Deus Artefacta: Untangling the Apparent Contraction of the Census of Quinerius

Laureate head of Quirinus r. C·MEMMI·C·F· – QVIRINVS
Rev. MEMMIVS· AED·CERIALIA·PREIMVS·FECIT
Ceres seated r., holding torch in l. hand and corn-ear in r.; at her feet, snake.
Babelon Memmia 9; Sydenham 921; RBW 1532; Crawford 427/2.
CoinArchives.com

Critical scholars have proposed that because Josephus (Ant. 18.1.1 ἀποτίμησιν, apotímesin) and Luke (Luke 2:2 ἀπογράφεσθαι, apographesthai; noun ἀπογραφὴ, apographē and Acts ἀπογραφὴ, apographē Acts 5:33-39; c.f. Judas the Galilean) appear to contradict each other over the census of Publius Sculpicius Quirinus that therefore, Luke must have been in error on the account of a census recorded in Luke 2:2. However, there are many proposed solutions all of which still remain uncertain (although I do take the account of Luke as historical).

The research is complicated and extensive [1], and some details are uncertain, but here I layout the logical explanation base on the Koine Greek of the apparent contraction. Also, a corollary question is did Mary and Joseph actually go up to Bethlehem to be assessed for taxes (registered), as Luke's Gospel states?

Hoehner records how the influential Emil Schurer states:

that Luke cannot be historically accurate because: (1) nothing is known in history of a general census during the time of Augustus; (2) in a Roman census Joseph would have not had to travel to Bethlehem but would have registered in the principle town of his residence, and Mary would not have had to register at all; (3) no Roman census would have been made in Palestine during Herod’s reign; (4) Josephus records nothing of a Roman census in Palestine in the time of Herod – rather the census of A.D. 6-7 was something new among the Jews; and (5) a census held under Quirinius could not have occurred during Herod’s reign for Quirinius was not governor until after Herod’s death.”[2]

First, note that Luke 2:2 is variously translated by biblical translators indicating that the term can be understood in different ways.

Also, there was not a single meaning to the Greek word ἀπογράφεσθαι (apographesthai), used in both Luke 2 and Acts 5. This word can refer to any particular part of the taxation process in the Roman world,[2] either determining property values or actually levying a tax. The first ἀπογράφεσθαι (apographesthai, "registration" ESV) happened when Quirinius was governing (ἡγεμονεύω (hēgemoneuō)) IN Syria (Luke refers to the term first [Gr. protos] for his census in 2:2) and commanding legions FROM Syria. Luke uses the verb ἡγεμονεύω (hēgemoneuō), The second ἀπογράφεσθαι (apographesthai) mentioned by Luke in Acts opposed by Jewish rebels (just a Josephus records) happened when Quirinius was governor OF Syria (confirmed on his coins ca. 5-6 AD and inscription CIL III, 6687 = ILS 2683) and governing FROM Judea.

The earliest known mention of Quinerius is in an inscription from ca. 12 BC discovered in Antioch Pisidia known as Res Gestae Divi Augusti ('The Deeds of the Divine Augustus'), which states: "A great crowd of people came together from all over Italy to my election, ... when Publius Sulpicius (Quirinius) and Gaius Valgius were consuls."[16] A full copy, written in the original Latin and a Greek translation was preserved on a temple to Augustus in Ancyra (i.e., the Monumentum Ancyranum of Ankara, Turkey); while others have been found at Apollonia in Pisidia and Pisidian Antioch.

The Quirinius Inscription (Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae #9502–9503)
which names P. Sulpicius Quirinius as chief magistrate (Duumvir)
when Marcus Servilius was a Roman consul in 3 AD
Found outside Pisidian Antioch in 1912
Photo Credit: biblehistory.net

On of the two commemorative inscription originally from the base of a statue of a certain Gaius Caristanius Sergius; and mentions one of his offices as the deputy management of a duumvirate held by Publius Sulpicius Quirinius (ca. 51 BC–AD 21). Further, Roman records show that Quirinius was indeed a governor of Judea and that an empire-wide census was taking place in 3/4 BC.

For an Egyptian census see the Census Inscription that read in part:

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 homelands that the census may be carried out.

The census of Quirinius conducted as governor of Syria is documented in an inscription now in Vienna. CIL III, 6687 = ILS 2683 (5/6 AD counted from the Battle of Actium).

