Pretty much how the Jews (and everybody else) do it today -- even with the convenience of mass transit.
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Biblical history - contradictions?
- Thread starter Nathan Poe
- Start date
Pretty much how the Jews (and everybody else) do it today -- even with the convenience of mass transit.
Now all we need is some self-proclaimed Biblical Champion to claim that it was customary for the Romans to allow people to register others besides themselves -- then they can add to the Bible some idiotic notion that Joseph was Nazareth's chosen representative for the census.
Wait for it -- they seem just about that desperate...
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Funny -- I opened the book and found all sorts of interesting things.
Meanwhile, you've been making up stuff to blather about.
Sure there is -- You have no choice but to speculate in at least one of the two birth narratives.
And yet, Herod himself couldn't see it -- bad cataracts?
Dad -- you're blathering again. The topic is about the birth narratives -- As soon as we finish up with that, we'll move on to the other inconsistencies.
And yet the Roman records are comprehensive and quite organized -- but you'd rather ignore them and hide behind what you think is unknown and unknowable, simply because you don't know it.
You're the one making stuff up -- and blathering about it. Don't blame us just because you don't bother to learn anything about history or the Bible.
Now you're not even trying to make sense -- not surprising.
So, the magi were scientists? On what are you basing that on?
What's that you say? Absolutely nothng? You're just making stuff up to blather about again?
Really, dad -- read the Bible and come back here when you're ready to talk about it seriousloy.
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If you come down, try to relate that thought to us in English.
About...?? He was born. You talking about the lineage of Mary and Joseph thing??
No. Satan possessed. Funny how that renders one less than 100% accurate. Ask a lurker..
Nope. Not for the tax thingie around the birth of Jesus. They may have good records of places they never razed to the ground...who knows?
There was no science then, not modern science....but those cats knew the stars well, and when something was real special....they were the Hubble crowd of the day.
People spell checked the bible at least.
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Just because you don't understand this thread, that's no reason for you to try (and fail) to be clever.
As fascinating a topic as that is -- and I'd love to discuss the significance of the geneologies with a serious adult, as soon as you run along and find me one -- I was referring to something far simpler: The hometown of Mary and Joseph.
If you actually read Matthew, you'll see it was Bethlehem. But Luke claims it was Nazareth.
Chapter and verse, or admit that you're making that up.
They've got pretty good records of places they did raze to the ground, dad -- Just because you don't know doesn't mean nobody else does.
It's bad enough when you try to hide behind ignorance; don't try to project it upon others -- the world is full of people who know all sorts of things you do not.
And yet the Greeks,Romans, Persians, Babylonians, Egyptians, etc. had already made such amazing strides in medicine, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, archetecture, engineering, etc., etc.,
Again, dad -- the things you personally don't know can fill the Grand Canyon, but that's hardly something you can use as a basis to make baseless speculations about the past which everybody knows about except you.
So you say, but we've already established how little you know.
Too bad they didn't check the math --As long as we're talking Birth narratives, what's the current excuse -- ahem, I meant "apologetic" as to how Matthew got the number of generations wrong in 1:17?
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Verse?
Killing babies in an attempt to kill Messiah is not the mark of heavenly inspiration. Get serious.
This place was special. Very special.
The wise men maybe made some strides of their own.
here is the first thing that popped up when I looked...why?
"
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Geneva]Here David who closed the first division must be excluded this, and it must be observed, that the Evangelist does not say as before, that "all" the generations from David to the captivity were fourteen, for there were seventeen, three kings being omitted by him at once; but, the generations he thought fit to mention, in order to reduce them to a like number as before, and which were sufficient for his purpose, were fourteen; "
Matthew - Chapter 1 - Verse 17 - The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible on StudyLight.org
[/FONT]
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Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him:
Try to follow the logic here, dad -- people own houses in the cities they live in.
Herod wasn't trying to kill a "Messiah," according to the Bible -- he was eliminating a threat to his throne. Killing entire groups of people in order to preserve one's own power is as heavenly as it gets in the Bible -- ask the Egyptians.
In any case, you're assuming Satan because you've simplistically decided that there were only two choices. Get serious.
Not to the Romans -- it was just another province that they kept records on -- including records of the time they needed to crack down on it for getting uppity.
