Census of Quirinius

Census of Judea taken by Publius Sulpicius Quirinius in 6

This Byzantine mosaic (c. 1315 CE, Chora Church, Istanbul) depicts Syrian governor Quirinius (seated, left) overseeing the census registration of Mary and Joseph (haloed, right).

The Census of Quirinius was a census of the Roman province of Judaea taken in 6 CE, upon its formation, by the governor of Roman Syria, Publius Sulpicius Quirinius. The census triggered a revolt of Jewish extremists (called Zealots) led by Judas of Galilee.

The Gospel of Luke uses the 6 CE census to date the birth of Jesus but also cites the time of Herod the Great (who died between 5 BCE and 1 CE), while the Gospel of Matthew only references Herod. Most critical scholars agree that Luke is in error, while some religious scholars have attempted to defend the gospel, sometimes invoking unproven claims.[1]

## Overview

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Herod I (Herod the Great, c. 72 – c. 4 BCE), was a Roman client king whose territory included Judea. Upon his death, his kingdom was divided into three, each section ruled by one of his sons. In 6 CE, Emperor Augustus deposed Herod Archelaus, who had ruled the largest section, and converted his territory into the Roman province of Judaea.

In order to install an ad valorem property tax in the new province, Publius Sulpicius Quirinius, the legate (governor) of the province of Roman Syria starting in 6 CE,[2] was assigned to carry out a census in Judaea. This would record the names of the owners of taxable property, along with its value, for which they would be taxed.[3][4]

The census triggered a revolt of Jewish extremists (called Zealots) led by Judas of Galilee.[5] (Galilee itself was a separate territory under the rule of Herod Antipas.) Judas seems to have found the census objectionable because it ran counter to a biblical injunction (the traditional Jewish reading of Exodus 30:12) and because it would lead to taxes paid in heathen coins bearing an image of the emperor.[6]

## Gospel of Luke

[edit]

The Gospel of Matthew places Jesus' birth in the time of Herod I.[7] This is affirmed by the Gospel of Luke (1:5–31), but it subsequently correlates the birth with the census (2:1–5):[a]

> In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from [David]. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

Most critical biblical scholars agree that the Gospel of Luke is erroneous.[1] Its author seems to have invoked the census as Joseph and Mary's motivation for departing "their own city"[9] of Nazareth, Galilee, for Bethlehem.[10] Additionally, the author may have wished to contrast Joseph and Mary's obedience to the Roman edict with the rebelliousness of the Zealots, and also to find a prophetic fulfilment of Psalm 87:6: "In the census of the peoples, [princes] will be born there."[10][b][c] (Luke and Matthew also give different accounts of the family's departure from Bethlehem.)[13][d] Catholic priest and biblical scholar Joseph Fitzmyer states:[16]

> It is clear that the census is a purely literary device used by him to associate Mary and Joseph, residents of Nazareth, with Bethlehem, the town of David, because he knows of a tradition, also attested in Matthew 2, that Jesus was also born in Bethlehem. He is also aware of a tradition about the birth of Jesus in the days of Herod, as is Matthew; Luke's form of the tradition, unlike Matthew's, tied the birth in a vague way to a time of political disturbance associated with a census.

Scholars point out that there was no single census of the entire Roman Empire under Augustus and the Romans did not directly tax client kingdoms; further, no Roman census required that people travel from their own homes to those of their ancestors. A census of Judaea would not have affected Joseph and his family, who lived in Galilee under a different ruler; the revolt of Judas of Galilee suggests that Rome's direct taxation of Judaea was new at the time.[17] Catholic priest and biblical scholar Raymond E. Brown postulates that Judas's place of origin may have led the author of Luke to think that Galilee was subject to the census.[18][e] Brown also points out that in the Acts of the Apostles, Luke the Evangelist (the traditional author of both books) dates Judas's census-incited revolt as following the rebellion of Theudas, which took place four decades later.[18][f][g]

### Attempted defences

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The 2nd-century Christian apologist Justin Martyr claimed, without evidence, that the record of the census was still available and that it showed that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.[21][22] Another Christian apologist, Tertullian (c. 155 - c. 220), suggested that Jesus' family was recorded in a census of Judaea conducted by Sentius Saturninus,[23][24] the governor of Syria from 9–7 BCE.[25]

Some modern scholars have attempted to defend Luke's account,[26][27][28][29] which according to biblical scholar Géza Vermes contradicts historical fact, assuming Luke refers to the Census of Quirinius.[30] Some conservative scholars have generally posited that an earlier census took place, invoking unproven claims. Historian Ralph Martin Novak explains that both Quirinius's career and the names and dates of the governors are well documented and there is no time before 6 CE when Quirinius could have served an earlier term as governor of Syria.[2] Novak points out that such views spring from biblical inerrancy, the belief that the Bible is without error.[31] Vermes describes attempts to defend the historicity of the biblical birth narratives as "exegetical acrobatics".[30] The USCCB states that the various attempts to resolve the difficulties have proved unsuccessful, suggesting that Luke may simply be combining Jesus' birth in Bethlehem with the census for theological reasons, perhaps vaguely remembering that one was conducted by Quirinius.[32]

