Bible Question:
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 |
Bible Answer: In Luke 2:2 the Greek word is prwth. What you call protos. This is the Greek of Luke 2:2 auth h apografh prwth egeneto hgemoneuontoV thV suriaV kurhniou. It probably will come out as english. The following manuscripts, Nestle, Alexandrian, Byzantine Majority and Stephens 1550TR all have (in english) prwth, this word appears in the following verses (I have searched for this word in the the mss mentioned above, not the Nestle) Mat 26:17 Mar 12:29 Mar 14:12 Mar 16:9 Luk 2:2 Eph 6:2 2Ti 4:16 Heb 8:7 Heb 9:1 Heb 9:2 Heb 9:15 Heb 9:18 Rev 4:1 Rev 20:5 Rev 20:6 Rev 21:1 in the Septuagint it appears in the following verses Gen 08:05 Exo 12:16 Lev 23:07 Lev 23:35 Lev 23:39 Lev 23:40 Num 07:12 Num 28:18 Num 28:18 Num 29:13 Deu 16:04 Jos 15:21 Jdg 20:22 1Sa 14:14 2Ch 03:03 2Ch 29:17 Neh 07:09 Dan 11:29 Mic 04:08 in the KJV, prwth is rendered first Mat 26:17 Mar 12:29 Mar 14:12 Mar 16:9 Luk 2:2 Eph 6:2 2Ti 4:16 Heb 8:7 Heb 9:1 Heb 9:2 Heb 9:15 Heb 9:18 Rev 4:1 Rev 20:5 Rev 20:6 Rev 21:1 Gen 08:05 Exo 12:16 Lev 23:07 Lev 23:35 Lev 23:39 Lev 23:40 Num 07:12 Num 28:18 Num 29:13 Deu 16:04 Jdg 20:22 1Sa 14:14 2Ch 03:03 Mic 04:08 former Dan 11:29 uttermost Jos 15:21 first (prwth)... first (prwtou) 2Ch 29:17 Neh 07:09 In the Septuagint Nehemiah chapter 7 has only 28 verses. I have a version of the Septuagint that is not sorted into chapters and verses, like our bibles. So I have not done Nehemiah yet. basically it means first, if the word could be used as prior to it would have to fit all the above verses. I can check the HOT renderings if you want. There is numerous greek words starting with prwt that is in the above mss also. Note, you asked for any information, so I gave it. I don't expect to be criticised for supplying it. This is my own work, in respect of any imperfections are my own, God never does imperfect work, so on that basis it needs checking, I could of made a mistake. It is comprehensive, not because I want to boast but because I believe in trying to do a good job and having all the facts available to make a full assessment. Mat 5:41 I did not plagarise it, I spend 10 hourse a day odd on studying the bible, Psa 1:1-2. If it is not in a presenation that you find agreeable you dont say so, because the person was being helpful, you cut and paste it and edit it yourself. And yes you can do whatever you want with it, you can copy it, send it to someone, sell it or whatever. If it is not what you wanted, you don't criticise, you just say thank you for your efforts and leave it at that. |