three nights.” Yet, we have clear biblical evidence from the book of Esther that the biblical method of counting was not the same as our Western method. The table which we drew up here illustrates this.

Scripture needs to interpret Scripture within the relative context and culture. Old Testament Jewish culture equates “Three days and three nights” with “on the third day.” The scriptural basis for this was established here. Consider an example in Esther:

Esther 4:16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

Now, if the days and nights were counted in a Western way, this would result in Esther going to see the King on the fourth day. However, this is what we actually read:

Esther 5:1 Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.

Another example can be found in Samuel:

1 Samuel 30:12–13 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. So when he had eaten, his strength came back to him; for he had eaten no bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights. Then David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” And he said, “I am a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind, because three days ago I fell sick.”

There are other examples, with other numbers besides three, but this should suffice. This teaching is reinforced in the New Testament Jewish culture as well:

Matthew 27:63–64 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ “Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”

The above example is particularly pertinent. If the Chief Priests and Pharisees had counted in the Western fashion, they would surely have wanted the tomb to be made secure until the beginning of the fourth day, especially since they are referring to the danger of Jesus’ body being stolen “by night.”[3]

If one looks up the many passages of Christ’s death, one would find both instances of three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40) and on the third day (Luke 24:46) or even in reference to raising the temple in three days (Mark 15:29; Luke 2:46).

Church Fathers Equate Three Days With Three Days And Three Nights

Both Ignatius, John the Apostle’s disciple, and the early Church Father Irenaeus equated three days with three days and three nights:

“He also rose again in three days, the Father raising Him up; and after spending forty days with the apostles, He was received up to the Father, and “sat down at His right hand, expecting till His enemies are placed under His feet.” On the day of the preparation, then, at the third hour, He received the sentence from Pilate, the Father permitting that to happen; at the sixth hour He was crucified; at the ninth hour He gave up the ghost; and before sunset He was buried. During the Sabbath He continued under the earth in the tomb in which Joseph of Arimathaea had laid Him. At the dawning of the Lord’s day He arose from the dead, according to what was spoken by Himself, “As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of man also be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” The day of the preparation, then, comprises the passion; the Sabbath embraces the burial; the Lord’s Day contains the resurrection.”

“And the Lord Himself says, “As Jonas remained three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth.” Then also the apostle says, “But when He ascended, what is it but that He also descended into the lower parts of the earth?” This, too, David says when prophesying of Him, “And thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell”; and on His rising again the third day, He said to Mary, who was the first to see and to worship Him, “Touch Me not, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to the disciples, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and unto your Father.”

Because of the lack of clarity in the text on the actual day of Jesus’ crucifixion, we would not want to “start a new church over this issue.” We hope you will accept that the ministry’s view, represents a conservative evangelical interpretation of Scripture—in the same way that we accept that your interpretation is a completely valid conservative evangelical interpretation.

And as always, we want to encourage deeper study into the Scriptures. It is good to endeavor to be consistent in our use of counting the days but due to the passages in Esther, Samuel, and Matthew and other reason outlined, we would lean toward the Friday–Sunday type.

With kindness in Christ,

Paul Taylor and Bodie Hodge

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[1]  As indicated by Larry Pierce in James Ussher, The Annals of the World, translated by Larry and Marion Pierce, Second Printing December 2003, Master Books, Green Forest, Arkansas, page 822. 

[2] James Ussher, The Annals of the World, translated by Larry and Marion Pierce, Second Printing December 2003, Master Books, Green Forest, Arkansas, page 815. 

[3] It is true that this was stated the following day after the Crucifixion, but the point is that the two phrases are being used almost interchangeably.  We are not certain if this is in reference to the 3 days from when they say this or if they were looking back.  Regardless, it was under guard when Christ arose. 

Femur Tales

Femur Tales

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, March 19, 2026 (Donate)

For those following science news, a femur was found in Europe and it sets off speculation after speculation! In the magazine NewScientist, it reports the headline as,

“The first apes to walk upright could have evolved in Europe”.[1]

This femur is immediately analyzed within the worldview of the secular, evolutionary religion. This is done without question. They automatically presume—as a fact—that man evolved from apes in a uniformitarian timeline, so apes at some point had to change to walk like man.