As always, dad, you overestimate your own importance -- the place is special to you, but you're not special to anyone.
That's nice, dad -- run along and come back when you can support this in a relevant way.
Not that they'd have to -- Christians traditionally consider the "Wise Men" to be Persian -- and the Persians were no dummies.
So, basically, since Matthew wanted 14 generations (for reasons unknown), he deliberately lied (by omission) to get the results he wanted.
If Matthew had listed the geneology as a historical record (as many Christians claim), then his purpose could only be served by a complete and accurate record -- since your source claims that 14 "was sufficient for his purpose," then obviously there was another purpose at work here.
I've got a good idea what that purpose was -- bet you don't.
So Matthew cooked the books -- already knew that.
Commence your hysterical "defense" of his lies by omission.
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Steve Petersen
Senior Veteran
Not necessarily. It was not uncommon to live with extended family, especially if you were poor.
You hit on an interesting parallel. Perhaps the writers of the Gospel were trying to create a connection between Jesus and Moses. Part of story telling is the moral subtext.
[quote}Not to the Romans -- it was just another province that they kept records on -- including records of the time they needed to crack down on it for getting uppity.[/quote]
Indeed. When Jesus was a small boy, about 200 people were crucified Sephoris, a town near Nazareth, as punishment for 'uppitiness.' It is possible Jesus was witness to that.
In Hebrew, fourteen is the numerical value of the name 'David.' This may be another example of a writer trying to make the piece fit into the puzzle. I am not sure that anyone in ancient times would have quibbled with this.
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Luke contradicts this -- it's very uncommon to end up giving birth in a manger if one has extended family in town.
And why bother checking the Inn in the first place?
And why is there no mention of this "extended family" anywhere in either Matthew or Luke? Time share?
Just about everything in Matthew is an attempt to make a connection between Jesus and Jewish Old Testament heroes -- that was Matthew's signature style.
It makes for good liturgy (not to mention literature) but lousy history.
It's very possible; cricifixion was the Roman's capital punishment for non-Romans -- nothing sends a message to potential troublemakers than to see the last troublemaker hanging from a cross outside of town.
Because they wouldn't have read the geneologies as history -- fudging a few details in order to make a theological point wouldn't have been a problem.
It's only those who are convinced that every jot and tittle is literally true who need to tap-dance.
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Steve Petersen
Senior Veteran
It is very likely from evidence that Jesus was born during a pilgrimage festival. These took place in Jerusalem. If he was born at Tabernacles, it was part of the commandment to live in a temporary shelter. I think this could account for the 'manger' reference. BUT, the story does not indicate that the Magi visited Jesus IMMEDIATELY after his birth. It could have been some time later, wherever they were living (Nazareth?)
Another thing to consider was the Mary's cousin probably lived in or near Jerusalem because her husband was a priest. Could Mary and Joseph have stayed with them?
Also, if there WAS a required registration, a pilgrimage festival would have been a good time for Joseph to enroll because Bethlehem is a stone's throw from Jerusalem.
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Yes, that was not in Bethlehem. By the time the wise got there, it was likely as much as 2 years.
If the shoe fits....Herod wears it. Motis operendi....the suspect is well known. He was also known to be in area because he took Jesus on a wilderness tour, and possessed Judas, spoke through other apostles, etc! Open and shut case.
There is not a clear record of some things concerning the area. So speculation is useless.
We are all very special to God. That is why He died for us. Unlike the Satanic lie of evolution, where man is brought to the hellish level of beasts, and worthless animals and insects, and less! Man has a destiny.
Considered to be is speculation...
You chose to look at a way that generations are presented in a false and unintended way to make God look bad. Shame.
Again, you work in the shadows. It is not known. Some suggest that the interpretation of the intro verse is that it just applies to this chapter. If there was some special reason only certain people are listed to Jesus, well, I can trust God knows best. Or, if the simple math of the previous link is the reason...fine with me. Stop straining at shadow nats. Sometimes certain tribes were omitted or included also in the records again for certain reasons. Nothing special about that sort of thing.
ho hum
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What evidence would that be? I'm curious.
Sorry, no -- Matthew 2:8-10 specifically says that the Wise Men were sent to Bethlehem.
