Freethought & Rationalism Archive

bacht · 01-07-2010, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhutchin

Except for Luke's reference to a census in 6 BC, we find no other reference to such a census in Josephus or Tacitus who both wrote histories of that time. This can mean only that no disputes arose regarding this census so that there was nothing meaningful to report...

Um, actually this is central to Josephus' analysis of events leading up to the revolt. The resistance of Judas the Galilean and his followers to the census and the Roman tax was total and unrelenting, feeding the Zealot movement and attracting fellow-travellers like the Sicarii. Peter's question to Jesus about paying Roman taxes was THE question of the day for Jewish "patriots"

rhutchin · 01-07-2010, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bacht

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhutchin

Except for Luke's reference to a census in 6 BC, we find no other reference to such a census in Josephus or Tacitus who both wrote histories of that time. This can mean only that no disputes arose regarding this census so that there was nothing meaningful to report...

Um, actually this is central to Josephus' analysis of events leading up to the revolt. The resistance of Judas the Galilean and his followers to the census and the Roman tax was total and unrelenting, feeding the Zealot movement and attracting fellow-travellers like the Sicarii. Peter's question to Jesus about paying Roman taxes was THE question of the day for Jewish "patriots"

Sounds reasonable. That would suggest that the reference to the census by Luke was not for purposes of taxing the people.

rhutchin · 01-07-2010, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeWallack

God I love the sound of Psalms in the morning!

JW:
Found an excellent article on the subject which includes a history of related Apologies:

Census of Quirinius

Note that the continuous rejection of earlier Apologies by Apologists is symptomatic of the weakness of the apology. That being said, to RH, bon appetite.

Joseph

Luke 2:2

Which just tells us that no one really knows what was happening except Luke at this point. It is a sign of ignorance by all, not necessarily weakness.

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