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In order that Judea could be taxed on the same basis as the rest of the Roman Empire, Quirinius was to undertake a census in Judea as soon as possible after he took over. This was the first census to affect part of Palestine, but did not involve Galilee, as that territory was ruled by another of Herod's sons, Herod Antipas. The census took place in 6 CE, but possibly quite early in 7 CE.
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What month was the King Herod census taken?
Because of the account in Luke's Gospel, historians have spent considerable effort in establishing the facts of this census, said to have occurred during the reign of King Herod and when Quirinius (or Cyrenius) was governor of Syria.They find that, in spite of Luke 2:1, there never was a census during the reign of Augustus. They have also established that Quirinius only became governor of Syria in 6 CE, ten years after the death of King Herod, and that he appears never to have held a less prominent position in Syria previously. They find that the Jewish historian, Josephus says that the census under Quirinius was indeed the first Roman census taken in Palestine.Scholars say that if there had been a Roman census during the time that Herod was alive, it would not have included Galilee or Judea, since Herod ruled autonomously and was responsible for raising his own taxes. In fact, the census described in the Gospel of Luke is a total anomaly.Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) 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. There was no census in the time of King Herod. Naturally we can not say what month a non-existent census took place.
Was it an angel Caesar Augustus King Herod or Joseph's mother who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?
A:Looking at the options propsed: An angel - no. Luke's Gospel makes no mention of an angel in this context.Caesar Augustus - according to Luke's Gospel, yes (through delegation to the Syrian governor Quirinius). However, scholars and historians have great difficulty with this, since there was never an empire-wide census and Quirinius would have had no reason to call a census before 6 CE when the first known Roman census in Judea was called. The Roman governor of Syria had no authority over Judea before 6 CE, when the territory came under direct Roman rule.King Herod - no. It would have made more sense for Herod to require a resident of Galilee to go to Judea, since at that time he ruled both territories, but Luke says the census was called by Quirinius on the orders of Augustus. Herod died in April 4 BCE, long before the census of Quirinius.Joseph's mother - no. There is no mention in the Bible of Joseph's mother.
What year was the census when Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem?
A:We have some good information about the census of Quirinius, particularly from the first-century Jewish historian, Josephus. The census which took place after the Romans deposed Archelaus in Judea appears to have been the first Roman census in Judea:"Quirinius, a Roman senator who had proceeded through all the magistracies to the consulship and a man who was extremely distinguished in other respects, arrived in Syria, dispatched by Caesar [Augustus] to be governor of the nation and to make an assessment of their property. Coponius, a man of equestrian rank was sent along with him to rule over the Jews with full authority. Quirinius also visited Judea, which had been annexed to Syria, in order to make an assessment of the property of the Jews and to liquidate the estate of Archelaus. (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, i, 1)."Josephus gives us the date of this census:"Quirinius had now liquidated the estate of Archelaus; and by this time the registrations of property that took place in the thirty-seventh year after Caesar's defeat of Antony at Actium were complete. Since the high priest Joazar had now been overpowered by a popular faction, Quirinius stripped him of the dignity of his office (Josephus, JA , XVIII, ii, 1)." The battle of Actium took place in 31 BCE, so the census took place in the year 6 CE, ten years after the death of King Herod the Great.If Jesus was born during the census of Quirinius, he could not have been born during the reign of King Herod the Great. Because of this, some have suggested that there must have been an earlier Roman census in Judea, although in the time of King Herod and his successor Archelaus, the kingdom was exempt from Roman taxes. However, the mention of the name Caponius confirms this as the first Roman census in Judea, as there a violent clash during his rule because the Jews were objecting to the innovation of a census requirement.According to Roman law, the tax declarations had to be made in the town where the taxpayer resided or, in the case of real estate, in the town where the property was. If Joseph had no real estate, then as an inhabitant of Galilee under the tetrarch Herod Antipas, he would not have been affected by the order of the Syrian governor Quirinius. Uta Ranke-Heinemann (Putting Away Childish Things) points out that he would only have had to attend the census if he owned property in Bethlehem, which suggests a level of wealth quite at odds with the image of a poor village carpenter and at odds with the story of having nowhere to stay in Bethlehem, since he could have stayed with a tenant farmer or manager.We know that such assessments did not take place on a fixed date, but were stretched over a period of weeks and even months. Joseph could have arrived in Bethlehem at almost any time during the year that suited him, inspected his properties and reported to the census taker, then returned to his home in Galilee. The story of Joseph hurrying to Bethlehem with his heavily pregnant wife does not fit reality. This is borne out by the fact that the author of Matthew knew nothing about a census ordered by Augustus. Historically, the census took place in 6 CE, but many scholars say there is no basis for Joseph and Mary going from Galilee to Bethlehem for that census.