Spassov et al 2026

So, they find a femur, presume it is from Graecopithecus, and get excited (they named the specific specimen "Diva"). The femur, no doubt, has unique aspects but not enough to be definitive even according to researchers. The final sentence of the NewScientist piece reveals,

“So, it’s quite difficult to know exactly what was the locomotor behaviour.”[2]

Stop for a moment and ponder this. The article is trying to convince readers that they found something that might help their evolutionary understanding of the problem of ape-to-man walking style. But in the end, they reveal that can’t really know if this femur supposedly did what they suggested it could.  

As a creationist, I love the find; but I openly oppose the religion of evolution by which it is interpreted. I don’t believe man evolved from apes but were specially created by God on the sixth day of creation. I look at this femur in light of what God says about history.

The bone means the creature is dead. Thus, it died after sin came into the world which began in Genesis 3. The bone was found in rock layers that are considered post-Flood as animals were migrating and repopulating in various places around the globe. Some animals, like this one, ended up in a location where these creatures appear to have gone extinct. It’s as simple as that.  

So, finding a bone or femur of a creature that has died in this sin-cursed and broken world should be more of a reminder of why we need a Savior in Jesus Christ to save us from sin and death.  

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields. 

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[1] Michael Marshall, The first apes to walk upright could have evolved in Europe, NewScientist, March 14-20, No. 3586, 2026, p. 5.

[2] Ibid.

The Doctrine Of The Fall Of Man

The Doctrine Of The Fall Of Man (Which Is The Foundation Of The Gospel)

Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, March 18, 2026 (Donate)

Introduction

A good friend of mine and mentor, Dr. David Menton, once said to turn to the middle of the Bible. As I started, he gently told me, “It’s Genesis chapter 3”. I immediately knew what he meant and grinned!

Genesis 3, the turning point of the entire Bible; Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

By his assessment, the entirety of the Bible can be broken into 3 parts:

·       Pre-Curse (Genesis 1-2)

·       Curse (Genesis 3-Revelation 19)

·       Curse Removed (Revelation 20-21)

Genesis 3 was the turning point for the whole Bible—the entire reason virtually all of the next 66 books of God’s Word was written!

The Fall of man in Genesis 3 brought immense change to the world—a curse, a broken relationship with God, and the need for salvation. From Genesis 3-Revealtion 19, God is solving the sin problem and being patient with man unto repentance. But that patient will only last a certain amount of time.

Many often say that the Bible should be read in terms of Creation, The Fall, and Redemption/Gospel. That’s one way of looking at it, since the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what allows sinners to get saved and enter into heaven—a perfect place for all eternity without the curse! And I have no problem with that use.

But I understand Dr. Menton’s assessment. The matter of sin needed to be dealt with properly and at the right time, and that is exactly what our Triune God did. We are living in the time after Gospel has been made known to us and we are waiting patiently for the revealing of the sons of God (Christians; Romans 8:14-19).

Because the Fall of man is of intricate importance, let’s discuss this doctrine—after all, it is the foundation for the Gospel!

God Made Everything Perfect (Pre-Curse)

God’s creation was originally perfect, lacking nothing and free from corruption. Scripture declares,

“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice” (Deuteronomy 32:4, NKJV).

At the culmination of Creation Week,

“God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good” (Genesis 1:31, NKJV).

There was no death, no suffering, no decay—only harmony between God, man, and the created order. Evil, after all, is not a created entity, but is instead a parasite due to one’s own desires (James 1:13-15).

Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were uniquely created in the image of a rational, moral, spiritual, eternal, and ruling God (Genesis 1:26–27—from dust and then from Adm’s rib and flesh). This means they possessed rationality, moral awareness, and spiritual capacity. Adam and Eve were not merely physical beings but had eternal souls.

Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden; Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

It also shows why God gave man dominion over the earth (something to rule over). Unlike animals, man was designed for fellowship with God and given dominion over creation. This is why the whole creation fell and when Adam sinned (Romans 8:22).

The Problem: God Must Punish Sin (The Curse)

Adam, as the covenant head of humanity, was placed in the Garden of Eden and given a clear command:

“Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat” (Genesis 2:16–17, NKJV).

This command established what theologians often call a covenant of obedience or probation, covenant of life. Though many simply call it Adam’s Covenant (Hosea 6:7). Adam was not created sinful but upright (Ecclesiastes 7:29), with the ability to obey or disobey (this is called the power of contrite choice). The warning attached to the command was severe:

“for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17, NKJV).

