Dr Paul Allen

Robert R. Cargill, PhD .  Bible & Archaeology (University of Iowa) People ask about the problematic nature of this census, its historicity and its failure to align well with the birth narrative in Matthew's Gospel. First, know that biblical scholars have wrestled with this census issue for over a century. But let me explain it as best I can here. Luke 2:1–3 reads: (1) In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  (2) This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  (3) All went to their own towns to be registered. The census has a couple of problems. First, Quirinius and Herod the Great did not rule at the same time. Herod the Great died in 4 BCE. Anyway, Herod the Great died in 4 BCE, and yet Publius Sulpicius Quirinius wasn’t appointed as the governor of Syria until 6 CE, that is, well after Herod the Great died and after Herod’s son and successor, Archelaus, was banished as ruler...

QUESTION: Luke says that Jesus was born during the census of Quirinus, which took place in 6 CE, whereas Matthew says Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod, who died ten years earlier, in 4 BCE.

David and Saul (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) One of the more vexing problems in the Old Testament is how to parse the parallel accounts of 1 Chronicles 21:1–17 and 2 Samuel 24:1–25. 1 Chronicles 21:1–2 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” 2 Samuel 24:1–2 Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, “Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.” The two accounts are nearly identical, save for one glaring disparity: The Chronicler’s version has Satan as David’s instigator, while 2 Samuel names Yahweh , the God of Israel , as the provocateur. The Chronicler’s a...