Even if it didn't explicitly say so, it could only have happened before Joseph fled to Egypt, because he didn't return until he got the news that Herod was dead -- and when Jospeh returned, he went straight to Nazareth.
Are we talking Matthew or Luke? There's no mention of such a cousin in Luke, and no need for one in Matthew.
ONLY if we assume that traveling was a requirement for a registration -- I still haven't seen anything from anybody that indicates that either the Romans or the Hebrews made such an outrageous requirement part of taxation.
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You really need to read the Bible -- Matthew 2:8-10 should clear up your confusion.
Going to need more than your own say-so before I accept Satanic posession as an excuse.
There is enough of a record to know how things were usually done, and you haven't shown anything to show the Romans doing anything different.
But keep speculating -- we're all seeing how useless it is.
Clearly, your desitiny is to serve as a warning of the dangers of pride and hubris. For what it's worth, you do your job well.
So is "The wise men maybe made some strides of their own."
And "If the shoe fits....Herod wears it."
Not to mention "They may have good records of places they never razed to the ground...who knows?"
You're right, dad -- speculation is useless -- please continue to demonstrate uselessness.
You've got nothing to defend it but blather. Shame.
God's not going to bail you out on this one, dad -- either you have an answer, or blather on.
Hasn't stopped you yet.
More speculation, dad -- you're right; it is useless!
Nothing useful about it either -- just more speculation.
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I was thinking of *ahem* another part of the anatomy at first, but I'm trying to keep my "Hey, I didn't get a warning for that one?" streak going.
(apparantly my sense of humor is too acidic for some -- who knew?)
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I wrote a couple of articles years back regarding Cyrenius (Quirinius) and the census. Heres the first one that shows the evidence stacks in favor of the Bible.
For many years, critics of those who believe the Bible to be 100% accurate, used a passage found in the Bible to point out an apparent historical error.
Luke 2:1-2 states: "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."
Since the Bible states that Jesus was born before the death of Herod the Great, who died around 1 B.C., critics claimed that the Bible was in error, since history records that Quirinius was not appointed governor of Syria until 6 A.D.
But recently, confirmation that Quirinius was governing in Syria around this time has been found.
First of all, lets look at a few early census accounts taken from history and see how they match up with the Bible.
The following is a record of a census taken in the year 104 A.D. which contains similar wording to that found in the Gospel: "From the Prefect of Egypt, Gaius Vibius Maximus. Being that the time has come for the house to house census, it is mandatory that all men who are living outside of their districts return to their own homelands, that the census may be carried out."
Another census was uncovered from 48 A.D. which also records a return of the people to their native land for the census. It reads as follows:
"I Thermoutharion along with Apollonius, my guardian, pledge an oath to Tiberius Claudius Caesar that the preceding document gives an accurate account of those returning, who live in my household, and that there is no one else living with me, neither a foreigner, nor an Alexandrian, nor a freedman, nor a Roman citizen, nor an Egyptian. If I am telling the truth, may it be well with me, but if falsely, the reverse. In the ninth year of the reign of Tiberius Claudius Augustus Germanicus Emperor."
It is interesting to note that these two census accounts required a person to return to their homeland to be registered. The same is true of the Gospel account.
Two well-respected leaders from the early church, Justin and Tertullian, also believed that a record of the census, along with the registration of Joseph and Mary could be found in official documents from the reign of Augustus Caesar. In their writings they mention that if anyone were to question the Lords virgin birth they should go and checkout the Roman state records for themselves.
And as for Quirinius being the governor of Syria
during this census, it is worth noting that the Bible never calls him the governor, at least the New King James Version doesn't. It says he was governing in Syria. And we know that Quirinius was indeed governing in some capacity in this region at this time.
Records also indicate that Quirinius was no minor figure in Roman politics. His name is mentioned in "Res Gestae - The Deeds of Augustus by Augustus" placing him as consul as early as 12 B.C.
The Roman historian Tacitus also mentions that Quirinius was appointed by Augustus to be an advisor to his young son Caius Caesar in Armenia well before the second census of 6 A.D. - (Caius was sent to administer Syria in 1 A.D., and was wounded in nearby Armenia in 3 A.D.) Evidently, Augustus wanted someone who was experienced in previously administering the region to advise his son. Who better then Quirinius?