For some detailed arguments see Ronald L. Marchant, The Census of Quirinius: The Historicity of Luke 2:1-5. Interdisciplinary Biblical research, 1980.

I conclude by quoting Sir. William Ramsay:

Yet this does not prove that Mary was the mother of Christ, as Luke describes Him, and as John and Paul saw Him and believed in Him. The surrounding facts are matter of history, and can be discussed and proved by historical evidence. The essential facts of the narrative are not susceptible of discussion on historical principles, and do not condescend to be tested by historical evidence. That truth exists and moves on a higher plane of thought. It is known through the absolute insight into the heart of human life and divine nature. It comes to, or is granted to, or is forced upon, a man as the completion of his experience and the crown of his life and the remaking of his nature. It proves itself to the soul of man. When he sees it, he knows that it is the one truth—the one ultimate truth—in a world of half-truths, a world of preparation, where he is being moulded, and fashioned, and hammered into a condition in which he can receive the truth. [4]

So while I cannot prove to you the deity of Jesus Christ (which I believe) I can demonstrate to you historically the census of Quinerius in Judea the first century AD. The rest is a matter of faith.

APPENDIX

This inscription is from a tombstone discovered near Trivoli,
Italy. It’s owner was once “Twice Legate” of Augustus in Syria.
Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae, 2683.
Vatican Museum
Photo credit: Todd Bolen, BiblePlaces.com

1. Inscription "Lapis Tiburtinus":

(BELLUM GESSIT CUM GENTE HOMONADENSIM QUAE INTERFECERAT AMYNTAM R)EGUM QUA REDACTA IN POT(ESTATEM IMP. CAESARIS) AUGUSTI POPULIQUE ROMANI SENATU(S DIS IMMORTALIBUS) SUPPLICATIONES BINAS OB RES PROSP(ERE AB EO GESTAS ET) IPSI ORNAMENTA TRIUMPH(ALIA DECRUIT) PRO CONSUL ASIAM PROVINCIAM OP(TINUIT PR. PR.) DIVI AUGUSTI (I)TERUM SYRIAM ET PH(OENICEN OPTINUIT).

English translation:

[k]ing, which (aforementioned tribe?) having been brought into the pow[er of Imperator Caesar] Augustus and the Roman People, the Senat[e decreed to the immortal gods] two thanksgivings for success[ful achievements, and] triumph[al] ornaments to himself; as proconsul he he[ld] the province of Asia; [as legatus propraetore] of the Divine Augustus for another time [he held] Syria and Ph[oenicia]; [Kokkinos]

Source: Corpus Inscriptorum Latinum (CIL) 14:3613. See Emil Schürer, The History of the Jewish People in the Age of Jesus Christ (175 BC–AD 135), ed. G. Vermes, F. Miller, and M. Black, Rev, 4 vols. (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1979). 1:354. Text restored by Mommsen with conjectures in parentheses. See also Nikos Kokkinos, "The Honorand of the Titulus Tiburtinus: C. Sentius Saturninus?", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 105 (1995) 21–36.

2. Inscription "Lapis Venetus":

The tombstone of Q. Aemilius Secundus, who conducted

a census for the Legate Quirinius in Apamea in Syria.
Museo archeologico nazionale di Venezia,
CIL III 6687, ILS 2683.
Photo: Jona Lendering / Livius.org / CC0 1.0 Universal

IUSSU QUIRINI CENSUM EGI APAMENAE CIVITATUS MILLIUM HOMINUM CIVIUM CXVII. IDEM MISSU QUIRINI ADVERSUS ITRURAEOS IN LIBANO MONTE CASTELLUM EORUM CEPI.

Translation: On command of Quirinius I have carried out the census in Apamea, a city-state of one hundred and seventeen thousand citizens. Likewise I was sent by Quirinius to march against the Itrureans, and conquered their citadel on Lebanon mountain.

Source: Corpus Inscriptorum Latinum, (CIL) 3rd Supplement 6687. English translation from Ethelbert Stauffer, Jesus and His Story (London: SCM Press, 1960), 28.

Basis of the first statue erected in Pisidian Antioch, probably 8 BC,
in honour of Caristanius, praefectus of Quirinius,
honorary duumvir of the Colony, while governor of Syria.
The stone is now lying on its side.
Photo Ramsay, The Bearing of Recent Discoveries, 285.