Several unsubstantiated versions of the two-census hypothesis have been advanced by some conservative scholars. Paul Barnett, bishop and historian, theorizes that a census unrelated to taxation took place before Quirinius's tenure.[26] Wayne Brindle[who?] argues that the gospel's translation is ambiguous and thus refers to an earlier census held during Herod the Great's reign, as a result of the turbulent circumstances towards the end of his life; Brindle further argues that Quirinus held administrative power in the Syria region around that time, as part of a dual governorship with Gaius Sentius Saturninus, the former holding military and the latter political power.[33] James A. Nollet[who?] asserts that Quirinius served two terms as governor of Syria and took two censuses in Judea, the earlier one being a universal census by Augustus allegedly taken in 2 BCE.[34] Dominican scholar Anthony Giambrone calls for "a more generous interpretation" of Luke to counter Augustan propaganda which purportedly could have been used to obscure a universal census of Roman regions conducted separately over a number of years.[35]

Additionally, some writers state that in ancient literature, strict chronology is secondary to narrative coherence, and thus events could be excusably reordered.[36][37] Historian David Armitage claims Luke 3 as an example because it gives an overview of John the Baptist's ministry up to his imprisonment before discussing his baptism of Jesus. Armitage argues that Luke refers to the Census of Quirinius as a similar anachronistic digression, flashing years forward from the nativity before returning to it,[38][h] with the confusion ostensibly stemming from the author's "overly generous estimation of the historical literacy of his readers".[38]

More recently, the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) defended the gospel by asserting that the Greek word usually translated as first (πρώτη, prote) should be translated as before, with Luke thus mentioning the census only as a chronological point of reference,[39] despite explicating the family's registration. (Incidentally, Augustus held a census in 8 BCE—two years before Jesus' birth according to the SEBTS.)[39][40] Some claim that the census of Quirinius was before Herod's death and that Luke was saying the census took place before Quirinius was governor.

John H. Rhoads argues in his journal article Josephus Misdated the Census of Quirinius[41] that Josephus is known for chronological errors and that he is also known for duplicating the same events. Josephus mentions Judas of Galilee committing a religious revolt shortly after Herod's death and another in 6 CE, mentioning the census during the 6 CE revolt. Most scholars believe that Judas of Galilee caused both revolts but Rhoads claims that these are the same revolt due to similarities, such as the high priest Joazar being deposed in both accounts. Josephus also reports a similar religious revolt before Herod's death by Judas son of the Sepphorean, this revolt also mentions a high priest being deposed and Joazar taking his place. Rhodes argues that this is the same Judas and the same revolt due to these and other similarities, such as the account shortly after Herod's death involving activity in Sepphoris. Rhodes concludes by saying that it is most likely that all revolts were the same event that Josephus duplicated, that it took place before Herod's death since Herod orders Judas' execution and that the census of Quirinius was therefore before Herod's death, not 6 CE. There is no other historical mention of the census of Quirinius besides Josephus and Luke.

## Gallery

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* Pieter Bruegel the Elder, The Census at Bethlehem (1566), oil on wood panel, Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium

* Jan Luyken, Joseph and Mary taking the census (1700), etching and book print, Haarlem, Netherlands

* Jan Luyken, Joseph and Mary taking the census (1703), etching and book print, Haarlem, Netherlands

## See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Census of Quirinius.

* Birth registration in ancient Rome
* Chronology of Jesus
* Date of the birth of Jesus
* Gospel harmony
* Historicity of Jesus
* List of Roman governors of Syria
* Roman administration of Judaea (AD 6–135)
* Roman censor
* Stele of Quintus Aemilius Secundus

## References

[edit]

Footnotes

1. ^ The earlier Gospel of Mark, probably a source for Matthew and Luke, contains no birth narrative.[8]
2. ^ In place of the "princes" stated to be born in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), the English translation invokes the phrase "this one".[11]
3. ^ The Gospel of John portrays Christ's birth in Bethlehem as fulfilling a prophecy of Micah.[12]
4. ^ In Luke, Jesus's parents bring him first to Jerusalem and then to Nazareth.[14] In Matthew, they go to Nazareth to avoid Judaea because of Archelaus's appointment (4 BCE), then flee to Egypt.[13][15]
5. ^ Luke 3:1 distinguishes Galilee from Judaea.
6. ^ Acts also depicts the revolt of Theudas being discussed ten years before it occurred.[19]
7. ^ Some Christian defenders have postulated that Acts was referring to a different Theudas from the one mentioned by Josephus.[20]
8. ^ Armitage proposes that the gospel could logically be rendered:[38]

> The child grew and was strengthened in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. As it happens, it was during that time that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the Roman world (this was the first registration, when Quirinius was governor of Syria), and everyone went - each into their own town - to be registered. Joseph also went up: out of Galilee, away from the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to David's town (which is called Bethlehem) because he was from the house and family of David; he went to be registered with Mary (she who was his betrothed when she was pregnant).

