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Census

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a counting of the people

Luke 2 speaks of a census that was taken for taxation purposes.  Some have scoffed at the historical accuracy of this account because of  supposed lack of evidence (an argument from ignorance, that is, since I don't have any compelling physical evidence for this, it is not true--that is an argument that assumes the omniscience of the scoffer.).  Besides the obvious irrationality of the argument of these scoffers, there is ample evidence that God has provided to support the account of Luke 2.  In fact, anyone who questions Scripture is not in tune with God, not hearing His voice on a consistent basis.

In light of these principles, consider the following words of Luke: “And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria” (Luke 2:1-2). Some have charged Luke with committing an error on the basis of the fact that history records that Publius Sulpicius Quirinius was governor of Syria beginning in A.D. 6—several years after the birth of Christ. It is true that thus far no historical record has surfaced to verify either the governorship or the census of Quirinius as represented by Luke at the time of Jesus’ birth prior to the death of Herod in 4 B.C. As distinguished biblical archaeologist G. Ernest Wright of Harvard Divinity School conceded: “This chronological problem has not been solved” (1960, p. 158). ~ https://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=6&article=907

For further information, check out https://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2008/10/16/A-Brief-Comment-on-the-Census-in-Luke-2.aspx


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