Unpacking the Census Conundrum in Luke’s Account: Did Luke Make a Blunder?
Skeptics have long scrutinized the passages in Luke 2:1-2, seizing upon what they see as historical discrepancies in the biblical account of the census. These verses have been a focal point of contention, with critics arguing that Luke made substantial errors, questioning his reliability as a historian. The criticism primarily revolves around the timing of the census and the mention of Quirinius, the governor of Syria. Here, the noted agnostic New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman elaborates on this objection in detail: “The historical problems with Luke are even more pronounced. For one thing, we have relatively good records for the reign of Caesar Augustus, and there is no mention anywhere in any of them of … Read more