> Now, it transpired that the days were completed for her to give birth when they were in that place, and she gave birth to her firstborn son ...

Citations

1. ^ a b Novak 2001, p. 292; Brown 1977, p. 17.
2. ^ a b Novak 2001, pp. 293–298.
3. ^ Gruen 1996, pp. 156–157.
4. ^ Novak 2001, p. 290.
5. ^ Stern 1976, p. 274.
6. ^ Skarsaune 2008, p. 127.
7. ^ Matthew 2:16–18
8. ^ Funk, Robert W. and the Jesus Seminar (1998). The Acts of Jesus: The Search for the Authentic Deeds of Jesus. HarperSanFrancisco. "Birth & Infancy Stories" pp. 497–526.
9. ^ Luke 2:39
10. ^ a b Brown 1978, pp. 17–19.
11. ^ Brown 1978, p. 19.
12. ^ Muss-Arnolt 1897.
13. ^ a b Brown 1978, p. 17.
14. ^ Luke 2:22–40
15. ^ Matthew 2:23
16. ^ J.A. Fitzmyer, The Gospel According to Luke I-IX (AB, 28; Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1981), p. 393
17. ^ Novak 2001, pp. 293–298; Brown 1977, pp. 552–553; Brown 1978, pp. 17.
18. ^ a b Brown 1977, p. 413.
19. ^ Barnett, Paul (29 March 2005). The Birth of Christianity: The First Twenty Years. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 199\. ISBN 978-0-8028-2781-4.
20. ^ Kellum, L. Scott (2020). Acts. Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament. B&H Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-5359-1513-7.
21. ^ Justin Martyr. The First Apology, Chapter XXXIV . Translated by Philip Schaff - via Wikisource.
22. ^ Osborn, Eric Francis (1973). Justin Martyr. Mohr Siebeck. pp. 162–63\. ISBN 978-3-16-133261-6.
23. ^ Tertullian. Against Marcion, Book IV, Chapter XIX . Translated by Peter Holmes - via Wikisource.
24. ^ Di Segni, Leah (2005). "A Roman Standard in Herod's Kingdom", Israel Museum Studies in Archaeology 4: 23–48.
25. ^ Graham, Daryn. "Luke's Census and Dating the Birth of Christ" in Archaeological Diggings Volume 20, #6-2013, Issue 119, December 2013–January 2014, pp. 20–25.
26. ^ a b Brown 1977, p. 552.
27. ^ Pearson, Brook W. R. (1999). "The Lucan Censuses, Revisited". The Catholic Biblical Quarterly. 61 (2): 262–282\. ISSN 0008-7912. JSTOR 43723557.
28. ^ Porter, Stanley E. (2003). "The Reasons for the Lukan Census". In Christophersen, Alf; Claussen, Carsten; Frey, Jörg; Longenecker, Bruce (eds.). Paul, Luke and the Graeco-Roman World: Essays in Honour of Alexander J.M. Wedderburn. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 165–188\. ISBN 978-0-567-06691-6.
29. ^ Huebner, Sabine R. (2019). "'In those days a decree went out ...': The Herodian Kingdom and the Augustan Provincial Census System". Papyri and the Social World of the New Testament. Cambridge University Press. pp. 31–50\. ISBN 978-1-108-47025-4.
30. ^ a b Vermes 2010.
31. ^ Novak 2001, pp. 296–297.
32. ^ USCCB - Luke 2
33. ^ Brindle, Wayne (1984). "The Census and Quirinus: Luke 2:2". Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. 27 (1): 52. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
34. ^ Nollet, James A. (December 2012). "Astronomical and Historical Evidence for Dating the Nativity in 2 BC" (PDF). Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith. 64 (4).
35. ^ Giambrone, Anthony (2021). "Augustus as Censor and Luke's Worldwide Enrollment: Roman Propaganda and Lukan Theology from the Margins". Revista Bíblica. 83 (3–4): 350–351, 355. doi:10.47182/rb.83.n3-4-2021287. ISSN 2683-7153.3–4&rft.pages=350-351,+355&rft.date=2021&rft_id=info:doi/10.47182/rb.83.n3-4-2021287&rft.issn=2683-7153&rft.aulast=Giambrone&rft.aufirst=Anthony&rft_id=https://doi.org/10.47182%2Frb.83.n3-4-2021287&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Census+of+Quirinius" class="Z3988">
36. ^ Richards, E. Randolph; O'Brien, Brandon J. (2012). Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible. InterVarsity Press. pp. 137–152\. ISBN 978-0-8308-3782-3.
37. ^ Licona, Michael R. (2016). Why Are There Differences in the Gospels: What We Can Learn from Ancient Biography. Oxford University Press. pp. 20, 34–36, 46. ISBN 978-0-19-026426-0.
38. ^ a b c Armitage, David J. (2018). "Detaching the Census: An Alternative Reading of Luke 2:1-7" (PDF). Tyndale Bulletin: 75–95.
39. ^ a b Darville, Jono (20 May 2024). "The Census: Did Luke Make a Mistake?". Christ and Culture. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
40. ^ "Res Gestae Divi Augusti". droitromain.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
41. ^ Rhoads, John H (March 2011). "JOSEPHUS MISDATED THE CENSUS OF QUIRINIUS" (PDF). Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. 54 (1).