The first census in the Bible in the Old Testament?
The first census recorded in the Bible is found in the book of Numbers, in chapter 1. This census was taken by Moses at God's command to count the number of men over 20 years old among the Israelites following their exodus from Egypt.
What did Mary and Joseph have to do to obey the order for a census?
Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, Joseph's ancestral home, to be counted in the census ordered by the Roman Emperor. This journey was approximately 90 miles and they likely traveled by foot or on a donkey.
Who was Cyrenius Quirinius?
Cyrenius or Quirinius (51 B.C. - 21A.D.) was born of a wealthy family in the Roman Empire. His career took him from a Roman soldier to Governor. As Governor of Syria he is believed to have taken a census during the supposed time of the birth of Jesus. He and the census are mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.
Who was the census taker in Jesus' time?
The first-century Jewish historian, Josephus, says that the first Roman census in the Levant took place during the time that Quirinius was governor of Syria; he was appointed to Syria in the year 6 CE. Modern historians can find no evidence of an earlier census, and agree that the census of 6 CE must have been the one referred to by the author of the Gospel of Luke. Since this was more than ten years after the death of King Herod, Jesus could not have been born both during the reign of Herod and the time of the first census. Quirinius was, of course, not the actual census taker and was not personally responsible for the conduct of the census, but he did order it to be undertaken.
Why was a census made in the New Testament?
AnswerLuke made a census the setting for the birth of Jesus, although the census he wrote of, that under Quirinius, did not occur during the reign of King Herod. Raymond E Brown says Luke liked to set his Christian drama in the context of well-known events from antiquity, but sometimes did so inaccurately.
What month was the King Herod census taken?
Because of the account in Luke's Gospel, historians have spent considerable effort in establishing the facts of this census, said to have occurred during the reign of King Herod and when Quirinius (or Cyrenius) was governor of Syria.They find that, in spite of Luke 2:1, there never was a census during the reign of Augustus. They have also established that Quirinius only became governor of Syria in 6 CE, ten years after the death of King Herod, and that he appears never to have held a less prominent position in Syria previously. They find that the Jewish historian, Josephus says that the census under Quirinius was indeed the first Roman census taken in Palestine.Scholars say that if there had been a Roman census during the time that Herod was alive, it would not have included Galilee or Judea, since Herod ruled autonomously and was responsible for raising his own taxes. In fact, the census described in the Gospel of Luke is a total anomaly.Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) 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. There was no census in the time of King Herod. Naturally we can not say what month a non-existent census took place.
Who was the governor of Syria mentioned in the Bible?
Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, governor of Syria from 6 CE, was described in Luke's Gospel as the governor at the time Jesus was born. When Archelaus was deposed by the Romans as king of Judea in 6 CE, Quirinius was sent to Syria as governor, with additional authority over Judea. He then ordered a census to be conducted in Judea, although this was unlikely to have included Galilee, which was ruled by Antipas.Prior to his appointment to Syria, Quirinius had a distinguished military and administrative career in Africa and Asia Minor.
Was Jesus born on the day of the census?
