Can you explain this regarding the time of the birth of Jesus?

Question

As we all know as the story goes Jesus was borne during the reign of King Herod the Great when he ordered the killing of the children, then in Luke 2:1, it says that the birth of Jesus was when the census was taken throughout the Empire and Quirinius was the governor of Syria, that was sometime in 6AD, but historically Herod already died in 4BC and that's 10 years apart.

My point is how can Jesus be borne during the time of King Herod and during the time when Quirinius was the governor of Syria when historically Herod died nearly 10 years before Quirinius became governor.

The inscription was known as Lapis Tiburnitus, it does not mentioned the name of Quirinius but merely refers to someone who held a legateship for the 2nd time in Syria and also didn't specify the 1st legateship was also in Syria.
The Homonadensian war from Syria was sometimes between 6 and 2 BC and Quirinius was governor in Galatia from before 6 BC until just before 2 AD We can find the list of governor in Syria from 23 BC to 4 BC and Varus was Syria's governor form 7 to 4 BC and according to Josephus records, Varus even led a force against a revolt after Herod's death.

to answer allen, King Herod died on 4 BC was recorded by Jesephus, a 1st century historian, the one who beheaded John the Baptist is Herod Antipas who married Herodias, this execution was also mentioned by Josephus.

Answer 1

Christ was born in approximately 12 BC. AD didn't start until AFTER Christ was in the temple teaching the Scholars. He was in the temple for his Bar Mitzva at or about age 12. (He was Jewish).

Also, the people all traveled to the cities of their fathers each year for Passover. This was the best time for King Herod to take Census (and collect taxes) because they knew where everyone would be. Christ was born during Joseph and Mary's travels to the City of David for Passover.

The killing of all the MALE children was not ordered until the wise men came to worship him. They went to King Herod to ask him where this child was. Herod was afraid for his throne and THEN he ordered the killing of the male children. There was no definite time frame for when the wise men arrived. Some think it was days and others believe it was as much as 2 years. But just to be "safe", King Herod ordered all the children under age of 2. (Or maybe it was 4. Not sure of that fact any more.)

Answer 2

To date, the only census documented outside the Bible near this time under Quirinius is the one referred to by the historian Josephus (Antiquities XVIII, 26 [ii.1], which he says took place in 6 A.D.

But notice that Luke 2:2 says that the census taken around the time Joseph and Mary went down to Bethlehem was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. This implies that there was a later census--most likely the one referred to by Josephus--which Dr. Luke would have also certainly known about.

There is good reason to believe that Quirinius was actually twice in a position of command (the Greek expression hegemoneuo in Luke 2:2 which is often translated "governor" really just means "to be leading" or "in charge of") over the province of Syria, which included Judea as a political subdivision. The first time would have been when he was leading military action against the Homonadensians during the period between 12 and 2 B.C. His title may even have been "military governor."

A Latin inscription discovered in 1764 adds weight to the idea that Quirinius was in a position of authority in Syria on two separate occasions. There was definitely a taxing during this time and therefore, quite possible, an associated census, the details of which may have been common knowledge in Luke's time, but are now lost to us.

Scholars have advanced a number of other altogether viable explanations which would allow Luke's record (and therefore the Bible) to continue to be regarded as 100% trustworthy.

Answer 3

Before you mark the bible as inaccurate, perhaps you should check your history first.
The date 6 BC was the estimated birth of Christ.
Herod the Great died in 4AD. Herod was still very much alive when Jesus was born. The year 6 B.C. comes before the year 4 A.D. So your bible is still correct in recording the events in question.
Herod the great had three sons one who killed his own father to gain the throne. So one of these men were in power as "King Herod" during the life of Christ as well so there is no discrepancy here.
The sons were Herod Philip, Herod Antipas and Herod Archeilaus.

Answer 4

To determine the time of Jesus's arrival, first we need to know The starting point of the period leading to the "messiah (annointed one) to be born" according to the prophecy as it says in the bible, is " From the going fourth of the word to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem"

Well the "going fourth of the word" took place according to Nehemiah "in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king"
found in- ( Nehemiah 2;1,5-8)
The year 474 B.C.E was Artaxerxes first full year as a ruler. so the twentieth century of his rule was 455 B.C.E (we are counting backwards) So the starting point of Daniel's prophecy is 455 B.C.E

Next Daniel indicated how long after 455 B.C.E the arrive of the mesiah will be.