This death was not limited to immediate physical death but more of an ingressive sense—you will begin to die. In Hebrew the word for die is repeated twice in Genesis 2:17 (die, die), which slightly varies the meaning. It means you will start to die and your end will be death. As God said, they will return to dust (Genesis 3:19).

But this death also included a deeper and more devastating reality—our eternal souls will also receive an eternal punishment unless something can be done.

In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve rebelled against God. Tempted by the serpent, Eve was deceived, and Adam willfully followed her lead and ate after a conversation (Genesis 3:17; 1 Timothy 2:14).

Their act of disobedience was not merely eating fruit; it was a rejection of God’s authority and an attempt to define good and evil on their own terms. They basically elevated their own thoughts to supersede God and His Word. This is the essence of sin: lawlessness and rebellion against a holy God. It was essentially high treason against God.

The consequences were immediate and far-reaching. First, spiritual death occurred instantly. In other words, their relationship with God was broken.

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked” (Genesis 3:7, NKJV).

Shame, guilt, and fear replaced innocence. When God approached, Adam hid, demonstrating separation from the One he was created to commune with (Genesis 3:8–10).

Spiritual death means that the human soul is corrupted by sin. As Scripture later explains,

“the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:7, NKJV).

This doctrine is often referred to as being depraved—not meaning that man is as evil as possible, but that every aspect of his being is affected by sin (e.g., Romans 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:5; Titus 1:15). Humanity is now morally unable to save itself or seek God rightly apart from divine intervention.

Second, physical death entered the world. Though Adam did not die physically the same day, the process began immediately—as mentioned before. God declared,

“for dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19, NKJV).

From dust we came, to dust we will return; Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

Death, disease, and decay became universal realities. The apostle Paul later explains,

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men” (Romans 5:12, NKJV).

Third, the curse affected all creation. The ground was cursed, bringing forth thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:17–18). Labor became toilsome, childbirth painful, and human relationships strained. The harmony of the original creation was fractured.

This condition is inherited by all humanity because all of our lives were in Adam when he sinned. So when he sinned, we all did. Through Adam, sin is imputed or “transferred” to his descendants.

“For as in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22, NKJV).

This is the doctrine of original sin: all people are born with a sinful nature and stand guilty before God. As David confessed,

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5, NKJV).

The Solution: God Must Punish Sin (The Curse)

Because God is infinitely holy, He cannot overlook sin.

“You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness” (Habakkuk 1:13, NKJV).

His perfect holiness (often described as omnisanctitas) demands perfect justice (often described as omniiustitia). Sin against an infinite God carries an infinite guilt. Therefore, the just penalty is eternal separation from God, described in Scripture as hell—to clarify this separation is a separation from all His goodness and blessing.

God still upholds the existence of the sinner's soul (and body) in hell, just as he upholds Satan’s being in hell as well. One must note that Satan is a captive in hell and being punished by God as well. Many often mistake this and think Satan rules or leads in hell, but he doesn’t.  

Jesus Himself spoke of “everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46, NKJV).

At this point, mankind appears utterly without hope. Spiritually dead, morally corrupt, and under divine judgment, where we cannot rescue ourselves. No amount of good works (Isaiah 64:6, these are filthy rage to God!), moral striving, or "religious activity like attending church" can undo the guilt of sin.

“There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10, NKJV).

This leads to the essential question: how can a just God forgive sinners without compromising His holiness? The answer lies in the foundational doctrines that bridge the Fall and the Gospel: the doctrines of:

(1) substitution—where Christ was our substitute

(2) atonement—where Christ took the punishment for our sin on the cross in His death

(3) imputation—where Christ’s righteousness is transferred to us

(4) grace—where the eternal grace of God rests on believer who place their faith in Christ

Even in Genesis 3, God revealed the first promise of redemption. Speaking to the serpent (influenced by Satan who just sinned by his own prerogative), He declared,

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15, NKJV).

This protoevangelium, or “first gospel,” prophetically points forward to a coming Redeemer who would defeat sin and Satan. Where Adam led man into sin, Christ leads us out, hence is often called the Last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45). 

Image from Presentation Library

Additionally, God demonstrated the principle of substitutionary atonement when He made garments of skin for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). This required the death of an innocent animal, foreshadowing that sin requires a blood sacrifice. This innocence from the animal was basically transferred or imputed to one offering the sacrifice for a time to cover their sin. 

“Without shedding of blood there is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22, NKJV).