AnswerLuke's Gospel says that Joseph and Mary travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census that was conducted when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Having given that as a reason for Mary being in Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus, the Gospel never again mentions the census, so we can not say which day it was in relation the the birth of Jesus. It would, of course, have been possible as long as there really was a Roman census during the reign of King Herod. However, we know that Quirinius was governor of Syria on only one occasion, from the year 6 CE, which means at least ten years after the death of King Herod. The first-century Jewish historian, Josephus, also tells us that the first Roman census in the region was conducted by Quirinius at this time. This is far to late for the birth of Jesus so, historically, Jesus was not born on the day of the census, nor did Joseph and Mary even travel to Bethlehem for a census. Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) 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.
Was it an angel Caesar Augustus King Herod or Joseph's mother who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?
A:Looking at the options propsed: An angel - no. Luke's Gospel makes no mention of an angel in this context.Caesar Augustus - according to Luke's Gospel, yes (through delegation to the Syrian governor Quirinius). However, scholars and historians have great difficulty with this, since there was never an empire-wide census and Quirinius would have had no reason to call a census before 6 CE when the first known Roman census in Judea was called. The Roman governor of Syria had no authority over Judea before 6 CE, when the territory came under direct Roman rule.King Herod - no. It would have made more sense for Herod to require a resident of Galilee to go to Judea, since at that time he ruled both territories, but Luke says the census was called by Quirinius on the orders of Augustus. Herod died in April 4 BCE, long before the census of Quirinius.Joseph's mother - no. There is no mention in the Bible of Joseph's mother.
Who ordered the census which brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem?
According to the New Testament, Syrian Governor Quirinius called the Census, see Luke 2:1-7 below. Secular Historians note that Quirinius only called a census in 5 C.E., which would have been too late to be relevant for Jesus' birth.Luke 2:1–7: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
When was the census in the Bible?
A:Judea has been allowed to be autonomous under King Herod and then his son, Archelaus, so that Rome did not have to concern itself with administrative matters in a minor territory on the very edge of its empire. In 6 CE, the Roman government sacked Archelaus for incompetence and sent him into exile. It appointed Quirinius as governor of Syria, with oversight of Judea.In order that Judea could be taxed on the same basis as the rest of the Roman empire, Quirinius was to undertake a census in Judea as soon as possible after he took over. This was the first census to affect part of Palestine, but did not involve Galilee, as that territory was ruled by another of Herod's sons, Herod Antipas. The census took place in 6 CE, but possibly quite early in 7 CE.
What year was the census when Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem?
A:We have some good information about the census of Quirinius, particularly from the first-century Jewish historian, Josephus. The census which took place after the Romans deposed Archelaus in Judea appears to have been the first Roman census in Judea:"Quirinius, a Roman senator who had proceeded through all the magistracies to the consulship and a man who was extremely distinguished in other respects, arrived in Syria, dispatched by Caesar [Augustus] to be governor of the nation and to make an assessment of their property. Coponius, a man of equestrian rank was sent along with him to rule over the Jews with full authority. Quirinius also visited Judea, which had been annexed to Syria, in order to make an assessment of the property of the Jews and to liquidate the estate of Archelaus. (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, i, 1)."Josephus gives us the date of this census:"Quirinius had now liquidated the estate of Archelaus; and by this time the registrations of property that took place in the thirty-seventh year after Caesar's defeat of Antony at Actium were complete. Since the high priest Joazar had now been overpowered by a popular faction, Quirinius stripped him of the dignity of his office (Josephus, JA , XVIII, ii, 1)." The battle of Actium took place in 31 BCE, so the census took place in the year 6 CE, ten years after the death of King Herod the Great.If Jesus was born during the census of Quirinius, he could not have been born during the reign of King Herod the Great. Because of this, some have suggested that there must have been an earlier Roman census in Judea, although in the time of King Herod and his successor Archelaus, the kingdom was exempt from Roman taxes. However, the mention of the name Caponius confirms this as the first Roman census in Judea, as there a violent clash during his rule because the Jews were objecting to the innovation of a census requirement.According to Roman law, the tax declarations had to be made in the town where the taxpayer resided or, in the case of real estate, in the town where the property was. If Joseph had no real estate, then as an inhabitant of Galilee under the tetrarch Herod Antipas, he would not have been affected by the order of the Syrian governor Quirinius. Uta Ranke-Heinemann (Putting Away Childish Things) points out that he would only have had to attend the census if he owned property in Bethlehem, which suggests a level of wealth quite at odds with the image of a poor village carpenter and at odds with the story of having nowhere to stay in Bethlehem, since he could have stayed with a tenant farmer or manager.We know that such assessments did not take place on a fixed date, but were stretched over a period of weeks and even months. Joseph could have arrived in Bethlehem at almost any time during the year that suited him, inspected his properties and reported to the census taker, then returned to his home in Galilee. The story of Joseph hurrying to Bethlehem with his heavily pregnant wife does not fit reality. This is borne out by the fact that the author of Matthew knew nothing about a census ordered by Augustus. Historically, the census took place in 6 CE, but many scholars say there is no basis for Joseph and Mary going from Galilee to Bethlehem for that census.