### Bibliography

[edit]

* Brown, Raymond E. (1977). The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke. Doubleday & Company. ISBN 9780385059077.
* Brown, Raymond E. (1978). An Adult Christ at Christmas: Essays on the Three Biblical Christmas Stories. Liturgical Press. ISBN 9780814609972.
* Edwards, James R. (2015). The Gospel according to Luke. Eerdmans. ISBN 9780802837356.
* Gruen, Erich S. (1996). "The Expansion of the Empire Under Augustus". In Bowman, Alan K.; Champlin, Edward; Lintott, Andrew (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History. Vol. 10\. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521264303.
* Marucci, Corrado (1996). "Storia e amministrazione romana nel Nuovo Testamento". In Haase, Wolfgang; Temporini, Hildegard (eds.). Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt/Rise and decline of the Roman world (in Italian). Vol. 2\. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter. ISBN 9783110830880.
* Muss-Arnolt, W. (1897). "Helps to the Study of the Earlier Prophets". The Biblical World. 9 (6): 443–456\. doi:10.1086/472091. ISSN 0190-3578. JSTOR 3140020. S2CID 145684600.
* Novak, Ralph Martin (2001). Christianity and the Roman Empire: Background Texts. Continuum International. ISBN 9780567018403.
* Schäfer, Nadja (2000). Die Einbeziehung der Provinzialen in den Reichsdienst in augusteischer Zeit (in German). Stuttgart: Franz Steiner. ISBN 978-3-515-07723-1.
* Skarsaune, Oskar (2008). In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early Christianity. InterVarsity Press. ISBN 9780830828449.
* Stern, M. (1976). "The Period of the Second Temple". In Malamat, Abraham; Tadmor, Hayim (eds.). A History of the Jewish People. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674397316.
* Vermes, Géza (2010). Jesus: Nativity - Passion - Resurrection. Penguin. ISBN 9780141957449.
* Zeichmann, Christopher B. (2018). "Text sometimes related to the Augustan cohort of Acts 28 (i.e., cohors Augusta)". Database of Military Inscriptions and Papyri of Early Roman Palestine. Retrieved 28 October 2022.

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Gospel of Luke

Bible
(New Testament)|

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|

Verses|

* Luke 22:43–44

Events|

* Annunciation to Mary, Elizabeth, and the shepherds
* Adoration of shepherds
* John the Baptist's Birth
* Census of Quirinius
* Jesus' Birth
* Circumcision and Presentation at the Temple
* Finding in the Temple
* Genealogy
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* Counting the cost
* Sermon on the Plain
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* The four woes of Jesus

People|

* Abijah
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Groups
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* Jerusalem
* Jordan River
* Judea
* Nain
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* Sea of Galilee
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Related|

* Luke the Evangelist
* Luke–Acts
* Authorship of Luke–Acts
* Synoptic Gospels
* Gospel of Mark
* Q source
* L source
* Two-gospel hypothesis
* Jerusalem school hypothesis
* Textual variants
* Gospel of Marcion
* Jiizas: di Buk We Luuk Rait bout Im

Adaptations|

* St Luke Passion, BWV 246 (1730)
* St Luke Passion (Penderecki, 1966)
* Jesus (1979 film)
* Witness: Five Plays from the Gospel of Luke (2007, radio)
* The Savior (2014 film)

Manuscripts|

* Papyrus 2
* 3
* 4
* 7
* 42
* 45
* 69
* 75
* 82
* 97
* 111
* Codex Nitriensis
* Ohrid Glagolitic fragments

Sources|

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