Daniel (the prophet) was told by God, "You should know and have the insight that from the going fourth of the word to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the leader, there will be 7 weeks also 62 weeks. (Daniel 9:25)

So lets add those up 62+7=69
But the way they told time then, is different then now so exactully how long is 69 weeks well these aren't weeks of seven days but they are weeks of years. So each week represents 7 years. This concempt was familiar of JEw of ancient times. For instance they observed a sabbath year year every seventh year or (week) I know so because of (exodus 23;10,11) Witch concludes to the prophet seen of 69 weeks was amount to 69 units of seven years or a total of 483 years. Now all we must do is count ZIf we count from 455 B.C.E., 483 years takes us to the year 29 C.E



(Danial 9:25) Says he would appear 29 C.E-That is the year Jesus went to John the Baptizer to be babtized in the Jordan river.

-All I know is whe he appeared not when he was born,but the math isn't so hard after you found out what year he appeared. sorry about the confusion you probally have to read it acouple times to understand.

Answer 5

Good question! Though I can't explain the actual discrepancy, a possible answer might be the fact that the Bible was written in several different languages and has been translated several times throughout history. First it was in Greek and Hebrew, then translated into Latin at the Council of Nicea (by Constantine, who legalized Christianity throughout the Roman empire - somebody correct me if I'm wrong), and then into English by King James. All those translations are bound to lose things and maybe have a few problems with unit conversions. Keep in mind a few different calendars were used between then and now (Gregorian/Julian calendars).

Keep looking for a better answer, but in lieu of such, this may be why. Good luck!

Answer 6

I keep reading this over and over trying to make some sense out of it. If Christ was born in 4BC the math should work.
Where do you get Herod dying before that though?
He was still around to cut off John the Baptist head. after Christ began his ministry?

Answer 7

No one is sure what year jesus was born in, some even question if he was born or not. You aren't the first to find contradiction in the bible and you won't be the last.

The whole concept of the "global census" is just completely ludicrous. Where would you go now if you had to go the your ancestral home of 1000 years ago? Even with today's record keeping you would be hard pressed to trace it. Back then it would have been impossible. The global migration would have been completely impossible.

And yes I know it was only in the Roman empire but that is still a huge amount of land.

Chris-You seem to have learned a much different history of the bible than I. Other than from a christian professor I have never heard a secular lecture who didn't laugh at the whole concept of a global census. I have also never heard it suggested jesus was born in 12 B.C.. So he would have died in what 21 then? That's is even worse for the time line of the very questionable gospels.

Answer 8

i actual do no longer desire to get into the final melee right here, different than to furnish one piece of historic and idomatic readability. The Habiru ( Hebrew ) word for Messiah is the destiny stressful of noun for the annointed King of Israel, supposedly appointed by skill of YHWH, and shown by skill of descent from King David, the 2d King of the youngsters of Israel. In different words 'he who would be King'. No prophecy could desire to probably have meant to have been interpreted as by way of fact of this a Messiah may be the end results of a 'virgin' start, by way of fact if it grew to become into it can be a self-negating prophecy. in actual fact the entire subject of 'virgin start' is a murky one, with it is antecedents in a large number of ideals during most of the many times used worldwide, from Egypt to China, even in Meso and Southern united states of america, I actual have even examine money owed that ascribe some similarity with some North American interior of sight human beings's introduction memories. it is not something new, and not something particularly Semitic.

Answer 9

First of all, the Bible does not record the year. And Bce is exactly what it says "Before Chronological Era." That means of course that systematic, verifiable records were not kept.

But I must interject this: The Bible does prophesy that "Rachal would weep for her children." Regarding Herod's slaughter of all young children. There is also a prophecy about the flight to Egypt. The two events did actually happen. So it is pretty hard to discount the evidence of prophecy, especially when you look at some of the specific points of prophecy. Like, before the time of Christ, crucifixion did not exist as a punishment. But the Bible clearly depicts crucifixion as the means of death.

"Cursed is he who hangs on a tree."
"They will look upon me whom they have pierced and mourn."

"I thirst." As prophecy.

Answer 10

Interesting! Also I've read and heard that he wasn't acctually born in the winter it was more like autumn. Also Christmas Day, the day that Jesus was supposidly born, is the same day the Egyptian God Horus was born.