Bible Question (short): A possible translation error? (Lk 2:2) |
Question (full): I have a question on a possible mistranslation due to possible misinterpretation of historical facts. Luke 2:2 This registering was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. [Greek conjugation, numbered, with literal word by word translations]: 1 his 2 and 3 enrollment (an assessment by implication) 4 foremost/first 5 was caused to be 6 a leader 7 the 8 Syria (possibly “Tyre” from the root Tsor) 9 Quirinius “protos” (translated as "first" in Luke 2:2): foremost (in time, place, order or importance) “protos” “before” is used “of time or place” Lk 2:2 [And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. [Current translation] Lk 2:2 And his [Augustus] enrollment was “prior to” Cyrenius being made a leader [governor] of Syria. [Reevaluated translation] Three great censuses; 28 BC, 8 BC, 14 AD (See the “Acts of Augustus”) Cyrenius made Governor of Syria in 8 AD (Approximately ten years after the death of Herod the Great, during which time Archelaus was in power (See Josephus, Antiquities 17.13.2), succeeded by Cyrenius (Antiquities 18.2.1)). Herod the Great died 1 BC, shortly after a lunar eclipse on Jan. 10th, 1 BCE (37-year reign from the second year of the 184th Olympiad [39 BCE], a little short of his 38th year (See Josephus, Antiquities 14.14.5 and Antiquities 17.8.1). Jesus was born before the death of Herod the Great (Matt 2:1), but within five years of the Census declaration which Augustus himself called a “lustrum,” which is a five year period. If the census took place during the governorship of Cyrenius (Approx. 8 AD), we are off by more than ten years. Jesus would have started his ministry when he was about 20-21 years old by that dating, and Herod would have been dead long since when Jesus was born. Further, Cyrenius also did a census of the Judea area to make an assessment of the assets there when he first came to power. This census and subsequent taxing spawned a fourth sect of Jews that were ultimately responsible for the war in 66-70 AD. My question is this: Is it possible that Luke is trying to express that the census during which Jesus was born was “not the one when Cyrenius became governor, which you all remember because of the troubles that sprung out of it, but the ‘one before that’ which was decreed by Augustus himself” Thereby necessitating a revised translation of the passage as noted above: Lk 2:2 And his [Augustus] enrollment was “prior to” Cyrenius being made a leader [governor] of Syria. [Reevaluated translation] Comments, questions, information? Theo-Minor |