All Saints of North America Orthodox Church · Phoenix, Arizona

Orthodox Christianity on the west side of Phoenix Arizona including Sun City, Surprise, Peoria, Glendale, Buckeye, Tolleson and more

  • Home
  • About
    • New Visitor Information
    • How to Become Orthodox
    • Clergy & Leadership
    • For Orthodox Visitors
    • List of Activities for Orthodox Christians Desiring to Transfer to ASONA
  • Faith
    • About Orthodox Christianity
    • Eucharist: Sacrament or Symbol?
    • Eucharistic Bread: Leavened or Unleavened?
    • Welcome Home! Evangelicals Come Home to Orthodoxy
    • Statement of Faith
    • Saints of North America
  • Education
    • The Correct Understanding of Being Born Again
    • LIVE Online Catechism
    • Christian Names and Patron Saints
    • Welcome to the Orthodox Church! (Videos)
  • Catechesis
    • List of Activities to Complete Prior to Baptism and Chrismation
    • Online Catechism Lessons
    • Audio Lectures
    • The FAITH
    • The Mystery of Confession
  • Directions
  • Services
    • When Someone Dies
    • Paschal Greetings from Around the World
  • Articles
    • Library
  • Contact
    • Donate Now
    • About Giving to ASONA
    • The Book of Needs
  • Donate Now
  • New Member Class
  • Becoming Orthodox?
  • Saints of North America
  • Bulletin
  • Ready Page

Census Considerations

December 7, 2020 By Fr. John Peck [edit]

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.”  – Luke 2:1–3

On the Dateline NBC’s “The Birth of Jesus” episode, Dr. John Dominic Crossan, co-founder of the wildly popular Jesus Seminar, called into question the historical veracity of Holy Scripture. Said Crossan:

“Luke tells us the story that at the time Jesus was born Augustus had decreed a census of the whole earth. Now, every scholar will tell you there was no such census ever.”

Is Crossan correct? Is the Canon corrupt? Did Dr. Luke make a colossal historical blunder that effectively discredits sacred Scripture? In an age in which the historical reliability of the Bible is being questioned, it is crucial that Christians are equipped to demonstrate that Scripture is the infallible repository of redemptive revelation. So how do we respond to critics like Crossan? Is his pontification on NBC a defensible argument or merely a dogmatic assertion?

First, while Crossan made his pontification with typical bravado, it turns out to be patently false. Caesar Augustus was famous for census taking. So famous, in fact, that this issue is no longer even debated among credible historians. The Jewish historian Josephus refers to a Roman taxation in AD 6, and considering the scope of the taxation, it is logical to assume that it took a long time to complete. Undoubtedly it began with Caesar Augustus around 5 BC and was likely completed a decade later.

Furthermore, Luke—ever the meticulous historian—notes that the census took place when Quirinius served as governor of Syria. As Paul Maier, an esteemed professor of ancient history at Western Michigan University, noted on the Bible Answer Man broadcast, the Romans took forty years to get a census done in Gaul, so for a province fifteen hundred miles away from Rome to take a decade is eminently reasonable. Moreover, since the census came in under the administration of Quirinius, it would correctly be labeled as such. Not only so, but given Luke’s impeccable credentials as a historian, it would have been far more circumspect for Crossan to temper his dogmatism.

Finally, one need only remember the experience of the brilliant archaeologist Sir William Ramsay, who, like Crossan, was bent on undermining Luke’s historical reliability. Through his painstaking Mediterranean archaeological adventures, he discovered that, one after the other, the historical allusions that Luke provides are accurate. If, as Ramsay points out, Luke does not err in referencing a plethora of countries, cities, islands, and all the details surrounding them, then there’s no reason to doubt him concerning the census.

Conclusion

Luke chapter 2 is correct about Quirinius census in 6 AD. The Jews not only had to offer atonement money in the Temple, but also must go to their father’s house for the census procedure as in the law is by their families and their father’s house. Hence, Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem is not a Roman requirement of census but a requirement from the law of Moses.

Source: Bible Answer Man

 

Share the post "Census Considerations"

  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Bookmark

Filed Under: General [post-edit]

All Saints of North America Orthodox Church

11234 W. Alabama Ave.
Youngtown, AZ 85363

(928) 910-2186

RSS LifeSite News

  • Baby Saved in the Middle of the Abortion After Mom Changes Her Mind
  • President Trump Endorses Pro-Life Sarah Huckabee Sanders For Governor Of Arkansas
  • Twitter Bans MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell as Purge of Pro-Life Conservatives Continues

A Directory of Arizona Orthodox Churches

Recent Posts

  • Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, January 24, 2021
  • The Filioque in Brief
  • Why Do Orthodox Christians Have their Homes Blessed?
  • Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, January 17, 2021
  • 2020 – An Apocalyptic Year of Peace?

RSS Journey to Orthodoxy

  • For as little as $5/month…
  • Fr. Edward’s Path from Episcopalian to Orthodoxy
  • Nine Baptisms Celebrated in Maine Mission
  • Turning Point
  • 1,000 indigenous Papuans interested in holy Orthodoxy, appeal to Patriarch Kirill to start a mission

RSS Good Guys Wear Black

  • To the Deniers of the Clergy
  • Building Community in the Early Church
  • Make THE Difference, where you are, right now
  • Why Is It That Two or Even Three Passages from the Holy Scripture Is Read at the Divine Services?
  • The Holy Oblation

Weekly Bulletin for Sunday, January 24, 2021

Orthodox Calendar



Copyright © 2021 All Saints of North America Orthodox Church · All Rights Reserved
Designed by Fr. John A. Peck · Log in