The Biblical census was probably implemented by Herod at the command of Rome to coincide with their decree that all peoples should take an oath of allegiance to Augustus which took place in history around 2 B.C.
This oath, forced upon everyone in Israel, is recorded by the first century historian Josephus. He also mentions that Quirinius became official governor later on in 6 A.D., He wrote:
"Quirinius, a Roman senator who had gone through other magistracies and had passed through them all until he had become consul, was appointed governor of Syria by Caesar and was given the task of assessing property there and in Judea."
So who was in charge as the assessor of property in Judea during the first census? Just as the Bible had said all along, Quirinius.
For More Historical evidence that confirms the Bible, go to my website at Biblehistory.net
For many years, critics of those who believe the Bible to be 100% accurate, used a passage found in the Bible to point out an apparent historical error.
Luke 2:1-2 states: "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."
Since the Bible states that Jesus was born before the death of Herod the Great, who died around 1 B.C., critics claimed that the Bible was in error, since history records that Quirinius was not appointed governor of Syria until 6 A.D.
But recently, confirmation that Quirinius was governing in Syria around this time has been found.
First of all, lets look at a few early census accounts taken from history and see how they match up with the Bible.
The following is a record of a census taken in the year 104 A.D. which contains similar wording to that found in the Gospel: "From the Prefect of Egypt, Gaius Vibius Maximus. Being that the time has come for the house to house census, it is mandatory that all men who are living outside of their districts return to their own homelands, that the census may be carried out."
Another census was uncovered from 48 A.D. which also records a return of the people to their native land for the census. It reads as follows:
"I Thermoutharion along with Apollonius, my guardian, pledge an oath to Tiberius Claudius Caesar that the preceding document gives an accurate account of those returning, who live in my household, and that there is no one else living with me, neither a foreigner, nor an Alexandrian, nor a freedman, nor a Roman citizen, nor an Egyptian. If I am telling the truth, may it be well with me, but if falsely, the reverse. In the ninth year of the reign of Tiberius Claudius Augustus Germanicus Emperor."
It is interesting to note that these two census accounts required a person to return to their homeland to be registered. The same is true of the Gospel account.
Two well-respected leaders from the early church, Justin and Tertullian, also believed that a record of the census, along with the registration of Joseph and Mary could be found in official documents from the reign of Augustus Caesar. In their writings they mention that if anyone were to question the Lords virgin birth they should go and checkout the Roman state records for themselves.
And as for Quirinius being the governor of Syria
during this census, it is worth noting that the Bible never calls him the governor, at least the New King James Version doesn't. It says he was governing in Syria. And we know that Quirinius was indeed governing in some capacity in this region at this time.
Records also indicate that Quirinius was no minor figure in Roman politics. His name is mentioned in "Res Gestae - The Deeds of Augustus by Augustus" placing him as consul as early as 12 B.C.
The Roman historian Tacitus also mentions that Quirinius was appointed by Augustus to be an advisor to his young son Caius Caesar in Armenia well before the second census of 6 A.D. - (Caius was sent to administer Syria in 1 A.D., and was wounded in nearby Armenia in 3 A.D.) Evidently, Augustus wanted someone who was experienced in previously administering the region to advise his son. Who better then Quirinius?
The Biblical census was probably implemented by Herod at the command of Rome to coincide with their decree that all peoples should take an oath of allegiance to Augustus which took place in history around 2 B.C.
This oath, forced upon everyone in Israel, is recorded by the first century historian Josephus. He also mentions that Quirinius became official governor later on in 6 A.D., He wrote:
"Quirinius, a Roman senator who had gone through other magistracies and had passed through them all until he had become consul, was appointed governor of Syria by Caesar and was given the task of assessing property there and in Judea."
So who was in charge as the assessor of property in Judea during the first census? Just as the Bible had said all along, Quirinius.
For More Historical evidence that confirms the Bible, go to my website at Biblehistory.net
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Each year during Christmas, millions of believers in churches all around the world read of the birth of Jesus from the gospel account as recorded in Luke chapter two. And each year the man who governed in Syria at the time of the Lords coming is also mentioned. His name is Quirinius, or if you have a King James Version, Cyrenius. History records much of the man who was lucky enough to be associated with the birth of our Savior.
