Should Jesus have been born in the 21st Century?
It is a question that, at first glance, seems speculative: Would Jesus have had a greater impact if He had been born in our time, with modern communication, global travel, and the power of the internet? Would the 21st century have been a more fitting stage for the Redemption of mankind?
However, when we examine this question through the lens of Sacred Scripture, the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas, Pope Pius X, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we find that the timing of Christ’s Incarnation was no accident. Instead, God’s providence ordained the most fitting moment in history—the “fullness of time” (plenitudo temporis). To suggest that the 21st century would have been a better choice implies a lack of wisdom in God’s eternal decree. But is there any theological reason to believe this?
To answer this, we must examine:
The Nature of Divine Providence
Why Christ Came When He Did
The Challenges of a Modern Incarnation
The Immutable Wisdom of God’s Timing
By the end, it will become clear that while Jesus theoretically could have been born in the 21st century, He should not have been—for God, in His infinite wisdom, has already chosen the most perfect time.
1. Divine Providence: God’s Eternal Plan
Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, teaches that God’s providence is eternal and perfect (ST I, q.22, a.1). Unlike man, who makes decisions based on limited knowledge, God sees all things in one eternal act of knowing and willing (ST I, q.14, a.13). This means that God does not react to history—He directs it.
Scripture affirms this:
“The works of God are perfect, and all His ways are just.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)
God’s choices are not arbitrary. If another time in history had been better suited for Christ’s Incarnation, then God would have chosen it. The very fact that Christ was born when He was is proof that it was the most fitting moment.
This is a crucial point: God’s actions are always ordered toward the greatest possible good. If we argue that the 21st century would have been better, we must implicitly argue that God failed to choose the best moment for the Redemption. But God does not fail. “Deus enim non errat”—God does not make mistakes.
2. Why Did Christ Come When He Did?
St. Paul tells us explicitly that Christ came “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4). But why was the first century the ideal moment? Aquinas (ST III, q.1, a.6*) and the Catechism (CCC 457) outline several reasons:
A. The World Was Spiritually Prepared
For centuries, the Jewish people had awaited the Messiah, and their prophecies were well established. At the same time, the pagan world had reached a crisis—Greek philosophy had exposed the limits of paganism, and the moral decline of Rome had left people yearning for truth. Christ entered history at the moment when the world was most receptive to divine revelation.
B. The Roman Empire Provided the Means for Evangelization
The 1st century provided the infrastructure for the rapid spread of the Gospel:
Common Language: Greek and Latin were widely spoken, allowing missionaries to communicate across vast regions.
Pax Romana: A period of relative peace ensured safe travel for evangelists.
Road Networks: The Romans built an extensive highway system, which the apostles used to bring the Gospel to distant lands.
Had Christ been born in another era, these conditions might not have existed. The Gospel could have been confined to a single nation, without the ability to spread quickly.
C. The Passion Required a Public Execution
Aquinas teaches that Christ’s Passion was the means of our Redemption (ST III, q.48, a.1). This required a form of execution that was public, humiliating, and sacrificial. Crucifixion—reserved for the worst criminals—was the perfect fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy:
“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3)
Had Jesus come in the 21st century, He might not have been crucified at all. Would modern governments have allowed such a punishment? Would the Redemption have been fulfilled if He had died by lethal injection in a prison cell?
3. The Challenges of a Modern Incarnation
If Jesus had been born today, what obstacles would He have faced?
A. Secularism and Skepticism
Unlike the ancient world, which was religious by nature, the 21st century is defined by secularism, relativism, and materialism. In Pascendi Dominici Gregis, Pope Pius X warned against Modernism, which seeks to reduce faith to a subjective experience rather than an objective truth.
“Modernists pervert the eternal concept of truth, making it a matter of human consciousness rather than divine revelation.” (Pius X, Pascendi)
Had Christ come today, He would have encountered an intellectual world that dismisses miracles, denies absolute truth, and elevates science as the highest authority. Would His miracles have been dismissed as hallucinations or illusions?
B. The Influence of Mass Media
Some might argue that modern technology would have allowed Jesus to reach more people. But in reality, mass media might have been a greater obstacle:
His words would be edited, misquoted, and distorted.
He would be ridiculed by social media and late-night television.
He could be canceled or censored before His message could spread.
Rather than aiding the Gospel, modern communication might have buried it beneath noise and misinformation.
C. Would He Be Recognized at All?
In the first century, people longed for a Messiah. Today, most do not. If Christ came today, would people even care? Or would He be just another preacher in a sea of influencers?
4. The Immutable Wisdom of God’s Timing
Aquinas states that God orders all things to the highest good (ST I, q.19, a.6). This means that the Incarnation happened at the best time, not just a good time. If another era had been better, God would have chosen it.
Pope Pius X affirms this:
“God, Who in His providence has wisely arranged all things, disposed that Christ’s coming should be at the precise moment in which it was best ordered for the salvation of men.” (Pascendi Dominici Gregis)
This leaves us with an undeniable conclusion:
God’s timing is never accidental—it is always perfect.
The Incarnation was not about technology, politics, or media reach—it was about the Redemption of mankind.
To suggest that another time would have been better is to doubt God’s wisdom.
Conclusion: Christ Came at the Perfect Time
Could Jesus have been born in the 21st century? Theoretically, yes.
Should He have been? Absolutely not.
The moment God chose was the most efficacious for human salvation. The 21st century would not have provided better conditions—it might have made Christ’s mission more difficult.
But most importantly, Christ is still present today. He is not bound by time. He remains with us in the Eucharist, the Church, and Sacred Scripture.
Instead of questioning when He should have come, we should ask:
Are we ready to receive Him today?
As St. Paul reminds us:
“Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)