This means without blood, there can be no forgiveness. Throughout the Old Testament, this theme continues in the sacrificial system which began in Genesis 3:21. Animals were offered as substitutes, bearing the penalty that sinners deserved. However, these sacrifices were temporary and pointed forward to a greater, perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 10:1–4).

The Gospel is the fulfillment of this promise. God Himself provided the solution that man could never achieve. The second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, took on human flesh.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14, NKJV).

He was fully God and fully man—able to represent [all of] humanity and yet without sin. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, fulfilling the law that Adam failed to keep. Then, in the ultimate act of substitution [once for all], He bore the penalty of sin on the cross.

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24, NKJV).

On the cross, He endured not only physical suffering but also the full wrath of God the Father against sin. As Isaiah prophesied,

“the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6, NKJV).

This satisfied the justice of God and pleased Him (Isaiah 53:10). Sin is punished, yet mercy is extended. Christ appeased the wrath of God (Romans 3:25). It is also redemption, as He paid the price to free us from bondage (Ephesians 1:7), and reconciled us by restoring the broken relationship between God and man (2 Corinthians 5:18–19).

Christ’s work was confirmed by His resurrection.

“He is risen!” (Matthew 28:6, NKJV).

The resurrection demonstrates victory over sin and death and assures believers of eternal life. The response required is not works but faith. Salvation is a free gift of grace.

Peter and John at the empty tomb; Discontinued exhibit at the Creation Museum; Photo by Bodie Hodge

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8, NKJV).

One must believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, died for your sins, and rose again (Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

Thus, the Fall of Man sets the stage for the greatest display of God’s glory—the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Where sin brought death, Christ brings life.

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22, NKJV).

Conclusion (Curse Removed)

It is through Christ that we can be saved and enjoy His goodness and blessing for all eternity—with the God we love! We often call this “heaven” in a generic sense.

Perfect World (Pre-Curse), Intrusion (Curse), and Restoration (Curse removed); Image from Presentation Library

We have all fallen short and sinned against God—so we all deserve that punishment. But Christ took that punishment on Himself. We, as Christians, look forward to time when there will be no more curse, no more brokenness, and no more tears. There will be a new heaven and a new earth and we will have perfect fellowship with God forever (Revelation 21-22).

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.

 

Is St. Patrick’s Day A Christian Holiday?

Is St. Patrick’s Day A Christian Holiday?

 Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI

Biblical Authority Ministries, March 17, 2026 (Donate)

Introduction

Today is St. Patrick’s Day in the USA (and of course, Ireland). It is day to remember St. Patrick who was a Christian missionary who brought Christianity to the Island of Ireland. We know a lot about St. Patrick and what happened to him because he wrote about it in his writings, like his book “Confession”.

With so many citizens of America having Irish descent, St. Patrick’s Day is almost like an Irish heritage festival! I have Irish on my mother’s side of the family. So, I feel a bit accustomed to this particular day.  

The History Of St. Patrick

The historical Saint Patrick is far different from the later legends often associated with him. Patrick was born in the late 4^th or early 5^th century in Roman Britain, likely around AD 385–390, into a nominally Christian family.

 

Earliest Surviving Depiction of St. Patrick is Years about 300-400 years after in the Book of Armagh (c. AD 807).

His father was a deacon, but Patrick himself was not particularly devout as a youth. Around age sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave. There, he was forced to tend sheep. During this difficult time, he turned seriously to God, spending much time in prayer—in one sense, he probably felt a lot like Joseph.

After about six years, Patrick escaped. He returned to Britain and was eventually reunited with his family. Later, he, after he had grown in faith with Jesus Christ, sensed a strong calling to return to Ireland—not as a slave, but as a missionary to the people who had once enslaved him.

Patrick received some level of Christian training and was sent back to Ireland as a missionary. His work focused on preaching the gospel, teaching Scripture, and calling people to repentance and faith in Christ. Over time, many Irish people were converted, and churches were established. If you want to know more about how the Irish go back to Babel and Noah please see: The Tower of Babel).

Contrary to popular myths, there is no reliable historical evidence that Patrick drove snakes out of Ireland. Likewise, while he is often associated with the shamrock to explain the Trinity, this is a later tradition and also not found in his own writings.

The most reliable sources about Patrick come from his own literature, particularly his “Confession” and “Letter to the soldiers of Coroticus.” These books show a lot about his humility, his dependence on God, and his desire to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

From this perspective, Patrick should be remembered as a real historical missionary who endured hardship, trusted God, and faithfully preached the gospel in Ireland.  This is likely the reason he was honored in a holiday of his own by those who respected and knew what He did.