The earliest historical account we have of Quirinius comes from an inscription found in Antioch Pisidia known as Res Gestae - 'The Deeds of Augustus Caesar by Augustus'. The inscription places him as consul in 12 B.C. This position was attained by only two prominent Romans every year and they governed as the Roman heads of state. The inscription reads as follows:
"A great crowd of people came together from all over Italy to my election, more then had ever gathered before in Rome, when Publius Sulpicius (Quirinius) and Gaius Valgius were consuls."
(Res Gestae 10)
Quirinius was by no means a small figure in Roman politics or in his association with Augustus, Tiberius and Caius Caesar. So respected was Quirinius to the Caesar's that upon his death in 22 A.D. Tiberius honored him before the entire Senate. The following is his tribute as recorded by the Roman historian Tacitus:
"Around this time, he (Tiberius Caesar) requested that the Senate pay tribute to the death of Sulpicius Quirinius with a public funeral. . . . A tireless soldier, who had by his faithful services become consul during the reign of Augustus, and later was honored for his victory concerning his assault on the fortresses of the Homonadenses in Cilicia (The province of Cilicia is located just northwest of neighboring Syria.) Later he was appointed to be an adviser to Caius Caesar in the government of Armenia (Caius was counsul and was sent to Syria in 1 A.D. and was wounded in nearby Armenia in 3 A.D. and later died in 4 A.D.) as well as being an advisor to Tiberius, when he was at Rhodes (the Island just off the coast of Asia somewhere between 6 B.C. and 2 A.D.) The Roman emperor spoke of these things before the entire Senate, and praised Quirinius for his excellent service, while he criticized Marcus Lollius, whom he blamed for teaching Caius Caesar the traits of being disobedient and divisive. But most of the citizens were not fond of the memory of Quirinius, because of his involvement in the events surrounding Lepida, whose account I have previously mentioned, as well as the harsh and dangerous power he held during his last years in office." Tacitus Annals- Book III
This account of Tacitus proves that Quirinius was governing militarily in the area of Syria well before becoming the civilian governor of Syria and taking a second census of Judea in 6 A.D., as recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus.
Another inscription, which surfaced in the late 1600's, known as the Aemilius Secundus inscription, also mentions Quirinius governing in Syria as well as ordering a census. The inscription reads as follows:
"Quintus Aemilius Secundus, from Palatine, with honors he was decorated in the camp of Divine Augustus under Publius Sulpicius Quirinius legate of Caesar in Syria, prefect of the first Augustan cohort, prefect of the navys second cohort. Commanded by Quirinius to conduct a census of the district of Apameas 117,000 citizens; He was also sent by Quirinius to capture the fortresses of the Itureans in the mountains of Lebanon. (Iturea borders Syria and is just north of Galilee.) Before being involved in the militia he was prefect of engineers, appointed by the two consuls as treasurer, quaestor of his colony, served twice as aedile and duumvir and was as a priest. Buried in this place are his son, Quintus Aemilius Secundus.
(Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae #2683)
Two other inscriptions were found in the early 1900's in Pisidian Antioch, which served as a military command center and eastern outpost for the Roman Empire. The two inscriptions read as follows:
"C. Caristanius C F Sergius Fronto Caesiaus Iulius, perfect of civil engineers, priest, perfect of P. Sulpicius Quirinius the Duumvir, Perfect of M. Servilius, from this man and with a public edict, a statue was erected with the blessings of the council.
(Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae #9502)
The second inscription reads:
"To C. Caristanius Fronto Caesianus Iulius, son of Gaius, from the tribe of Sergia, prefect of civil engineers, military tribune of twelfth legion, prefect of the Bosporan cohort, priest, prefect of P. Sulpicius Quirinius, duumvir, prefect of Marcus Servilius, prefect . . ."
(Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae #9503)
An argument made by many opponents of the accuracy of the Bible is that Rome was not taxing or conducting a census in Israel before becoming a province in 6 A.D.