When was the census taken in Bethlehem when Christ was born?
A:Luke's Gospel says that Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod, and also at the time of a census by Quirinius, governor of Syria. Matthew's Gospel simply says he was born during the reign of King Herod and seems to have been unaware of the census. The only time Quirinius is known to have held any high position in Syria was from 6 CE, when he was appointed and given instructions to undertake a census of Judea, which was placed under his control because Judea's ruler, Herod Archelaus, was deposed by the Romans in 6 CE. The census was in 6 or 7 CE, which would therefore place the birth of Jesus at that time. King Herod the Great died ten years earlier, in April 4 BCE, so if there was an earlier census it must have been some time before this. Many pious Christians have sought to prove that Quirinius could have also been governor of Syria sometime before 4 BCE, but this does not accord with what we do know of his career before his appointment to Syria. Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) believes 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.
How long did Joseph have to stay in Bethlehem during the census?
A:We have some good information about the census of Quirinius, particularly from the first-century Jewish historian, Josephus. The census took place after the Romans deposed Archelaus in Judaea:"Quirinius, a Roman senator who had proceeded through all the magistracies to the consulship and a man who was extremely distinguished in other respects, arrived in Syria, dispatched by Caesar [Augustus] to be governor of the nation and to make an assessment of their property. Coponius, a man of equestrian rank was sent along with him to rule over the Jews with full authority. Quirinius also visited Judaea, which had been annexed to Syria, in order to make an assessment of the property of the Jews and to liquidate the estate of Archelaus.(Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, i, 1)."The mention of the name Caponius confirms this as the first Roman census in Judaea, as there a violent clash with the Jewish population during his rule, because the Jews were objecting to the innovation of a census requirement.Josephus also gives us the date of the census:"Quirinius had now liquidated the estate of Archelaus; and by this time the registrations of property that took place in the thirty-seventh year after Caesar's defeat of Antony at Actium were complete. Since the high priest Joazar had now been overpowered by a popular faction, Quirinius stripped him of the dignity of his office (Josephus, JA , XVIII, ii, 1)." The battle of Actium took place in 31 BCE, so the census took place in the year 6 CE, ten years after the death of King Herod the Great. If Jesus was born during the census of Quirinius, he could not have been born during the reign of Herod the Great, whose territory was in any case exempt from Roman taxes.According to Roman law, the tax declarations had to be made in the town where the taxpayer resided or, in the case of real estate, in the town where the property was. If Joseph had no real estate, then as an inhabitant of Galilee under the tetrarch Herod Antipas, he would not have been affected by the order of the Syrian governor Quirinius. He would only have had to attend the census if he owned property in Bethlehem, which suggests a level of wealth quite at odds with the image of a poor village carpenter and at odds with the story of having nowhere to stay in Bethlehem, since he could have stayed with a tenant farmer or manager.We know that such assessments did not take place on a fixed date, but were stretched over a period of weeks and even months. Joseph could have arrived in Bethlehem at almost any time during the year that suited him, inspected his properties and reported to the census taker, then returned to his home in Galilee. The story of Joseph hurrying to Bethlehem with his heavily pregnant wife does not fit reality. This is borne out by the fact that the author of Matthew knew nothing about a census ordered by Augustus.
