"That" Census ?

[drodgers34]

Plenty of programs researching the Christmas story refer to Mary and Joseph returning to Bethlehem for a census.

Does anyone know if this is true and if any of it survived ?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year by the way

[Lydart]

Yes, it certainly took place, about the year 4BC.  (Yes I know, but that's the date theologists and researchers give to the birth of Jesus.)

The Roman Jewish historian Josephus refers to the census, but although I have a copy of his histories, its packed !   (I'm moving house after Christmas !)

[Yashca]

According to what I have read, a census was taken in around 6 C.E. on the orders of Emperor Augustus.

This doesn't quite match up with the nativity account, as Herod, who is mentioned in the Nativity story, died in 4 B.C.E

In addition to this, no Roman census ever asked people to return to their ancestral home.

However it must be taken into account that the Gospels were written many, many years later by people who were not there at the time, and as such they were more concerned with writing an interesting story that met with biblical prophecy, for example it was prophesised that the son of god would be born in Bethleham. Jesus was always known as Jesus of Galilee, after the place he was from. It is quite likely that the travel to Bethlehem written in the gospels was there only to make it seem as though Jesus met biblical prophecy.

[Lydart]

CE = common era ... i.e. what we were used to calling A.D.

BCE = before common era ... B.C. !!

[Lydart]

The Gospel of Mark was the first written ... about 50 - 55 AD, and Mark is thought to be the boy who lost his loin cloth when he ran away (ref. Mark 14:51-52)

Mark (or properly John Mark) wrote 'his' gospel basing it on the preaching of Peter, so its a matter on conjecture as to whether he was writing what he himself saw or heard, or what he heard from others, principally Peter.

[Guy Etchells]

Unfortunately the Romans had a confidentiality clause on the census form and information could not be released.
Cheers
Guy

[LizzieW]

Guy

 

[Tephra]

Unfortunately the Romans had a confidentiality clause on the census form and information could not be released.
Cheers
Guy

But you're working on getting it made public...........         

Barbara

[Jean McGurn]

Unfortunately the Romans had a confidentiality clause on the census form and information could not be released.
Cheers
Guy

Would that have been for 100 millenium then ? 

Jean