But Josephus records that the Jews were being taxed by the Romans by commands from Syria as early as 44 B.C. And the task of raising the funds fell upon the Jewish rulers in power at the time. For example, Josephus records: "Cassius rode into Syria in order to take command of the army stationed there, and on the Jews he placed a tax of 700 silver talents. Antipater gave the job of collecting this tax to his sons . . ." Jewish Antiquities XIV 271
History also records that just before the birth of our Lord, Judea was being taxed highly under Herod the Great, who was appointed King of Judea by Caesar Augustus, and Herod was subservient to him. After he died, Josephus records the following: "Archelaus grieved over the death of his father for several days and then . . . from his throne of gold, he gave a speech to the crowd . . . pleased by his words, the people immediately began to test his sincerity by requesting certain favors from him. Some pleaded for their yearly taxes to be reduced . . . while others asked that he would only take away the excessive sales taxes that were being levied on goods being brought or sold." Jewish Antiquities XVII 200
He also recorded that the common people hated Herod for taxing them so much: "The amount of people, to whom he lavished his money, were very numerous. And because of this, he was forced to collect it through unjust means. Because he was aware that his subjects hated him because of these past crimes against them, he did not think it would make any difference to treat them kindly, for it might harm his revenue; he therefore, knowing that his subjects feared him because of his harshness, continued on in pursuit of financial gain." Antiquities XVI 150-170
To show how much he taxed the people, when he died he left ten million pieces of silver to Augustus Caesar and five million to Caesars wife Julia and others. (Jewish Antiquities XVII 190)
We also know that Augustus Caesar ordered a Census in 8 B.C., this would have taken a good two to three years to implement and complete in all the provinces under direct and indirect control of Rome. The following is an account given by Augustus of the census:
"During my sixth term as consul (28 B.C.), I along with my comrade Marcus Agrippa, commanded a census be taken of the people. I directed a lustrum, the first in forty-one years, in which 4,063,000 Roman citizens were counted. And once again, with imperial authority, I single handedly authorized a lustrum when the consuls of Rome were Gaius Censorinus and Gaius Asinius (8 B.C.), during which time 4,233,000 Roman citizens were counted." (Res Gestae 8 - The Deeds of Augustus by Augustus)
And last but not least, the most accurate of all historians and the one that atheists and infidels refuse to believe, LUKE: "I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good to me to write an orderly account for you . . . 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 governing in Syria.) Gospel of Luke
For more Historical Evidence that proves the Bible, see my website at BibleHistory.net.
The earliest historical account we have of Quirinius comes from an inscription found in Antioch Pisidia known as Res Gestae - 'The Deeds of Augustus Caesar by Augustus'. The inscription places him as consul in 12 B.C. This position was attained by only two prominent Romans every year and they governed as the Roman heads of state. The inscription reads as follows:
"A great crowd of people came together from all over Italy to my election, more then had ever gathered before in Rome, when Publius Sulpicius (Quirinius) and Gaius Valgius were consuls."
(Res Gestae 10)
Quirinius was by no means a small figure in Roman politics or in his association with Augustus, Tiberius and Caius Caesar. So respected was Quirinius to the Caesar's that upon his death in 22 A.D. Tiberius honored him before the entire Senate. The following is his tribute as recorded by the Roman historian Tacitus:
"Around this time, he (Tiberius Caesar) requested that the Senate pay tribute to the death of Sulpicius Quirinius with a public funeral. . . . A tireless soldier, who had by his faithful services become consul during the reign of Augustus, and later was honored for his victory concerning his assault on the fortresses of the Homonadenses in Cilicia (The province of Cilicia is located just northwest of neighboring Syria.) Later he was appointed to be an adviser to Caius Caesar in the government of Armenia (Caius was counsul and was sent to Syria in 1 A.D. and was wounded in nearby Armenia in 3 A.D. and later died in 4 A.D.) as well as being an advisor to Tiberius, when he was at Rhodes (the Island just off the coast of Asia somewhere between 6 B.C. and 2 A.D.) The Roman emperor spoke of these things before the entire Senate, and praised Quirinius for his excellent service, while he criticized Marcus Lollius, whom he blamed for teaching Caius Caesar the traits of being disobedient and divisive. But most of the citizens were not fond of the memory of Quirinius, because of his involvement in the events surrounding Lepida, whose account I have previously mentioned, as well as the harsh and dangerous power he held during his last years in office." Tacitus Annals- Book III
This account of Tacitus proves that Quirinius was governing militarily in the area of Syria well before becoming the civilian governor of Syria and taking a second census of Judea in 6 A.D., as recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus.