3. Inscription from base of statue at Pisidian Antioch:

C. CARISTA(NIO) C.F. SER. FRONT(ONI) CAESIANO IULI(O) PRAEF(ECTO) FAB(RUM) PONT(IFICI) SACERDOTI PRAEFECTO P. SULPICI QUIRINI DUUMV(IRI) PRAERECTA M. SERVILI HUIC PRIMO OMNIUM PUBLICE D(ECURIONUM) D(ECRETO) STATUA POSITA EST.

Source: William M. Ramsay, The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1915), 235.

Roman census edict in Egypt (Papyrus 904).
It was issued in AD 104 in the village of Bacchias in Egypt.
Photo courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum.

4. Papyrus Edict of C. Vibius Maximus, AD 104: (transliterated Greek)

G(AIOS YI)BIO(S MAXIMOS EPA)RC(OS) AIGYPT(OY LEGEI) THS KAT' OI(KIAN APOGRAFHS E)NESTW(SHS) ANAGKAION (ESTIN PASIN TOI)S KATH' H(NTINA) DHPOTE AIT(IAN EKSTASI TWN HEAUTWN) NOMON PROSA(GGELLE)STHAI EPA(NEL)THEIN EIS TA HEAU(TWN E)FESTIA HIN(A) KAI THN SUNHTHH (OI)KONOMIAN TH(S APO)GRAFES PLHRWSWSIN KAI TH PROS(HKOU)SH AUTOIS GEWRGIAI PROSKARTERHSO(SIN).

English Translation 1:

Gaius Vibius Maximus, prefect of Egypt.

As a house-to-house registration has been authorized, it is necessary to order all persons absent from their homes for any reason whatsoever to return to their homes that they may perform the customary business of registration and may apply themselves to the cultivation of the land, as is their proper duty. I realize, however, that the city has need of some of the peasants ; and it is my will that all persons who appear to have good reason to remain in the city shall register themselves with . . . and Festus, the prefect of the cavalry, whom I have assigned to this duty, from whom those persons who prove that it is necessary for them to remain in the city will receive the necessary authorization to remain until Epiph 30 in the current month . .

English Translation 2:

The enrollment by household being held, it is necessary to notify all who, for any cause whatsoever, are outside their homes to return to their domestic hearths, that they may also accomplish the customary dispensation of enrollment and continue steadfastly in husbandry that belongs to them.

Source: Greek Transliteration by Gustav Adolf Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, trans. Lionel R. M. Strachan (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1927), 271. Text restored by Ulrich Wilcken. English Translation 1 by Johnson, Coleman-Norton & Bourne, Ancient Roman Statutes (Austin, 1961) 167, n. 208 English Translation 2 Deissmann, Light From the Ancient East 270-72; Wilson, Our Father Abraham. 46-48. .Oxyrhynchus Papyrus and some 270 other documents found in Egypt indicate that a census was taken every fourteen years from 5/6 BC to AD 258.

On the census in Roman Egypt, which was typical of the entire Ancient Near East, see S. L. Wallace,

Taxation in Egypt from Augustus to Diocletian

(Princeton, NJ: Princeton University. 1938), 96-115.

5. Josephus writes that Quirinius:

came himself into Judea, which was now added to the province of Syria, to take an account of their substance, and to dispose of Archelaus’s money; but the Jews, although at the beginning they took the report of a taxation heinously, yet did they leave off any further opposition to it (Josephus Antiquities 18.1.1 [Whiston]).

FOOTNOTES

[1]. Edward Dąbrowa, “The Date of the Census of Quirinius and the Chronology of the Governors of the Province of Syria,” Zeitschrift Für Papyrologie Und Epigraphik 178 (2011): 137–42.

[2]. Quoted by Harold W. Hoehner, Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1977), 14.

[3]. Peter Tremin. The Roman Market Economy. Princeton Press, 2013; M. I. Finley. The Ancient Economy. University of California Press 1999; Keith Hopkins, “Taxes and Trade in the Roman Empire (200 BC – 400 AD),” The Journal of Roman Studies, Vol. 70 (Nov. 1980), 101 – 125.

[4]. William M. Ramsay, The Bearing of Recent Discovery on the Trustworthiness of the New Testament (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1915), 236.

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