How does one explain the ten year gap for the birth of Jesus in Luke vs Matthew?

Answer 1

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Both Matthew and Luke employ the common ancient practice of using a known historical event as a 'time marker'.

Matthew uses the coming of the wise men to Herod in a round about way, since it is known that Herod died in 4 BC, as verified by a lunar eclipse that occurred around the time of his death. He also indicates that the wise men, when asked of Herod stated that the star had appeared as much as nearly two years before, which is why Herod killed the young children up to that age. This means Jesus could have been born as early as 6 BC.

Luke uses a different marker, the census which was conducted when Cyrenius (Quirinius) was governor of Syria. see Luke 2:2. It is commonly assumed that Luke is referring to the well-known and controversial census conducted in 6 AD by Quirinius. This makes for a ten year time-gap if one assumes that an argument from silence is a valid argument.

Answer 2

The difference in the chronology of Jesus' birth between Luke and Matthew can be attributed to variations in the genealogies and historical accounts used by each Gospel writer. Luke focuses on Mary's perspective and highlights events related to the unique circumstances surrounding Jesus' birth, while Matthew emphasizes the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and portrays Jesus as the promised Messiah. These differences in emphasis and narrative style contribute to the variation in the timing details of Jesus' birth between the two accounts.

Answer 3

aymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) says the two accounts are "massively different" and virtually irreconcilable. On the apparent ten year gap, Brown says the best explanation is that, although Luke likes to set his Christian drama in the context of well-known events from antiquity, sometimes he does so inaccurately.

Another explanation comes from John Shelby Spong (Born of a Woman: A Bishop Rethinks the Birth of Jesus), who says neither of the nativity stories contains any historical truth.