Another inscription, which surfaced in the late 1600's, known as the Aemilius Secundus inscription, also mentions Quirinius governing in Syria as well as ordering a census. The inscription reads as follows:
"Quintus Aemilius Secundus, from Palatine, with honors he was decorated in the camp of Divine Augustus under Publius Sulpicius Quirinius legate of Caesar in Syria, prefect of the first Augustan cohort, prefect of the navys second cohort. Commanded by Quirinius to conduct a census of the district of Apameas 117,000 citizens; He was also sent by Quirinius to capture the fortresses of the Itureans in the mountains of Lebanon. (Iturea borders Syria and is just north of Galilee.) Before being involved in the militia he was prefect of engineers, appointed by the two consuls as treasurer, quaestor of his colony, served twice as aedile and duumvir and was as a priest. Buried in this place are his son, Quintus Aemilius Secundus.
(Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae #2683)
Two other inscriptions were found in the early 1900's in Pisidian Antioch, which served as a military command center and eastern outpost for the Roman Empire. The two inscriptions read as follows:
"C. Caristanius C F Sergius Fronto Caesiaus Iulius, perfect of civil engineers, priest, perfect of P. Sulpicius Quirinius the Duumvir, Perfect of M. Servilius, from this man and with a public edict, a statue was erected with the blessings of the council.
(Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae #9502)
The second inscription reads:
"To C. Caristanius Fronto Caesianus Iulius, son of Gaius, from the tribe of Sergia, prefect of civil engineers, military tribune of twelfth legion, prefect of the Bosporan cohort, priest, prefect of P. Sulpicius Quirinius, duumvir, prefect of Marcus Servilius, prefect . . ."
(Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae #9503)
An argument made by many opponents of the accuracy of the Bible is that Rome was not taxing or conducting a census in Israel before becoming a province in 6 A.D.
But Josephus records that the Jews were being taxed by the Romans by commands from Syria as early as 44 B.C. And the task of raising the funds fell upon the Jewish rulers in power at the time. For example, Josephus records: "Cassius rode into Syria in order to take command of the army stationed there, and on the Jews he placed a tax of 700 silver talents. Antipater gave the job of collecting this tax to his sons . . ." Jewish Antiquities XIV 271
History also records that just before the birth of our Lord, Judea was being taxed highly under Herod the Great, who was appointed King of Judea by Caesar Augustus, and Herod was subservient to him. After he died, Josephus records the following: "Archelaus grieved over the death of his father for several days and then . . . from his throne of gold, he gave a speech to the crowd . . . pleased by his words, the people immediately began to test his sincerity by requesting certain favors from him. Some pleaded for their yearly taxes to be reduced . . . while others asked that he would only take away the excessive sales taxes that were being levied on goods being brought or sold." Jewish Antiquities XVII 200
He also recorded that the common people hated Herod for taxing them so much: "The amount of people, to whom he lavished his money, were very numerous. And because of this, he was forced to collect it through unjust means. Because he was aware that his subjects hated him because of these past crimes against them, he did not think it would make any difference to treat them kindly, for it might harm his revenue; he therefore, knowing that his subjects feared him because of his harshness, continued on in pursuit of financial gain." Antiquities XVI 150-170
To show how much he taxed the people, when he died he left ten million pieces of silver to Augustus Caesar and five million to Caesars wife Julia and others. (Jewish Antiquities XVII 190)
We also know that Augustus Caesar ordered a Census in 8 B.C., this would have taken a good two to three years to implement and complete in all the provinces under direct and indirect control of Rome. The following is an account given by Augustus of the census:
"During my sixth term as consul (28 B.C.), I along with my comrade Marcus Agrippa, commanded a census be taken of the people. I directed a lustrum, the first in forty-one years, in which 4,063,000 Roman citizens were counted. And once again, with imperial authority, I single handedly authorized a lustrum when the consuls of Rome were Gaius Censorinus and Gaius Asinius (8 B.C.), during which time 4,233,000 Roman citizens were counted." (Res Gestae 8 - The Deeds of Augustus by Augustus)
And last but not least, the most accurate of all historians and the one that atheists and infidels refuse to believe, LUKE: "I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good to me to write an orderly account for you . . . 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 governing in Syria.) Gospel of Luke
For more Historical Evidence that proves the Bible, see my website at BibleHistory.net.
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