God Given Freedom

Man is made in the image of holiday-making God. We sometimes forget that God and His Word is the basis for holidays (holy days) in the first place.

God set aside certain holidays—feasts and festivals—in the Old Testament. Even from the beginning of Creation, God set aside the seventh day as holy (Genesis 2:1-2:3), and we still honor that as part of our weekly weekend celebration. Yes, even weekends are Christian holidays (Sabbath and the Lord’s Day).

Being creative, man often develops new holidays, mimicking what God did. In the Old Testament, the Jews came up with the festival of dedication/lights (Hannukah) which was an intertestamental holiday.

Jesus shows us the freedom and liberty we have to celebrate such a day, when He attended this festival at the Temple as recorded in the book of John.

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. (John 10:22-23, NKJV)

So, developing new holidays, whether St. Patrick’s Day, St. Nicholas’s Day (December 6), or Christmas is merely man emulating what God did and the hope is to glorify God in these celebrations.

Sadly, many secularists and unbelievers warp these holidays and paganize them and turn them into unholy events. To this, I suggest we pray for them and gently share and educate those about the truth of God, His Word, people like St. Patrick, and the Gospel during these times.

The Shamrock and the Trinity

The commonly repeated story that Saint Patrick used a clover (shamrock) to explain the Trinity is considered historically doubtful and…theologically misleading. (Yes, I love the Lutheran Satire piece here!)

A Shamrock; Image requested by Bodie Hodge (ChatGPT)

Historically, Patrick’s own writings—such as his Confession—never mention a shamrock (three leaf clover). The story appears centuries later in tradition, not in reliable early sources.

Theologically, the illustration itself can be problematic. Using one clover with three leaves leads to the idea that each leaf is only part of God, which is the error of partialism—the idea that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each one-third of God rather than each being fully God. Scripture teaches that the three Persons are distinct yet each fully and equally God, not divided into parts.

So the “error” is not something Patrick himself taught, but a later illustration that can unintentionally misrepresent the biblical doctrine of the Trinity.

Development Of The Holiday

The development of Saint Patrick's Day as a recognized holiday happened in stages. 

In Ireland

The day began as a religious feast day honoring Saint Patrick. It was observed by the Catholic Church by around the early 17^th century (formally placed on March 17, the traditional date of Patrick’s death). For centuries, it remained primarily a solemn religious occasion marked by church services. 

It did not become a public, celebratory national holiday in Ireland until much later—officially recognized as a public holiday in 1903 under British rule (Bank Holiday Act for Ireland).

In The USA

Interestingly, public celebrations came early and were very festive. Irish immigrants in America were known to be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in the 18^th century. One of the earliest recorded civic celebrations was in Boston in 1737, followed by New York City’s parade in 1762. These events were less about church observance and more about Irish identity.

However, in more recent times, old historical documents in Spanish show that St. Augustine, Florida was celebrating St. Patrick’s Day around 1601—over 100 years earlier.[1] But one must remember that Florida territory did not become USA territory until 1822, so there is that matter as well.

In the USA, St. Patrick’s Day is not an official Federal holiday (e.g., school closures, post office closures, etc.). However, Massachusetts and Georgia recognize it as a state holiday. Most other states simply treat it as an unofficial holiday.

Conclusion

St. Patrick was a wonderful Christian missionary who spread the gospel to Ireland. March 17, is the day he allegedly died, and is the day that is celebrated in various parts of the world to remember his Christian work. 

Much of the modern St. Patrick’s Day has become a Irish heritage celebration. In the past, people wore green to represent Catholicism and orange to represent Protestantism. Both colors appear on the Irish flag. Today, it has become more about heritage to wear green and orange on St. Patrick’s Day regardless.

But let’s not forget Christ, the very reason Patrick was moved to become a missionary that change an entire prominent island for God. So in this sense, St. Patrick's Day is essentially a Christian holiday. 

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Bodie Hodge, Ken Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.  

Bodie launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and universities. He is married with four children.

Mr. Hodge earned a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar, Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.

His love of science was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over 25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields. 

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[1] Frances Mulraney, Where is the oldest St. Patrick's Day celebration in the world?, Irish Central, 2018 (and updated March 14, 2026), https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/oldest-st-patricks-day-world.