The biblical account in Luke 2:2 states that a census was taken while Cyrenius (also known as Quirinius) was governor of Syria, and that this was "the first census" taken while he was governor. This is often interpreted as being related to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. However, there are historical and chronological difficulties with this interpretation.
Here's a breakdown of the issues:
* Luke's Gospel: Luke connects Jesus' birth in Bethlehem to a census ordered by Caesar Augustus, conducted while Cyrenius (Quirinius) was governor of Syria. This census is the reason Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem, Joseph's ancestral home, to be registered.
* Historical Quirinius: Historians generally agree that Quirinius was governor of Syria around 6 AD, when a census was indeed conducted. This census is well-documented in Roman records and is associated with the imposition of direct Roman rule over Judea, which had previously been a client kingdom under Herod Archelaus.
* Chronological Problem: The problem arises because most scholars date the birth of Jesus to sometime between 6 BC and 4 BC, based on the reign of Herod the Great, who according to the Gospel of Matthew, was alive when Jesus was born and ordered the Massacre of the Innocents. Herod the Great died in 4 BC. Therefore, if Jesus was born before 4 BC, it's difficult to reconcile this with Quirinius' governorship starting around 6 AD.
* Possible Explanations: There are several possible explanations for the discrepancy:
* Luke's inaccuracy: Some scholars argue that Luke may have been mistaken about the timing of the census and Quirinius' governorship. Luke's primary focus was theological, not historical accuracy in the modern sense.
* An earlier, unrecorded census: Some have suggested that there could have been an earlier census under Quirinius or another Roman official before 6 AD that was not well documented in Roman records. This is possible, but there is no independent historical evidence to support it. The phrase "the first census" in Luke could be interpreted as the first census of its kind or the first one mentioned in the context of Jesus' birth.
* Co-Governorship or other Role: It has been suggested that Quirinius may have held some other official position in Syria before becoming governor in 6 AD, perhaps with census-taking responsibilities. However, there is no strong historical evidence to confirm this.
* Translation Issues: Some argue that the Greek in Luke 2:2 can be interpreted in different ways, not necessarily stating that the census took place *during* Quirinius' governorship, but rather *before* it.
In summary:
While Luke's Gospel links the birth of Jesus to a census under Cyrenius (Quirinius), the generally accepted historical timeline of Quirinius' governorship presents a chronological problem. There is no conclusive evidence to definitively say Cyrenius was the governor of Bethlehem during the traditional timeframe accepted for the birth of Jesus. Historians and biblical scholars offer various explanations to address this discrepancy, but the issue remains a subject of debate.